Human-Computer Interaction

I’m currently writing a paper on the crossover between Alexander Technique and it’s elation to human-computer interaction, and even brain-computer interfaces.

As a cognitive scientist (BSc. Hons) I’ve always wanted to bridge that gap. Vision, audition and consciousness are all under the microscope at the moment in Universities around the world, and as our world becomes more and more virtual, it’s massively important to understand how we relate to the technology around us. You’ll probably notice you’re being ‘dragged in’ slightly to this page to read it, probably pulling the head down and towards these words. In a world where external stimuli are becoming faster, more urgent and more demanding, its paramount to manage how you react to these things!

For example, this article in the Daily Mail about text-neck (which is very much an advert for chiropractors) talks about the bad posture and pain caused by too much smart-phone use. While a chiropractor will crick and crack you to release some of the tension such habits cause, most people are powerless to change the behaviour themselves (one reason why chiropractors see so much repeat trade). However, learning the Alexander Technique would give you the skills to not end up with the problem in the first place. Or if you do have this issue, you can unlearn the bad habits causing your pain (like I did to get rid of RSI), so you get an intelligent fix for life rather than a short-term fix that fades. The choice is yours of course. You can add comments here.

Improve your Dancing

I was pleased to see the BBC article “Good dancing may be a sign of male health” this week.
Whilst I can’t profess to be a great dancer myself, I’d love to learn, and reckon it would be easier now I know how to apply Alexander Technique than when I was an awkward teenager.
Dr Neave found that by videoing men dancing,

We found that (women paid more attention to) the core body region: the torso, the neck, the head. It was not just the speed of the movements, it was also the variability of the movement. So someone who is twisting, bending, moving, nodding.

Now we all know how great Alexander Technique is for improving flexibility and range of movement in the neck and spine (just look at the great results for back pain), so it means learning Alexander Technique can help you dance better.
This, of course, is no news to the multitude of professional dancers who learn Alexander Technique as part of the dance courses. Nor is it a surprise to all the actors, presenters, and sportspeople who benefit from it.

So if you’re in the mood to learn to dance, why not first learn a little Alexander Technique so you can get off to a good start and impress the others?

Oprah Magazine recommends Alexander Technique

Just a short post, for those of you who follow Oprah, her mag has a short article that recommends Alexander Technique for back ache, here.

What’s it like?

I liked this video about people’s experiences of the Alexander Technique.

I have to admit, often when I’m asked “what is the Alexander Technique”, the answer I give depends on the situation at hand, and the person asking the question.

This video shows a sequence of people’s experiences, and starts with a quote from Mary Holland that sums up the problem…

It is an illusion if we think that one day the perfect paragraph will be written explaining what the Alexander Technique is… We know that not everything can be expressed in words, otherwise why would we need music, art and dance.

The authors add to this, that…

This film does not define what the Alexander Technique is, nor did it ever intend to. It is rather an attempt to capture an impression, a rough sketch of Alexander’s discovery with a mosaic of voices.
For those who have had lessons, these voices will surely resonate with a sense of familiarity. For those who have never encountered the Alexander Technique, perhaps these voices will spark a curiosity to learn more.

You can’t put it clearer than that. Although some of the video is subtitled, it’s still well worth watching.
I hope you find the video inspiring enough to come and try a lesson….

Experience Speaks for the Alexander Technique from Thomas Glen Cook on Vimeo.

Surgeons benefit

Yesterday it hit the news that American surgeons are benefiting  from learning the Alexander Technique, as reported in Urotoday.

They reported that

All of the subjects reported a subjective improvement in their overall posture following the AT training session.

And that

The subjects also demonstrated improved ergonomics and improved ability to complete the skill sets with the PostAT load time test, suturing and cutting demonstrating statistically significant differences.

So its good news if you’re a surgeon who wants to improve your skill, and reduce your pain.

Of course, this is well know to Alexander Technique afficionados, whether for improving sport, acting, music, presenting, you name it.

And we see a lot of dentists and hairdressers, who like surgeons spend a long time leaning over their clients.

So whatever your job, I’d urge you to find out how you can get better at what you do, and do it with less pain!

In Praise of Fellside

Nestled on the slopes of Kendal, gateway to the Lake District, lies Fellside, home of Cumbria Alexander Technique Training School.

I trained there, and it holds very fond memories for me. Not just for the range of teachers, and the skill with which they teach Alexander Technique.

The views are magnificent. Many a morning I’d find myself looking out of the broad, tall windows across Kendal to the old Castle on the other side.

I trained with some great teachers there….

Michael Hardwicke, who teaches beginners and advanced alike at Grange-over-Sands, and at Lancaster University, as well as being joint director of the Alexander Technique teacher training school here.

Michael has a wealth of patience and the strength to share his skill without judging. Michael is a master at teaching anatomy and regularly runs workshops and weekends in this beautiful town for the public and for trainee teachers – check them out.

Michael shares this mantel with Jamie McDowell, the other joint director. Jamie complements Michael perfectly with his detailed understanding of the working of the hands and wrists.

Jamie was previous chair of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, and brings a wealth of experience to teaching beginners and to trainee teachers alike.

Supporting Michael and Jamie is Vida Hedley, a movement and dance expert who studied at the Laban Centre and brings her joy of movement to the regular movement classes at the school. Vida’s classes were always a hit when I was there.

Also there’s Zohar Peleg-Hartley, brilliant at helping you feel more expanded and helping you be aware of yourself in true relationship to your surroundings.

And Joan Diamond, a massively experienced teacher who offer refresher courses to Alexander Teachers from all over the globe. I make recorded CD’s for Joan that are always very popular with the Alexander community.

And that’s all not to mention guest teachers who float in and out now and again from all over the world… Misha Magidov, Avi Granit, Patrick Gundry-White, Malcolm Williamson, Penny Ingham, Robert Taylor, Jean Clark, Rivka Cohen, Bernadette Riley, Joanne Thompson, Glenn Swift and other too many to remember. I’m grateful to each and every one of the brilliant Alexander Technique Teachers I’ve mentioned above. Next time you’re north of Manchester make sure to look them up. Each teaches from a slightly different angle, and each has something to add. So if you’re ever thinking of training to be an Alexander Technique teacher yourself, in this fascinating and infinitely rewarding field, then you can’t do better than checking out Fellside.

Come back soon, I’ll be talking about how different learning styles affect the way people teach and learn Alexander Technique, and how I implement these styles to make sure you learn the technique quickly and get to apply all the benefits it has to offer.

Bye for now,

James.

Just for fun

I made this movie relating to F.M. Alexander, just for fun. If you ignore the fact it’s the basis for an advert for swedish TV licensing (I don’t have a TV myself so couldn’t comment) and ignore the nationality issue, you’ll find some of the wording very appropriate. You’ll need a proper internet connection and sound. It’s safe for work.

An Irreverent Video

The 5 P’s of Alexander Technique

I spent some time thinking about this and came up with 5 P’s. Over the weekend I received a comment from Ever-Eloquent-Hawaii-Based-Franis (from the Big Island), who had looked at my website and noted the benefits of Alexander Technique. It was a real pleasure to read through but somehow didn’t show up as a comment on this site itself, so I’ve added her ideas here and take no credit for the fine touch she added.

But first, what are the 5P’s of Alexander Technique?

1. Posture

2. Pain-Reduction

3. Performance

4. Presence

5. Poise

So here’s what Franis had to say…

Yeah, Alexander Technique sort of sounds like snake oil, doesn’t it?
Good for whatever ails ya!

What all these definitions have in common is they address what people have trained themselves to do by accident. Unintentional habits can be learned or retained while someone was intending to deal with another priority.

This is why we Alexander Technique teachers feel it’s so important to think of A.T. as educational.

In posture A.T. would address the unnecessary tension and postural attitude unintentionally retained.

In pain-reduction A.T. would address the cumulative effects of multiple habits pulling at odds against each other.

In presence A.T. would unify intention, calming internal distractions of thought and response, as an awareness discipline.

In performance, A.T. notes progress & reveals specific refinements with a template for constructive objective self-observation & teaching ability.

Poise describes the impulse control, elegance and non-reactive qualities of A.T. Poise also implies a stillness, economy of movement and a sense of self-possession and alertness. Poise describes the “grace under pressure” stress reduction, the psychological effects that the practice that A.T. offers.

All these benefits come along with being able to indirectly influence and update one’s own movements that have been taken-for-granted, allowing you to rebel against the ordinary!

If I’d pick one word to describe Alexander Technique, it would be “poise.”

Thanks for this elegant list of “Five Peace.”

———————————–

Well, thank you too, Franis

Video of head / neck relationship

I’m always on the lookout for good videos showing the relationship of the head to the neck (you could say, the head to the spine).

The video below was sent to me by my good friend Martin at dancewith.co.uk, who lists dance events in Manchester and the North of England. Many dancers use Alexander Technique to improve their posture and form.

Note how the head can rotate nicely, perched on the atlas and axis right at the top of the neck. Getting to know these bones can only help you learn Alexander Technique more easily – so do take a moment to watch the film through, and as you do, pay attention to the relationship of your own head to your own spine. Neck and back ache are often caused by unnecessary tightening of the neck muscles, which cause the head to be pulled down on the neck. Releasing muscles around this area allows the head to be free to poise lightly on top of your spine… If you find this difficult then get an Alexander Technique teacher to show you how.

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Alexander Technique around Manchester and Cheshire

Brill! My new blog. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks filling my (very little) spare time building my new 6 Step Plan for discovering the Alexander Technique basics.

My method involves really getting you into the learning process. So I’ve broken down some of the technical terms into easy-to-understand chunks.

In other words – Plain English!

Alexander used words like “Inhibition”, “Direction” and “Primary Control”.

When I start to teach using these words, most people glaze over. And that’s the last thing I want! So I use terms like these…