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But we are proud to say that Elyse Shafarman contributed 142 entries already.
We know that the Central Nervous System (CNS) is the body’s gatekeeper. It determines how far you can bend, what movements you can do, and whether you feel stiff or fluid. This is not to say that there are no other important variables such as sleep, diet, bone morphology, age, exercise…the list goes on. But […]
As a side note, I am reviewing ideo-kinesis as I prep to teach Somatics at SFSU. How I love using imagery in teaching Alexander’s directions, instead of the dry, classic format: “Let the neck be free, in order to let the head go forward and up, etc.”. I have such a well of bitterness for […]
Alexander Technique for Mind Body Balance 5-week workshop ~ February 2018 TUE 7–9:30PM · 2/13, 2/20, 2/28, 3/10, 3/17 · $185 Berkeley Rep School of Theatre 2025 Addison St, Berkeley CA 94704 Register Online, or email the registrar: school@berkeleyrep.org Alexander Technique is a time-honored method used by actors to improve posture, breath, and movement. Effective movement liberates your […]
How do you handle the need to rest when ill, injured or mentally burnt out? Try out the idea of allowing rest and play time, but not making it bigger than that. You don’t need to create a story about why you got sick or injured and how you could have done better. I like […]
Allow my forehead to smooth down towards my brows Allow my temples to relax and widen Allow my eyes to soften and float Allow my cheek bones to widen Allow my nose to relax Allow my inner ears to soften inward Allow my lips to be easy Allow my tongue to be easy Allow my […]
Compressing yourself in sympathy for the pain in the world does not help anyone. While ebullience might be socially inappropriate, a public show of sympathetic tension only saps your own energy. You are needed, to compassionately hold presence and act. This takes immense resources. Yes, empathetic physical tension may be innate. We do feel others […]
Holism is a fundamental construct of the Alexander Technique, but the word is cheapened by new age nostrums and advertising. Who among us does not feel Whole, and maybe even Holy after a trip to Whole Foods to buy ourselves the most Earthy, *Truthy,* Healthy (not to mention Pricey) items? Whole is a term that […]
One of the things that distinguishes Alexander Technique from posture training is that we look at coordination as a function (or expression) of attention. If our awareness is narrowed we tend to constrict our breathing and our bodies. If our awareness is broad we tend to open up. Expanding our field of attention may not […]
Regarding the Sept 11, 2017 NYT Well article: Alternatives to Drugs for Treating Pain I applaud Jane Brody for presenting a great list of non invasive treatments for back pain – missing from this list is the Alexander Technique, one of the few methods that has been subjected to a large (n = 579) randomized […]
Ok, that was cool. I just taught a couple the most simple ways that they could put non-doing hands on each other, to help ease back pain and stress during an upcoming trip overseas. My client has been healing a pretty serious back injury and was very nervous about the stress of travel, so we […]
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