This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Psychotherapy, is published in a PDF format. It explores the connection between physical habits and beliefs that we live by.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)
The Alexander Technique is an extraordinary movement modality for changing physical habits that are destructive to the body in specialized and everyday activities, from playing a musical instrument to walking.
Alexander Technique teachers are wonderful at showing a client how to do what they do with great posture and without excess tension to prevent joint damage.
We show a pianist how to play the most difficult literature without damaging the body.
We show a person how to walk for hours with great posture and ease and mechanics, so that the walker is not causing wear and tear to the body.
How do we do this?
We help the client explore how to move without bad posture and without compression in their joints.
What do I mean?
We point out to the client what unnecessary excess tension they’re using in the activity, and give them an alternative to hunkered down posture and excess tension, that they’re using to create stability with excess tension.
WHAT I’M SAYING HERE, IS THAT MOST PEOPLE OVER A LIFETIME OF WALKING OR PLAYING THE PIANO, HAVE CREATED IMMOBILITY THROUGHOUT THEIR BODY TO WALK WITH BALANCE OR PLAY THE PIANO WITH ACCURACY.
When you use immobilizing parts of the body to walk well or play the piano with accuracy, you cause wear and tear in the body. Excess tension always causes compression in the joints – the knees, the fingers, etc.
To use a psychological term, extinguishing, we help the the client extinguish a destructive way of using the body in all activities. We teach clients to extinguish destructive physical habits. Much of what we’re teaching the walker or the pianist is how to let go of unnecessary tension and poor posture throughout the body. Then you can experience movement without unnecessary bracing.
I was thinking, what if we use this Alexander Technique idea of extinguishing/inhibiting a bad postural or technique habit, by letting go of what you’re you’re doing, and to apply it to beliefs that are emotionally destructive?
I’ve done a ton of psychotherapy. The psychotherapeutic technique of extinguishing destructive beliefs that cause emotional pain, is to bring the belief to full consciousness. Then you can confront it, and ideally lose your fear of a belief that is not loving, when you realize it isn’t going to kill you or make you go insane.
THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE CHANGES/RELEASES DESTRUCTIVE PHYSICAL HABITS BY INHIBITING THEM, BY CHOOSING NOT TO DO THE OLD HABIT AND TO REPLACE IT WITH ONE THAT WORKS.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO LOOK VERY CLEARLY AT A BELIEF/EMOTIONAL HABIT THAT IS DEBILITATING, AND CHOOSE TO INHIBIT THE BELIEF AND SEE WHAT EMERGES IN THAT VACUUM, THEN YOU HAVE USED THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE OF INHIBITION/EXTINGUISHING TO FREE YOURSELF OF A PAINFUL BELIEF.
What makes what I’m talking about unique, is that you’re consciously choosing to look at a belief that you have buried over a lifetime, and then choose, in advance, not to react fearfully and with great emotional and physical tension to this belief as you let yourself experience what you have suppressed/run from your whole life.
THIS IS THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE CONCEPT OF PHYSICAL CONSCIOUS CONTROL APPLIED TO EMOTIONAL CONSCIOUS CONTROL. IT GIVES YOU BACK YOUR POWER TO CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE AND DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT OR LET IT GO.
