Is Our Work About Behaviour? (or How to Get Skinny)

For years I’ve been confused about the true nature of our work.

And I am quite sure I am not alone in this, although some irritating individuals - which must include me - seem ever so confident and clear: 

“This is the Alexander Technique!” so blah, blah, blah dear.

Well, as my readers know, I am not a fan of the moniker “Alexander Technique” - I think it lends itself to increasing confusion by pretending to be something it isn’t.

Take my ballooning tummy.

Years ago, Walter Carrington impressed me with the comment that he found it necessary to update his age mentally - because his mind was not keeping up with the physical deterioration his ageing introduced.

After much angst, I concluded my alarming rotundity is based upon a similar illusion that I am still a youth - eating the same copious quantities as ever. I thought, “Forget diets - just update your age Jerry!” 16:6, 5:2 or OMAD* are all examples of that behavioural strategy.

Pianists are the same.

The best of them started young. And many still sit almost as close to the piano as they did in their single-digit days. I announce…

“Your arms are longer now honeypie,” 

…and we adjust the distance between their chair and piano. Their playing, physical comfort and inner satisfaction instantly improve - all the hallmarks of a great lesson, and in the first few minutes already.

So I ask you: is that the Alexander Technique?

I didn’t mention a word about any of our cherished concepts; I only helped them update their behaviour. So I didn’t need to pay $30,000 and spend 3+ years to be able to show them that did I? An Andover Educator** fresh off a 1-day training is just as capable.

But you could argue that, indeed, it was Alexander Technique - they recognised a habit and decided to inhibit and redirect it into a new behaviour that felt unfamiliar - resulting in an effective Use of the Self. So I ask you a new question -  why would anyone say this isn’t the Alexander Technique?

Stay tuned.

*These are “diets” based on behaviour rather than food selection; for example, 5:2 = 2 days out of 7 eat only a 500 calorie meal; 16:8 = eat within 8 hours, fast for the remaining 16; OMPD = One Meal Per Day. 20:4 is basically 16:8 for the already skinny ascetics.

**An ‘Andover Educator’ is a practitioner of a learning system designed by Barbara Conable, based upon bodymapping ideas. BodyChance’s BodyThinking course in Japan is founded on the same premise.