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For those just arriving to this new forum, here's the place where you can say a little bit about yourself and - if you like, your interests besides Alexander Technique.
As for myself, I'm located in California, just above San Francisco in a small town. I've been trying to write about AT since I started teacher training in 1979. Aside from teaching AT privately, I'm interested in David Bohm style Dialogue, playing the array mbira and juggling a toy called Stix. I also publish a tiny phone book and have worked as a signwriter and fine artist. You can see more about me at http://www.franis.org
Dod wanted some help with making this forum more of a happening place, so I volunteered, and here I am! -
Hello,
I'm Dod, an Alexander teacher, a financial trader, a tennis player, a chicken keeper, happily married, never more contented than when sitting in the sun, gardening, swimming ... for anyone interested in knowing more about me, my website is www.dodman.org
I'd like to explain why I think an AT forum is potentially useful. To me, a forum seems the most rounded model of how online discussion can take place, with privacy (everything that's written isn't sent to everyone's inbox), inclusiveness (ie, the shy get a voice, too, without having to worry unduly about being shouted down), space to rant (for loudmouths, that not everyone has to listen to), easy to access archives, places for links to other sites, sections for events to be listed, everything easily and quickly accessible, and, not least, a customisable 'shop front'.
In my opinion, the Alexander Technique needs a thriving forum. However, for it to work, people have to post!
Nicholas -
Welcome Dod! See - I'm posting, I'm posting.
Also I wanted to say thanks for inviting me onto this board from the Alex-tech list.
:wink: -
Dod (and Angel), thank you for allowing me to become a member of this Forum. I came to it via the Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique, which has proved to be a good source of reading.
A little about myself - I work for an international financial institution in London, enjoy the all the arts, swimming, cooking, travelling.
I have been having Alexander Technique lessons for the past 5 months, although I should have done it around 25 years ago, but at that stage I was a teenager with a scoliosis and very rounded shoulders (which yes, my parents always told me to pull back!). I also had a bad fall last autumn which resulted in excruiating lower back/neck pain, but the whiplash was not the cause, as I later acknowledged. Fortunately I found a very well respected AT teacher, in fact I could not have fallen into better hands, and embarked on two lessons a week, every week give or take Easter/summer holidays; in fact I came to notice changes in about a month after having started lessons, which surprised me, as from what I've read since the changes can take time to show themselves. I am still having these lessons and can now go through my day with either no pain or relatively little pain, my shoulders have unimagineably broadened/straightened and are looking wonderful and my sway back has straightened out out of all recognition. Hopefully this will give encouragement to other pupils and those entertaining lessons. I simply could not have made a better decision this year.
You list swimming as one of your hobbies. I am about half way through a course of Shaw Method lessons. As someone who has always love the water, this has proved to bring a whole new dimension to Alexander Technique, and its philosophy of bringing fun and enjoyment back into swimming yet at the same time its meditative approach provides a thinking approach to exericse. Gliding and putting my face in the water came very naturally, so now I'm concentrating on strokes.
I do, however, have one question, which perhaps should be listed under another section of this Forum: is the Alexander Technique teacher training a prerogative of the wealthy these days? Yes, I have had thoughts which refuse to go away, but am currently content continuing with my lessons, because I know I still need them.
Stella -
Hello Stella,
It was great to hear your inspiring story. I'm sure reading it would help people considering having lessons, who might otherwise doubt the magnitude of the potential changes lying in store for them.
I have read about the Shaw method (put a mention in the 'links' section, if you like) but my swimming is pretty much restricted to floating around enjoying a watery wallow, I'm afraid. This summer has been fantastic as we live near the sea. I did do a running workshop with Malcolm Balk some time ago, however, which was truly fascinating. (Check the 'running' link in the 'teachers' section if you're interested). He showed how possible it was to apply the Technique 'on the hoof' and to get repeated, dramatic results.
Concerning your question about teacher training being only for the wealthy these days. I think it is restrictive, not just because it costs a lot of money, but because it's so demanding on a trainee's time. Courses seem to be structured in such a way that it is difficult if not impossible to work 'normal' hours. I think there are beginning to be changes here, with weekend and modular training becoming available.
Nicholas -
Hi Nicholas,
What a lovely surprise to see your reply.
I forgot to mention that with all this legnthening, I have also added at least an inch to my petite height, it might be more, and can now see my bust, something I was unable to do due to the stoop I had developed - apparently my teacher says this is not unusual for a female pupil to comment upon!
I've added the Art of Swimming website as a link, thanks. I only knew about as a result of the book mentioned later.
Yes, I've heard of the Art of Running; in fact Steven Shaw and Malcolm Balk are jointly running a triathlon short break entitled "Swim long, Run tall" on 19-20 October at Champneys Tring.
Actually, you might be a perfect candidate for mastering the Shaw Method as you used that all important word, "float"! In fact Alexander Technique is widely accepted in Isreal, where Shaw Method began life, where Steven Shaw did his teacher training, and it's not for no reason that he still runs holidays to the Red Sea, where floating is big! Did you know that Alexander Technique forms part of the training of Israeli military pilots? Makes sense! That's precisely what I've been doing this afternoon in a pool, albeit with some thought applied to it - I am now able to float as an octopus, starfish & a needle, and the rotation is coming along nicely. Oh, and I omitted to tell you about the frisbee-playing which takes place underwater at the end of my lessons now - my teacher assures me that not every pupil of hers is given this task, it very much depends on their sense of humour! But, it's great, all of it, and takes the competitve edge totally out of swimming, something from which Steven Shaw himself suffered.
You might be interested in Steven's first book called "The Art of Swimming, a new direction using the Alexander Technique" - it's not just about swimming, there is a huge amount about the Alexander Technique and I read it in about less than two days, I was hooked. He co-wrote this with Armand D'Angour, who teaches classics at Oxford University and who learned to swim as an adult with Steven. Shaw's second, newly published book entitled "Master the Art of Swimming" is much more focused on strokes and is very good indeed although, sadly, it's impossible to take the book to the poolside.
Perhaps you could put these two swimming/AT related books on your Books link & the book which prompted me to seek lessons from the author: "Perfect Poise, Perfect Life - Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life" by Noel Kingsley? Noel's book actually explains Alexander Technique in a very easy to understand manner, perfect for someone who is thinking of taking up lessons but doesn't know what Alexander Technique involves. It still has a special place on my bedside table and I still read it; Noel also has a sense of humour, so it's not dry to read at all.
I was interested to read your reply about the teacher training courses; who knows if I would be considered to be a suitable candidate, but I would certainly be interested to consider any weekend or modular trianing courses in the future. Incidentally, the Shaw Method teacher training is also taught over weekends throughout the year.
Stella -
Welcome Stella!
You're right about the cost of training on time and pocketbook. But you can solve these problems without so much money, if you give up other things. The only people who I watched during teacher training who made it without parental backup took a restaurant job or some other job that started in the afternoon. Then they could be in AT classes during the morning and working in the afternoon/evening. If you are already committed to some other time constraint, this would conflict. To do AT training, I had to give up owning a horse.
Having the parental backup for me was also necessary the first time some unpredictable chaos hit the fan. I didn't have this possible help, so I had to drop out of training mid-way and change teachers.
The way I had the time to work at my own business during AT training, was I developed a split sleeping schedule. I slept from 4:30pm for two and a half hours and 3:30am for the same, like clockwork. After AT classes in the AM, I picked up materials and installed my work in the afternoon, then drove home before or after my end of the day nap where I'd arranged to crash at a friend's house in SF. I had dinner and socialized a little and did my work at home from 10pm to 2am each night. This wierd schedule saved much time for me, because if I slept in one stretch, I needed eight to nine hours.
Great story about what AT has done for you! This inspires me to start a topic for that. -
Hi,
I thought I'd introduce myself in two ways -- by an appreciation and a story.
First the appreciation -- I am really excited by the forum idea! As a 'learner' who's been doing AT for about 2 years I'm really enjoying having my ideas tested, demolished, reconstructed and even occasionally verified! I figure that the more time I can read about the paths others are going through, the more time I'm going to actually spend thinking myself. So I hope that this forum becomes buzzing with ideas and want to say thanks to the tireless admin persons!
Ok, I promised you a (true) story. Here we go.
I remember being on holiday one year with my parents as an eight year old at one of those beach resorts. We were crossing a quiet square in the holiday complex, and as usual I was a few paces ahead of them. I noticed another boy, who looked about the same age as me, coming towards us from the opposite corner of the square. I remember that as we were walking towards each other, I was going to have to change my path slightly to walk past each other and avoid a collision. But, like mirrors of each other, each time one of us changed direction slightly, the other seemed to do the same, and we came closer and closer. Then I remember being alarmed how much he looked like me, at which point I felt my legs get in a tangle. The result was that we both had to put our hands out and do a kind of 'dance' past each other to avoid a crash.
I don't know if other people have experienced anything similar. But in retrospect that day taught me a lot about endgaining -- and how it makes failure MORE likely. By focusing on the thing you don't want to do, you're working on a negative pattern, and all your attention is drawn towards the thing you shouldn't be thinking about. And when unexpected circumstances arise, such as meeting your 'doppelganger', then your habitual strategies are even more disturbed, making failure, however unlikely, virtually inevitable. It becomes a kind of 'must not fail' train of thought which immediately introduces the idea of the very thing you're trying to avoid.
Best,
Steve
Bristol, UK -
Steve,
An intriguing story! I regularly do that side stepping dance when walking towards someone on a path or pavement, and finding we both move to avoid each other at the same moment, but go in the same direction, and then we move the other way, but again do it together, and so one. It usually feels as though I'm mildly hypnotised. I know what's going on but can't stop it.
A personal trait of my own surfaced as I was reading your post. I thought I saw where it was going (you were walking towards a reflection of yourself) and responded to that before I had got more than half way.
I find I do that a lot of the time, especially when people are talking to me. I then take over their part of the conversation, just to ensure it goes the way I have anticipated.
Anyway, welcome to this forum. I hope it buzzes, too.
Nicholas -
dod - I thought that what you observed was so interesting I went and started another thread to reply. It's under learning..."changing the way you talk."
I love stories when people talk about their personal accounts of their experiences. More, more!
Welcome to the forum, Steve! -
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CommentAuthorAlexTechBooks
- CommentTimeJul 4th 2007
Hello,
thank you very much for implementing this discussion group.
Thank you as well to those who will exchange information.
I am not an Alexander Technique teacher but I try to support
the AT community so far I can. I studied computer science
and do work as a consultant in the IT & COMMS industry.
My wife is Gabriele Breuninger and she is an AT teacher
trained by Chris Stevens (1943-2003).
In 2002 I started to collect information about books
related to the Alexander Technique and published a pdf
based list. Then I was convinced to offer selected books
as well.
Until now I collected background information about more
than 600 titles and editions. Also I am proud that I was
able to buy more than 300 titles and everybody who is
interested in can have a look to the web list
http://at-ffm.de/books
Yes it looks like a commercial book store but it is my
hobby only. I try to cover my expenses. The time I need
will never be paid. It is my way to say thank you to the
AT community because I learned a lot from various teachers.
Hopefully I will receive additional information about
missing data or editions or missing titles from all over
the world.
Kind regards
Peter
Frankfurt, Germany -
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Thanks Peter, for your work with books on Alexander Technique. Welcome!
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