How to Introduce Alexander's Discovery To Your Students

Awhile back I wrote that "movement calibrates our life-sustaining systems".

Then Azize Stirling - one of my Daily readers - requested the Chancer to write more on this. So here we go…

When faced with total beginners - in a no-niche scenario - it's my default presentation.

THINK CORPORATE. Think B2B. Think "Alexander Technique".

First I ask the group:

"Do you all believe that what you eat will have a significant influence on your state of being? Your health, your mood, your energy? Who agrees with that?"

Unanimous. (Good)

Second question:

"Do you all also believe that your fitness will have a significant influence on your state of being? Who agrees with that?"

Here, I used to get weird responses. Until I realized - oh! They're feeling guilty.

So I added:

"Of course, we all know we should exercise. If you did, is it a good thing?"

Only then did I get an enthusiastic response - YES!

(People must imagine themselves doing it, THEN they can agree. Funny.)

Having got to unanimity in the room - and you may run down a few rabbit holes with individual objectors to get there - I point out that these conditions are based on the digestive system, the cardio-vascular system and the respiratory system.

Then I say:

"Time for a quiz. Who can tell me which system is missing?"

They all look puzzled, and starting wondering…

"… Which system is missing? … idk …"

I add:

"Which system have I not mentioned yet? A system that determines how well the digestive, cardio-vascular and respiratory systems will function. Who can tell me what that system is?"

It's remarkable how few people can figure out a clear, definitive answer.

So I say:

"Your movement system. Your neuro-muscular system."

They still look puzzled.

And so I go on - explaining Alexander's simple discovery, and pointing out that most systems that say they are working on the movement system, are mostly working on the fitness angle: cardio-vascular, respiratory.

Those that say they are assisting you to co-ordinate, are mostly in the stone age.

Those that are more advanced - for example Yoga poses or Pilates posture strengthening -

have no idea how the quality of movement along the axial spine coordinates appendicular movements i.e. how your head/spine coordinates the pose or exercise you are doing.

This is pure Alexander's discovery.

Illuminated by BodyThinking Bodymapping.

Missing from just about everything available today.

STONE AGE.

And we're off!!! Touching, wowing, selling.

Teaching them all about axial and appendicular movements…

BodyThinking Online

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