The  Inter Viewer Newsletter

ALEXANDER  TECHNIQUE

Well Being of Mind and Body

  for people who want to get the best out of their bodies;

Bringing you information, inspiration, news and views of the “inside story”…your Body, your Mind, the Alexander Technique.  This is a regular edition to Alexander pupils - past, present and future and anyone who is interested.  The aim in sending this to you is to inform you of what is happening, bring you snippets of interest and thoughts for you to ponder on.

 We are well into 2005 and I hope this will be the best one for you all…have your sights set in a forward and up direction and you’ll be away! And to start on a good foot, here is my first newsletter of the year.

What you will find here:

Living the Easy Way.

Children’s Thought Chips

Interviews – town and around

Just Joking!

What’s coming up?

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Living the Easy Way!

Every day, we, the human race take for granted how our system functions; the system made up of bone, muscle, nerve, tendon, in fact the very structure.   When used well, it works easily….life is effortless, no struggle, it takes little energy, gives much pleasure.  Do we believe this?  No, we believe… “No pain, no gain”!

What stops this ease?

What makes the difference between ease versus dis-ease, “no effort” versus “struggle”, boundless energy versus chronic fatigue?  Why do small children generally experience the former; but as age mounts, we so often experience the latter? 

See a thirty five year old man who mimics his two year old son’s actions for a whole day.  As he follows him - running, playing, shouting, and running more; come evening the youngster still has some energy, the father is exhausted.  Why?

As we gain birthdays, we become more and more unaware that the natural functioning is being eroded.  Through stresses in our lives the system (the body) builds habits or a “coat of armour” to cope with these traumas.  The mind suppresses the trauma but the body continues to hold it, evidenced in many ways e.g. pain – back, neck or shoulders, arthritis, depression, OOS and so on.

Do you often find you…..

·         Hunch your shoulders while you walk?

·         Tighten the shoulder that holds your bag?

·         Grind your teeth at night or clench your jaw in the day?

·         Grip your feet inside your shoes?

·         Tighten your neck till it hurts while you drive?

·         Become aware of how you sit, stand and walk:

Being aware of how you move in every day life is the first step to having an easier, integrated mode of action.  We have habitual ways of sitting/standing...check it out:

Sitting – how do you sit?  Arms crossed one way and legs crossed the other?  Try the opposite way? This usually feels strange, wrong!  Standing - what is the way you stand normally?....weight on the heels or on one leg?  What happens when you stand on the other leg?  Walking - does your forehead, stomach or pelvis lead the way when you walk?

Habits are strong and feel ‘normal’ so that we think they are right!

The Good News:

The body has an innate capacity to heal itself.

“When you stop doing the ‘wrong’ thing, the ‘right’ thing happens by itself!”

F M Alexander….experiencing chronic hoarseness, designed the Technique to right his own problem.

Becoming aware of where you are going wrong is the beginning of change.

As the body frees its holds, so the mind becomes freer too!

Movement then becomes a pleasurable thing.

So….plenty of gain - NO PAIN!

 Children’s Thought Chips-

A thought in body ‘line’

Saves time!

Interviews – town and around - Col Ritson, Remuera.

I have found out the Alexander Technique is very much a thought process, not a doing one.  It rejuvenates me and gives me extra bursts of energy, especially at the end of the day.                                                                                                         

Just Joking!

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach…….!

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Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me……!

What’s coming up?

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS
Conducted in small groups, the workshop includes individual and group work, directed activities, a 25 minute video demonstration, guided lying down and discussion to explain how the Alexander Technique could help you. It helps you to make an informed decision about whether to take your interest further.

 ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE FURTHERING WORKSHOP

For those who have had 10 or more private Alexander lessons, a four evening workshop (once a week) will be held in the near future.  Numbers will be limited. 

To find out more and to book for either workshop call Jann (09) 634 4155