In Gratitude to the Alexander Technique
I was inspired today to write this post after reading Lindsay Newitter’s blog, Ten Reasons for which I am Grateful for the Alexander Technique, and after participating this month in “30 Days of Gratitude” hosted by Louise Edington on her Fabulous and Fearless Facebook page. After all, of all the things I am thankful for in my life, Alexander Technique ranks very high on the list! Many thanks to Lindsay and Louise!
So here are my top ten reasons why I am grateful for the Alexander Technique:
- I’m free from the chronic neck pain and tension that plagued me before I started lessons.
- My posture and coordination have improved. I often move now in a much more fluid and natural way.
- I have much better, and more accurate, awareness of what I am doing with my own body.
- I’m aware of my own thinking patterns and can intervene (most of the time…) to stop unnecessary negativity, worrying and other non-productive thoughts.
- My energy level has increased. And yet, I’m also better aware of my own limits and am better at pacing myself.
- I am able to work at the computer without discomfort.
- My confidence in myself is much more secure. I feel more at home in my own body and with who I am.
- I find it easier to say “yes” to things that would have daunted me before, and, conversely, easier to say “no” when needed too!
- I have made wonderful connections with people nearby and around the world through being part of the Alexander Technique community.
- I now have a fulfilling career as an Alexander Technique teacher bringing this powerful work to others.
My “top ten” will change somewhat from day to day as there are so many ways that this work has enriched my life, but the Technique is always there for me now, either in the background, or front and center, whenever I need it.
If you too have benefited from the Alexander Technique, I’d love you to share what you are grateful for in the comments below. Thank you!
I honestly had not heard of the Alexander Technique before today. I have now bookmarked your site and will come back to find out more soon! Sounds amazing. I am grateful to have found this!
Thanks, Laura! Sometimes it can sound too good to be true, but deep changes can have profound effects in so many areas!
Reasons why I love AT
1) I can now speak in public with little or no fear
2) Constructive Rest restores my energy in a very short time, better than a nap
3) I breathe 😉
Louise Edington
Thanks for sharing, Louise! Great reasons to love AT! I can’t believe I didn’t specifically mention breathing in my list, but it’s there in all of them!
I can breathe
I have the confidence to work out at the gym
I have the confidence to speak what I feel – well almost
I have more time on the day
I don’t ache ar hurt anymore, if I do I can release the pain just by direction
I’m happy with life
It does help me like Christmas, that’s a male thing of a certain age; baa humbug.
I just don’t what I would have been like with out the Alexander Technique but it wouldn’t be those above!
Wonderful list, John. Thanks for much for sharing! As I said to Louise in the comment below, I can’t believe I didn’t mention breathing in my own list! So glad you found the Technique.
Thanks for posting this, Imogen!
Here’s one of yours that I would add to my list:
“I have made wonderful connections with people nearby and around the world through being part of the Alexander Technique community.”
-Lindsay
Thanks for the inspiration, Lindsay! It really is a great community of people!
I am grateful for:
Awareness of where my body wants to bend
Ability to cope with my back pain and restore myself
More energy in the studio to create my art
Encouragement to be good to myself
Meeting Alexander teachers and students, who are awesome(like you Imogen!)
Thanks for sharing your AT gratitude list – that’s wonderful!
It’s been lovely to connect with you through the Technique too, Margaret 🙂
Thank you so much, Imogen! What a wonderful exercise, to think about the reasons we are grateful for the Technique! My list is too long to put here, so I think I might just write my own blogpost on this! Love, Jennifer
Jennifer, please post the link to your blog post here if you do one! And you are definitely one of those connections for which I am grateful. 🙂