This ebook, An Alexander Technique Approach to Weightlifting (Working Out), 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 weightlifting 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)
Primary Control is the basis of organized, coordinated, and powerful weightlifting in the Alexander Technique. When a weightlifter is lifting with the most organized, non-damaging, and powerful movement possible, then the head is leading the weightlifter’s spine upward into lengthening, as the arms and hands hold the bar with a decompressed, vertically balanced (or pivoted), and aligned spine.
This means that all of the nerves that radiate from the spinal cord have no pressure on them. So, the nerves can send the signals from the brain for movement and/or muscular support, as you lift the weights, without being slowed down by the vertebrae and muscles pinching the nerves.
The brain and spinal cord always organize the movement that the body produces, but when the Primary Control is interfered with by muscular tension and compression and poor posture, then that organization is poor organization. THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE IS ALL ABOUT THE QUALITY OF A WEIGHTLIFTER’S POSTURE AND TECHNIQUE.
The Alexander Technique recognizes that a huge amount of wear and tear and physical pain in weightlifting is caused by how you use your body, not by how much you lift or how long you work out.
The assumption in the Alexander Technique is that we are born with an innate ability to move with beautiful Primary Control, and that babies crawl with the head leading a lengthening spine naturally, given that the baby is healthy in a healthy environment.
If you were to observe a 1,000 weightlifters working out, you’d be hard put to see one lifter with beautiful Primary Control (given that none of them had done any Alexander Technique work). What does weightlifting without a compromised Primary Control look like?
The weightlifter lifts with a powerful lengthening spine, lead by the head (not trying to stand rigidly straight or he or she is pivoted over to squat without a rigid back or arched neck). The lifter’s neck is free and the weightlifter is aware that the head is leading a lengthening dynamic spine upward, which means that the lifter’s eyes will see the wall or the floor as the weightlifter’s body changes position going through the different lifts.
This means that the weightlifter is completely engaged in lifting without being pulled downward. This fully upward and dynamically and powerfully lengthening mobile posture balancing on the free legs and grounded feet, gives the shoulders and arms of the weightlifter a balanced torso to float on, so that the lifter can generate the power and strength, without joint compression, that he or she needs while lifting.
When the weightlifter’s shoulders are floating on and supported by a fully aligned upright torso, then the torso is free to back up the shoulder girdle, arms, and hands as the weightlifter does presses without compressing and shortening the spine.
When the weightlifter’s body is organized by the Primary Control, then the lifter is free to place all of his or her awareness on a weightlifting technique that isn’t being compromised by a compromised Primary Control. In other words, if the lifter’s body is collapsed or over-tense with poor head/neck/spine organization, then the pure specific lifting technique of the weightlifter can never be what it would be, since it is not backed up by a balanced body.
WHEN THE FOUNDATION OF COORDINATED ELEGANT HUMAN MOVEMENT IS COMPROMISED, THEN THE SECONDARY TECHNIQUE OF A SPECIALIZED ACTIVITY, LIKE WEIGHTLIFTING, WILL NEVER BE AS COORDINATED AND INJURY FREE AS IT COULD BE.
