Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
« Life changing inspiration | Main | Clearing clutter and having a good day »
The right attitude
I meet so many people through my work, who do not feel that there is anything that they can do for themselves, and it is down to the specialist to sort them out. It is also such a commonly made mistake to believe that the head and the body are somewhat separated whereas in reality they are inextricably linked up. The fact that we have psychologists and physiotherapists who specialise in their own specific fields does nothing to help change this view, although a specialist approach is so often needed in order to provide the expert help required. The Alexander Technique is a method that helps improve our posture and we learn to use it for ourselves by having lessons. It involved thinking in such a way that we have more control over our own muscles, balance and co-ordination, ....mind and body working together. We learn to get rid of postural habits that affect the efficient working of our body. It is something that we can use to help ourselves.
We don’t need a degree in anatomy and physiology to realise that it is our brains that control our bodies. Whatever we decide to do, whether it’s making a cup of coffee or drive the car, it is our brains that are sending messages throughout our bodies to instruct our muscles to perform the desired activity. The same approach can be used to encourage tense muscles to release, and for a stooped posture to come upright. Realising that we are all capable of making a difference is the first major step in changing our lives. However, there is an essential ingredient required in order for this to work.
Now I understand fully when people tell me that they’re not prepared to believe in something until they get some proof that it actually works. Fine, some things are difficult to comprehend until we’ve had the experience of it happening. This can apply to anything. With regards to the Alexander Technique it's a good idea to have a few one-to-one sessions where the practitioner can have the opportunity of showing us how different we can be. But in order for us to also get the experience of helping ourselves, we really have to enter into the thing with an open mind and maybe a certain amount of enthusiasm to just go for it. We need to give it a go. With clear guidance and instruction from a specialist who is able to assess our needs, we’ll be able to learn a whole new way of moving and looking after ourselves. We can then rest assured that we are applying the principles in the most appropriate manner for our particular situation. If we follow the guidelines, then we’ll not go far wrong.
Belief in ourselves
If we’re able to find within us even a faint glimmer of a thought that we may be able to do something for ourselves, then we are tapping into some of the potential we’ve inherited from our ancient ancestry. We are all highly integrated human beings with the capability for a great deal of control over ourselves and our environment. It is this belief, albeit small at first that can have a dramatic effect on how we are. The belief is the trigger. Once we start to believe that we can make a difference within ourselves, even just by thinking, we’re opening up all sorts of possibilities. This principle can be applied to so many other things in life, and when people say “I can’t do that.” they are setting up a thought pattern that may well prevent them from achieving it. They tell themselves that they can’t do it even before they give it a go. Instead, let’s say to ourselves something like, “Hey, I may not have done this before, but there’s no proof that I can’t do it, and I won’t know until I’ve tried, so let’s go for it….” then we are giving ourselves the best opportunity for success. This helps with learning the Alexander Technique, but also applies to almost anything else in life. if we can just 'give it a go', whatever it is, we may go on to really achieve some wonderful things in life.
