This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Classical Guitar Technique, is published on this website in a PDF format. It is very detailed and practical, and it will give you the physical tools you need to take the limits off of your ability to create the accurate guitar technique you want without sacrificing your body.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)
A few months ago I went to the doctor and to the dentist, and my blood pressure was 150 over 90, which is not great. Normal is 120 over 80, and that’s where mine had been for most of my life.
I ignored my high blood pressure, because I didn’t want to use blood pressure medication, and I had a feeling it was high because I was stressed out about some things in my life.
I also didn’t want to confront my belief that blood pressure was not amenable to control by the mind, even with biofeedback. Biofeedback means monitoring your blood pressure with a blood pressure cuff, and lowering it through your intention to do so, your thoughts.
About a month ago I said the heck with it, after a doctor’s visit where my pressure had spiked to 160 over 95, and I bought a high-end blood pressure wrist cuff.
I sat down and put the cuff on, and my blood pressure was 150 over 90. I continued to sit and used everything I had ever learned from the Alexander Technique about good posture, balance and poise, and reducing tension throughout my body.
MY BLOOD PRESSURE DROPPED TO 140 OVER 85!
I instantly realized everything I had believed and read was wrong about blood pressure being out of my control. I do want to make a statement here. I don’t believe I would have gotten the same results, if I had something organically wrong with me, which is a fancy way of saying I was sick.
I WASN’T SICK, I WAS STRESSED OUT!
Over the next few days I continued to sit adjusting my posture and reducing tension throughout my whole body.
MY BLOOD PRESSURE DROPPED TO 115 OVER 65!
Here’s a list of some of the things I did, which are Alexander Technique tools.
1. I observed and let my breathing become whole torso gentle inhales and exhales.
2. I released tension in my face and neck.
3. I released tension in my legs.
4. I noticed tension in my gut and released it.
5. BUT THE CHANGE THAT HAD THE MOST EFFECT ON MY BLOOD PRESSURE, WAS UNLOCKING THE TENSION THROUGHOUT MY NECK AND TORSO, AND ALLOWING MY HEAD TO FLOW AND ALIGN FULLY UPWARD. THIS PLACED MY HEAD, NECK, AND TORSO IN THEIR OPTIMUM LENGTHENING AND NEVER HELD IMMOBILE ALIGNMENT!
This has had a profound effect on my beliefs about the body. It has taught me that if I were to challenge every belief I have about what I can’t control in my body, I may find that I’m wrong about many of these beliefs.
Imagine applying this incredibly empowering way of looking at your body to your limiting technique beliefs about your abilities on your instrument.
YOU MAY FIND THAT WHAT YOU THINK YOU’RE INCAPABLE OF ON YOUR INSTRUMENT ISN’T ANY MORE TRUE THAN ME BELIEVING I COULDN’T LOWER MY BLOOD PRESSURE!
