This ebook, The Alexander Technique Applied to the Technique and Posture of 29 Western Musical Instruments, is published in a PDF format. It is a detailed introduction to and application of the principles of the Alexander Technique to 29 of the most played instruments in the symphonies, chamber music groups, and as solo instruments from the Western culture, classical and other styles. Included in the 29 are singing and conducting.
This ebook is also for sale on all AMAZON websites in a KINDLE format.
Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. (MOVEMENT THERAPY)
I’ve done a lot of meditation in my life. I’ve meditated very diligently at times and not so diligently.
A very long time ago I spent three months in a Zen Buddhist monastery in Livingston Manor, New York. I learned there that Zen Buddhism was not for me, but meditating or sitting was.
I’ve published an ebook on using the Alexander Technique to sit in meditation using the Alexander Technique’s principles of good body use. This meant I used the technique’s principles of posture, alignment, and good body use without excess tension to sit for hours pain free.
What I want to do here is look at using the Alexander Technique principle of release and doing less, Inhibition, as you sit in meditation. I want to use the Alexander Technique basic principles of Orders and Renewing the Thought and Inhibition while meditating.
This means I’m not using a repeated mantra or watching the breath nonstop as a meditation technique.
What I want to suggest here is using the Alexander Technique as a format for meditation, whether it be in lotus or in a chair, to let go even more.
What do I mean by let go even more?
In the Alexander Technique training we created/allowed new physical non destructive habits in doing things, or in just sitting, by becoming aware of excess tension throughout the body and consciously Renewing Thoughts of release.
Examples would be in running or playing a musical instruments, of thinking right before you run or play, “My neck is free”, then you run or play the piano. This is called Renewing the Thought. This will help you Inhibit tensing your neck right before the activity and to remain released during doing it, so you don’t crunch up and hurt the body. This is how you establish new habits of release in activities, so you don’t damage your body in repetitive activities.
How do we apply this to meditation, applying the Alexander Technique principle of Inhibition physically, psychologically, emotionally, to your thoughts, and to your beliefs?
YOU SIT IN MEDITATION AND DO LESS IN ALL FIVE OF THE ABOVE REALMS.
What does this mean?
You’re meditating and you notice tension in your hips. YOU ASK YOUR HIPS TO LET GO EVEN MORE.
You’re meditating and you notice tension in your hands. YOU ASK YOUR HANDS TO LET GO EVEN MORE.
You’re meditating and you notice tension in your eyes. YOU ASK YOUR EYES TO LET GO EVEN MORE.
You’re meditating and you notice you’re worrying about something. YOU ASK YOURSELF TO LET GO OF THE WORRISOME THOUGHTS, TO INHIBIT THEM, EVEN MORE.
You’re meditating and you notice you’re angry. YOU ASK YOURSELF TO LET GO OF THE ANGER, TO INHIBIT THE ANGER, EVEN MORE.
You’re meditating and you believe you must seek revenge for you’re being attacked by someone. YOU ASK YOURSELF TO LET GO EVEN MORE OF THE BELIEF, THAT YOU MUST GET REVENGE, AS AN ACT OF TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.
All of the above can disrupt your meditating, make it nearly impossible to sit.
BUT IF YOUR WILLING TO SIT AND LET GO OF, INHIBIT, DO EVEN LESS DOING, THEN YOU HAVE USED THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AS A MODEL FOR DOING EVEN LESS AS YOU MEDITATE/SIT AND PERHAPS FIND YOU’LL FIND GREATER AND GREATER PEACE.
