Sports (Athletes)

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Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)

The Alexander Technique deals with the physical effects of fear, and has very specific tools and principles to save the body from the wear and tear of the destructive habits and tension of fear. But it doesn’t address how you got there emotionally.

I have never read anything on what the technique thinks of fear.

So, let me take a look at fear as an Alexander Technique teacher and more.

Is fear necessary?

Whether it is or not, it seems to be an inherent human reaction to feeling threatened with harm, or fear of not mastering an activity or both.

It is fear of not mastering an activity that I want to write about.

Whether fear is ever a sane response is something for the reader to decide. (You may want to take a look at A Course in Miracles.)

An Alexander Technique teacher’s job, when it comes to the athlete or musical performer, is to give the athlete or performer a set of tools that will allow him or her to excel at the activity free of damaging the body.

When a musical performer or actor or athlete comes to me they are almost always in pain. Every once in a while, in a blue moon, someone finds their way to me NOT in pain. They simply want the tools to do their activity at an even higher level of ease and expertise. But like I said, this is rare.

It seems that no matter how great or mediocre someone is at a sport or musical instrument, he or she will usually not seek out an Alexander Technique teacher, if they’re not hurting, not even if they know they need to be better to win a race or a musical competition or perform music at the highest level.

Why is this?

The Alexander Technique is well known for helping performers and athletes get out of physical trouble, but it is not perceived as a teaching technique to help a runner run their fastest, a golfer win a tournament, or a musician win a competition.

Why?

Because most performers and athletes feel they must work harder and longer and RUTHLESSLY and PAY a physical price to win. This is the opposite of what the Alexander Technique is about.

So, can you win with the Alexander Technique teacher teaching or coaching you?

YES?

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER WILL GIVE YOU THE TECHNIQUE AND POSTURE AND BODY USE TO WIN. WE TEACH YOU TO BE ABLE TO WORK AS HARD AS YOU CHOOSE, AND NOT DAMAGE YOUR BODY, OR AT LEAST MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO YOUR BODY AS YOU TRAIN OR PRACTICE WITH GREAT INTENSITY.

Returning to my original intent in writing this essay:

How do I see fear through my eyes as an Alexander Technique teacher in teaching mastering of an activity?

IT IS UNNECESSARY for the following two reasons.

First, to the performer or athlete learning and excelling is inherent to their being. Second, the technique an Alexander teacher can help the student master, make it easier to perform at an extraordinarily high level, rather than settling.

By definition, settling in a sport or on a musical instrument, is choosing to struggle to perform at a mediocre level.

The Alexander Technique teacher takes what the student brings to the session, no matter how hyper-critical the client is of him or her self, AND REMOVES THE SOURCE OF THE FEAR, which is fear of failure.

How do we do this? Sneakily:)

We teach the client to focus on a body use and a technique and a posture that removes all excess tension and poor technique.

We teach the client to be IN THE MOMENT in the activity, which removes the client’s ruminating on a future of failure.

So, an Alexander Technique teacher does not address fear directly, but the technique with it’s focus on the means, deletes the focus on fear of future failure. At some point in this process, as the athlete or musician begins to excel, they’ll realize they have stopped being afraid of their sport or their instrument, maybe stop being afraid altogether.

THEN HE OR SHE CAN BECOME REALLY GOOD WITHOUT THE FEAR THEY WON’T BE EXTRAORDINARY, AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO BE EXTRAORDINARY!