Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Never too late
I was talking with a friend recently about old age and attitude and how different people are. Some in their 60s or 70s feel that it's too late to change, that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, while others who may be considerably older are keen to try out and experience new things in life.
While talking with this friend, an elderly client of mine who was a centenarian came to mind; someone I have mentioned before and in also my book. She is such a wonderful example, I'd like to tell you a bit more. She was one of the most remarkable people anyone could ever hope to meet. As it happened, I felt so privileged to be working with her, hearing her stories and learning about her attitude to life, I gave her all of her twice weekly sessions over two year period for free. I used to go to her house by motorbike and park outside the door to the residential flats. She would hear me arrive, I'd see her curtain twitch, and she put the kettle on.
This lady was in fact 102 years old when I met her at an Introductory evening course I was running for the Alexander Technique. Ella was a bright and sprightly lady of 4ft 11in height and full of the joys of spring. When I asked her why she wanted to have sessions from me, her comment was “I don’t think my posture is very good, and I am feeling a bit stiff”! Great reasons to come along, I thought, and what an attitude for someone of her great age! When the class finished, she expressed interest in having some one-to-one sessions so we made arrangements to meet.
During the two year period we had sessions, I was privileged to hear some of her many stories. I heard about her trips down to Lyons’ tearoom in Piccadilly by horse drawn cab and her travels around the world. Her last major trip being when she was ‘only’ 90, she had travelled by herself for three months across America by Greyhound bus. “Wonderful, just absolutely wonderful!” she said when describing her holiday.
She also commented on our sessions, “ I feel taller (her height increased by ½ inch to 5 feet) my breathing is easier, and also being looser helps me maintain my balance in those awful winter winds which previously threatened to blow me over. Now I feel stronger, I hope to be able to carry on for a few more years.” And she did until she was 104.
On one occasion, I asked Ella why she thought that she’d lived so long, as all of her family had died, if I recall correctly between the ages of 60 and 75. She believed that it was her attitude of mind. She never held a grudge or let anger take hold. It was her attitude to be grateful for whatever came her way, and if things didn’t work out as hoped, or if she’d been let down by someone or an event, she would just accept it. That’s life. Some things work out and others don’t. She told me “everyone is getting angry, and that’s what makes them sick!” I asked her if she’d thought this way all of her life, and she said “Oh no! Only since I was 70!”. Here was a lady who despite her great age and experience, felt that she may be able to do something to help herself enjoy life a little more, so she started having Alexander Technique sessions long after many people would have given up and waited for the bell to ring ‘time up’.
Ella commented during one session “all my life I’ve believed that I need to hold myself up like this….” (she demonstrated a Sergeant Major type of stance,) “..and now you show me that I don’t need to, and it can be so much easier. That’s wonderful! Thank you!” God bless her, she herself was wonderful.
After a lapse of sessions owing to her sudden bout of ill health, I heard that she had passed away. I was very saddened by this indeed and it took me quite a while to adjust to the thought that the sprightly, energetic and positive thinking Ella was no longer with us. Shortly later however, a letter arrived through my door from her solicitor. She had left me a small amount of money. As it happens, I was in the process of setting up my very first darkroom at home and was just about to buy an enlarger, being an enthusiast for the traditional methods rather than digital. The sum she left me matched the price of the enlarger to within £1. The enlarger which I bought and still use is called Ella.
:-)
