Discover how the Alexander Technique helps you stay calm, be breathed, and move with ease – even in quick, potentially stressful moments.
Quick – Think Fast!
My son regularly says this to me, then tosses the house keys in my direction.
It’s a great idea, but what do you actually “think” in such a moment?
- Panic?
- “I’ll drop them, I’m no good at catching?”
Or… here’s my suggestion:
“I have time. Think up. Be breathable.”
If I practice these short sentences enough when I’m not rushed or surprised, some trace of them becomes available in the blink of an eye.
Words take a while to say – but all these can be condensed into a single idea or image that we can bring to mind in an instant. Whoo Hay!!
These simple phrases takes some of the panic out of my nervous system. It seems to slow down time, helping my whole body decompress, un-stiffen, and stay available.
Instead of tightening or rushing, I invite myself to expand, breathe, and allow the movement to happen. Whoo Hay! The Alexander Technique teaches us that even in fast situations, we can choose ease over tension.
That’s it.
Try it the next time someone says “think fast” and notice what happens. Do you feel calmer? More coordinated? Less panicked?
And of course, I don’t give myself the pressure to expect I’ll actually catch the keys. Sometimes I choose not to and side-step them, sometimes one hand just arrives under them and I do catch, sometimes I nearly catch them but they drop. Doesn’t matter.
What matters is that I don’t clamp myself with tension or beat myself up. Kindness wins.
Give it a go. Practice these thoughts when life is easy. I’d love to hear what you discover.
To your success
Lucy
ps simple activities and games like Catch and Drop can be part of an Alexander Technique in Sheffield session. We practice the technique of being thoughtful and kind to ourselves – like practicing scales on a musical instrument – until they are in our muscle memory ready to be used when needed. https://lucyascham.com/whats-on/
