This post was stimulated by questions about “the intent of directing upwards” from Cindi Kim in New York and Lira Fernández-Davila in Madrid. My thanks to both. One relevant conversation I recall having with Walter around this kind of subject … Continue reading
The idea of the back line can also be extended in ways that are very relevant to Alexander teaching. Many of us AT teachers have sensed both from personal experience and from working on students that there are common lines … Continue reading
The Top Line is the phrase used in the world of horse training to denote the chain of musculature along the top of its neck (from the base of the skull), right along its back, and on round its hind … Continue reading
I’ve thought a lot over many years about how exactly the forward and up direction of the head operates. As a quick way in with new students I usually point out that the powerful neck muscles which connect the head … Continue reading
There seem to be two basic ways of focusing attention; they’re described in Dr. Timothy Cacciatore’s paper called Science and Alexander, published in an edition of Direction Journal. Tim describes two attentional systems, one he calls the monitoring attentional system, … Continue reading
Student : When you’re talking about feeling I think that there is there is a hesitation to use that word a lot. JN: Yes Student: And you’ve progressed to describing why it’s okay after a point to say “feel”. JN: … Continue reading
This is an edited version of a discussion that ensued as I was giving a lesson to a teacher who basically asked the question that is the title of this post. My thanks to Jamie Avins for recording and transcribing. … Continue reading
The neck and head I’m always a bit wary of any mention of just the head and neck in reference to what FM called (perhaps unfortunately) Primary Control. His own definitions in his last two books never stop short at … Continue reading
Core support and breathing How we breathe plays a crucial role in all this. I recall Walter Carrington telling us we should always remember this work began with a man with a breathing problem, and although we no longer refer … Continue reading
True Core Support When the concept of core support was first popularized by Pilates teachers, many of us Alexander teachers (myself included) were very skeptical about it and tended to say things like: “Well, surely it’s obvious that the back … Continue reading