explore yourself

Choose to explore yourself. When you take lessons in Alexander Technique (AT), you do a great deal of experiential learning. And this reveals many surprising facts about you, as you are, versus what you have assumed yourself to be.

Some of what you learn in your AT lessons is informational. For instance, you may learn new things about basic anatomy and body mechanics. But you will likely have other unanticipated and valuable experiential observations about the way your own mind-body system works. And new experiences open the way for further discovery.

Expanding your knowledge about how you function can give you a better understanding of who you are. And this can strongly influence how you relate to the world around you. Over time, you will also gain greater conscious control over your own responses and behavior, and this gives you greater freedom and influence over your circumstances.

All the skills you develop and the observations you make in the course of this unique learning opportunity can be put to good use. They will inform your choices about how to take care of yourself and how best to interact with your environment, in small ways and great.

The procedures of Alexander Technique require the practitioner to silently recite a sequence of directions, which elicit particular neurological responses specific to AT. These directions help to override the unconscious, habitual mis-directions - to collapse or stiffen - that we give ourselves on a regular basis. The process of giving yourself specific, beneficial directions in the course of your everyday activities distinguishes AT from all other mind-body methods, like yoga and Feldenkrais. And it can be the start of a beautiful friendship.

When directing, we initiate a conversation between our internalized "instructor" and our inner "student." F.M. Alexander, AT's creator, wrote nothing explicit about this conversation except to advise that when we direct, we should not "be cross" with ourselves. With this, he implied the importance of kindness and self-respect in directing.

The regular practice of self-conversing, in a well-meaning way, encourages us to build a better relationship with ourselves. When we regularly address ourselves with intent to guide our actions positively and protect our well-being, the message is innately self-supportive. This kindly messaging is a great habit to cultivate. And it adds significantly to the intrinsic value of the AT directions themselves.

The non-judgmental attention we give ourselves during the AT learning process is innately helpful and caring.

AT does not purport to be a spiritual practice. However, the way we think and behave toward ourselves when practicing AT happens to correspond closely with the Eastern practice of mindfulness, and supports a self-compassionate state of mind.