Alan Mars’s Weblog

Alexander Technique Brighton Hove, East Sussex, UK, Photo Album

 

In the last post I mentioned how I used to get tongue-tied or overly enthusiastic when someone asked the question “What is the Alexander Technique?”

Of course, it’ll always be difficult to describe an activity, any activity, that has such a large sensory component. So I promised to put up some photos, with comments, so you can at least get a fly on the wall perspective of what a typical Alexander Technique lesson might look like.

As a general rule, Alexander Technique teachers tend to work from the core of the body — neck, head and back – out towards the extremities ie the arms and legs. The major muscles that move the limbs, however, have their origins in the torso. So working with the neck, head back relationship automatically influences the movement of the arms and legs. The converse is also true – working with the arms and legs will reinforce release and expansion through the neck, head and back.

Having said that “any way in is a way in” as the late, and great, Walter Carrington used to say. Alexander Technique Brighton BN1

“Allow your neck to be free”

“Allow your neck to be free in such a way that your head can go forwards & upwards”

“Allow your neck to be free & your head to go forwards & upwards so that your back can lengthen & widen”

In practice most Alexander Technique teachers do not recite these directions parrot-fashion. The words and language tend to be naturalistic and tailored to fit the individual.

Arms & Legs- Although there are specific directions for the arms & legs often the teacher will ask the pupil to continue focussing on their neck, head and back relationship as they work with the arms and the legs.

Legs

Chair-work

It isn’t just about moving in and out of a chair. It’s a convenient way of learning to move easily and efficiently. A convenient method that can be transferred into all sorts of everyday movements and activities. It’s a great method of learning to suspend habitual muscular and even emotional responses. My own favourite fields of application have been in playing the harp, singing and the martial arts. Here is a picture taken in an Aikido & Alexander technique class several years ago. I’m the one being thrown through the air! Apparently Alexander Technique can be applied at high speed.

 

Miscellaneous photos

It’s difficult to really capture the living, dynamic quality of an Alexander Technique lesson on a photograph. Young children often embody that Alexander quality unconsciously. Here is a photo of one of my daughters quite literally going forwards and upwards several years ago!

 

Thanks to that most talented photographer Lisa Rastl (lisa.rastl@gmx.net) and, of course, to Lena for being such a responsive model. And to that fine Alexander Technique teacher Harriet Anderson for turning her Alexander studio into a photographic studio for a few hours. Thanks also to pupils from previous courses for modeling. Thanks to Camilla Mars and to Clara Miriam.

Alan Mars

Alexander Technique Brighton & Hove,

26 Ventnor Villas

Hove

BN3 3DE

01273 747 289 or 07930 323 057

alan.mars@yahoo.co.uk

http://www.thetechnique.co.uk/contact.htm

 

http://alphainventions.com/