Teaching Groups Means Finding a New Alexander Technique

People have asked me:

“Why do you insist on calling our work ‘Alexander's discovery’?”

It’s a valid question, and one I continue to ask my Self. The simplist answer I have is this:

Alexander's discovery is just that, a discovery. It is not a technique or method.

It’s like the realization that the earth revolves around the sun. Knowing it doesn’t change it, but it changes you. It changes your ideas, your beleifs, your choices.

Alexander's discovery can be expressed in several different ways:

• Primary Control
• Use affects Functioning
• Head Movements Govern Vertebral Coordination
• Movement Calibrates Our LifeSustaining systems

Different ways of explaining the same simple discovery.

This is at the core of what we do. Knowing this keeps you honest, ethical and part of the “Alexander Profession”.

Beyond being honest to Alexander’s discovery, Technique does not matter.

Method does matter – it is not about which is the real method and which is the false method, it is about which is the effective method, and which is ineffective.

When you start to teach groups, you wake up to this fact.

Or you give up. People have done both.

While I deeply believe that touch is THE most effective tool we have to communicate Alexander's discovery, it’s effectiveness as a teaching tool diminishes in a reverse ratio to the size of your group.

Touch does not suit all occasions; it needs rethinking on your part.

FM touched his new students non-stop for 30 minutes. He also insisted you come 5 days a week for the first 3 weeks. This is version of Alexander’s “technique” can not in any way translate into a group situation.

Of course, you could hand out chewing gum, headphones and stream Spotify while you work your way around the room, but really???

Does this mean – if we fail to touch – we are not teaching Alexander's discovery?

No.

Which is why I consider it IMPORTANT to clarity your thinking and understand this:

Technique is not the discovery.

Technique is the method you use to communicate the discovery.

This is liberating. If I am invited to teach 1,000 students in a school hall – which is an actual situation that BodyChance teacher Basil Kritzer has faced – I need to reconsider my technique, my method. It will benefit my students if I rethink:

“What is the most effective method to communicate Alexander's discovery in this situation?”

This is what I will be exploring with you during my 8-week course starting July 10th. You can jump on board any time between now and then, and if you sign up for my new 60Day Biz course starting in October, you can save $297 off the combined price of both…

ATSuccess Group Discovery Course – Online & Off.