We have been asked to keep all kinds of journals of our experiences with chant classes, field studies, and now our Alexander Technique class. Here is today's entry.
September 15, 2010
Today was our first class in the Alexander Technique. It was fascinating. I know I am going to benefit greatly from this weekly class. First, I am an ardent believer in the importance of body work. I believe that we store so much tension and emotion in our bodies. They can stay there for years and if there is an opportunity to not just realign or re-pattern ones movements, but to release the stored emotion, there is instant relief and release for the body and the spirit. I have experienced these releases, quite emotional at times, and I have felt habitual or chronic dis-ease dissolve in the process. I am certified as a Reiki Master Teacher and I know that doing Reiki on others as well as on myself can help release stress and tension and it is both restorative and centering. Healing touch can release pressure points and relieve pain. I know and have experienced all of this but I have never before experienced Alexander Technique. I am most intrigued by the use of messaging given to the brain perhaps as a power of suggestion, but I already realize this is just part of it. Today in class, our instructor provided some basic information about the technique and then we went to it. We all found our spaces on the floor and were instructed to lay on our backs, with knees up, arms comfortably stretched out to our sides, and to place books to support our heads. My first instinct was to close my eyes, not to rest, but rather to prevent distraction from the experience of what was happening within my body. Instead we were asked to to fixate on a place or point on the ceiling. This apparently reinforces for the brain any changes that are occurring to the body via the messaging. This is multi-sensory:auditory, visual, tactile, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. But that makes sense. That is who we are as human organisms.
The experience of the first class was surprising. It is not always easy for me to lie on a hard surface. The base of my spine is not appreciative. But with head support and knees up, this was much easier. Once settled in we were instructed to request of our minds things that will help to lengthen and align our spine,widen our shoulders and other suggestions that will help to release muscle tension. The process requires only requesting, not doing. We are to do nothing, but rather let the mind do the work.
During the course of class I experienced a number of things. The back of my head that was initially uncomfortable at the contact point with the book, became very comfortable. I began to feel some vibration or slight movement especially in the muscles around my larynx.
The contact of my back to the floor noticeably increased, but the entire time my lower spine just above the sacrum, was tight and uncomfortable. This is a chronic source of discomfort, which has greatly eased with all the walking I have been doing and the resulting tightening abdominal muscles. At lease that was what I was experiencing until I took up my position on the floor. I did not experience any softening of the muscles in the area, but that will come with time.
What I did notice when the exercise was complete and we were standing up, is that I didn't want to sit down. I felt very comfortable being upright. I liked the feeling of “tall” that I was experiencing. I often think I am much taller than I am. Today I “felt” tall.
Later in the day I noted a heightened sensation of tightness and discomfort in my shoulders and scapula. This is also a chronic place of stored tension. This is apparently to be expected.We often compensate and tighten other muscles in order to avoid discomfort somewhere else. It will be interesting to see what it will take to retrain my way of holding myself in space so that this is no longer a place of discomfort in my being.
At the very end I mentioned my experience with Reiki and was told by that the hands on portion of the Alexander Technique is nothing like Reiki. Our instructor demonstrated on my right shoulder by putting his hands on either side of my scapula, making a space, as he explained, for my body to shift it wanted to do that. It did!
I am grateful for this class and look forward to next week. I imagine when we can release these places in our body that hold tension and more, that we will have increased vitality and vigor.
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