The Alexander Technique, a Process of Hope
Life has a funny way of always preparing you for the future, often without you knowing it. I wrote this post on April 4, 2020. We were a few weeks into the initial quarantine, and the music and Somatic worlds were struggling to find our footing and place in the current times.
As an Alexander Technique teacher, I witnessed the field struggle with the idea of moving into and embracing the world of online teaching. Many were faced with their fear and inadequacy and chose to respond with skepticism and critique of those who were already doing it with great success.
“Something I’ve been thinking about has finally come to fruition. I hope it is worth sharing....
During these times of online teaching, I’ve never had anxiety or concern over teaching the Alexander Technique in an online format. I’m by no means equipped or skilled in the development or execution of online teaching in any field, and the older I get, the less and less I choose to use technology since it always seems to fail. I much prefer to show up with my skeleton and IPAD and off I go. But I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about this as I’ve seen many in my field collectively move into startle (and watched the most gracious offering of free training from Jennifer Roig-Francoli and Mio Morales..... our field is truly in your debt). Two thoughts come to mind....
1. I was trained through a hybrid combination of a formal training course and an apprenticeship with a truly brilliant and beautiful teacher, Marsha Paludan. A dancer and actor, Marsha was the embodiment of AT principles and truly gifted at improvisation. She trained with Marj Barstow in the later years of Marj’s life while teaching full time and raising her two daughters. She herself had to create ways to incorporate AT into her life and her teaching, and develop ways to further her education in between her meetings with Marj. With me particularly, she was fond of “throwing me in the ring” and recognizing early my habit of wanting to be overprepared before I taught anything - I’m a musician. One of my fondest memories of this was the first day this happened. As I walked into class, she told me that you are teaching about the spine that day. I immediately said that I couldn’t; I wasn’t prepared for that. She told me, You have a spine... that’s all the preparation you need. “Teach from your own experience of your spine and respond to what shows up.” This has been my philosophy ever since: use what you have and respond to whatever comes up in the moment. Even more important now, though, I realize that Marsha taught me that I have all the tools that I need. I have my thinking, my awareness, and the principles of the works. Trust those things, and anything is possible. No table? No chair? No hands? Just respond to the moment, use the principles… and off you go! She was a brilliant teacher, and I will forever be grateful for all that she has taught me.
2. The second thought is this.... I teach the Alexander Technique, which, among many things, is a process for learning to adapt and change with conscious awareness and intention. Notice the stimulus and your reaction, and choose a different response. I can respond with fear, or I can pause, notice that fear, lean into it, and learn. We all fear change and cling to what is most constant in our lives. Yet change is the single most consistent part of all life. It’s the one thing that you can count on to always be there no matter what; it will never let you down. The principles will never let you down either. Trust them. It’s not you, it’s not your hands, it’s the principles which come through you. Trust your use, eyes, words, and ability to pause and respond in the moment to what comes up!
Give it a go!”
Little did I know that in the months after writing this, Jackie and I would finally have the time to dive head first into 2 years of writing that led to the completion of Body Mapping for Clarinetist. Eighteen months later, in October 2021, I would give my first solo recital in our new post-COVID world and discover an injury that has now, fours later, taken away my first love, my primary means of communication.
The process of writing this piece started the journey that has given my life a new meaning and a different purpose. Even as I face the challenges of this week, learning that my injury has progressed significantly and my health and well-being are uncertain, the Alexander Technique continues to serve me. Using it now in the face of such uncertainty, I can realize choice. I can react in fear, or I can welcome and feel the fear. Fear tells me that I am alive, this moment is important, and I matter. So I can learn, take a new step forward, see where I am at, and decide again to take another step forward, one by one, moment by moment.