| I’ve just renewed my Membership of the Federation of Holistic Therapists. I’ve been a member for nearly 25 years, and have a lovely new gold pin badge for my lapel. I first trained in Indian Head Massage back in 2000 – a 10 week course, with some anatomy, practical skills and case studies. I loved the training. I was good with my hands and quickly gained clients and a regular Sunday morning shift at the Y Club in Manchester. I worked in private practice there to help support myself through the 3-year-full-time-course that is the Alexander Technique teacher training 2000-2003. I travelled up from Manchester to Kendal and stayed for 4 days, 3 nights each week, for 3 terms a year, for 3 years. 1600 hours. I studied anatomy, physiology, how to use myself, how to use my hands, what not to do and what not to say. One of the Heads of Training, Michael Hardwicke, used to say “Don’t just Do something, stand there.” When someone is standing in front of me and they are in pain, or frustrated because their body has reached its limits or is stopping them from doing something – it would be so easy to Do something. I’m tempted to massage, move or get busy to help them. Of course, I’m keen to help, and it would be easier to just Do Something rather than stand there and think. It is much harder, ultimately more rewarding and dare I say beneficial, to pause, stop or inhibit the habitual reaction, to try and Fix something and instead stick to Alexander’s principles and directions and follow the process. People – we are not broken, you are not broken. But we humans don’t come with a user manual which instructs us how to Use our Self. (Though Alexander’s third book is called The Use of the Self and the technique has been around for over 150 years now.) That is what I do. I help you use your self better. I help people unlearn habits, which may be interfering with their natural design and easy use of mind and body. The way we use our mind and body is foundational to everything we then do. Every thought, every movement, every action. If you can learn to use your Self well, then you can apply yourself better to whatever activity you choose. Pain, wear and tear, tension and frustrations can come about because we are mis-using ourselves. Learning how to restore better coordination to your head, spine, pelvis, arms and legs is the key. So whether you want to ride a bike or a horse better, or sit well whilst at a computer or stand all day for work – learning, or should I say, unlearning, to use your Self well is a worthy education, or re-education. So yes, you can un-learn tension patterns. You can un-learn back pain. You can un-learn walking. Taking a series of Alexander Technique lessons is just as much about what you Don’t do, as what you Do do. The quality of touch and hands-on guidance you receive in the Alexander Technique is unique. It can unveil old memories, movement patterns and emotions you didn’t know you were holding onto. It can restore balance and coordination in ways which may feel unfamiliar and yet right. It can help put you back in the driving seat of your human vehicle, with reliable and advanced skills. We touch so you can learn for yourself what you are doing that is extra to requirements. We touch so you can get a boost from our thinking and our ‘good use’. We touch so we can accompany you as you revisit unprocessed emotions. Are you standing more on the front of your feet? This can put you off balance and bring strain to the whole musculature of your head, neck and back, which stiffens your spine and reduces your breathing capacity. If it were as simple to do or fix as just standing more on your heels, you’d be sorted already. The problems we have with posture, breathing and tension can’t be solved simply by Doing more, or fixing your posture, or putting your head in a certain position. No my friends, perhaps you need to unlearn some of these extra fixes and restore harmony and freedom as the driving forces. Through some different thinking. Using a different quality of thinking. With constant and gentle hands-on feedback and verbal guidance of a 3 year-full-time-Alexander-Technique-teacher. Would it surprise you to know that the Alexander Technique is not about trying to do the right thing? It’s not about what you do. It’s more about the way you use your Self as you follow a tried and tested system and stick to principles and so unlearn old and unhelpful habits and restore ease and flow. Any questions? If you’d like to learn to stand there, without Doing so much, perhaps it’s time to have an Alexander Technique lesson. You are always welcome to come back and have a top-up session, or book a series of sessions if you have hit a rough patch and need some extra support. So perhaps now you’ll understand that the Alexander Technique, although it is listed in the Complementary Therapy box along with massage, reiki and yoga – it isn’t really. There just isn’t a box yet for Health re-Education. That would be more truthful. And yes it is also therapeutic. It covers physical, mental, emotional aspects all together at the same time. Sign up for a session now – online and in person, Manchester and Sheffield UK. Call Lucy on 07949 522 655 or email lucy@lucyascham.com BOOK NOW https://link.speed-screed.com/widget/booking/FC5iR5uEeE4w9MUFpkO8 |
Written by Lucy Ascham, Body & Soul Energy Expert
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