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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Remembering to Inhibit
Changing postural habits can be a little tricky, as the nature of a habit is to be on automatic so we act 'habitually' without thought. Breaking a habit requires us to think before we move or act so we can take more conscious control of how we do it, such as bending or reaching for something. With our mind we have the chance to dramatically change how we move, stand and our entire posture, but it does require thought. It requires us to remember to think.
With the Alexander Technique we use what we call 'Inhibition' to give us time to think. For instance, if I wanted to answer the phone but I now know that it's my tendency to stiffen my neck without thinking almost every time I do this, then I can quit my habit if I just give myself time to think to do it differently. I stop and think. This can just take a fraction of a second. The word 'Inhibition' is also used in the context of 'not' doing something that we may consider harmful, such as stiffening my neck habitually; I inhibit the stiffening.
So when the telephone rings, I don't need to rush and answer within a split second. Stop. I pause a second; I inhibit my initial impulse to answer the phone and I will choose to 'free my neck' by just letting my head roll forwards a little on the top of my spine to release the muscles, then I shall lean forwards to pick up the phone. While reaching, I will also inhibit my tendency to stiffen my neck. Sounds complicated but it isn't. With Alexander Technique lessons we get the experience of thinking in the right way to make changes so it can become instinctive.
If we repeat a new way of moving such as I've described, the experience of 'not stiffening my neck' when reaching, gets into my system and by means of muscle memory will become more ingrained. We learn to do so many thousands of things by repetition from driving the car, tying our shoelaces, writing words on paper with a pen and with repetition it gets into our muscle memory and co-ordination so we eventually do it without thinking.
However habits are tenacious and even when we think we've managed to overcome them there may still be a residue remaining and the habit may well creep back in without us realising. So it's helpful if we can remember to think first before acting. We must remember as often as possible to 'Inhibit' our initial reaction and just give that split second of time to choose to be free in our neck.
Remember to stop. It's remembering to remember, that is the key...
:-)
Comments
I found your blog on posture and balance while researching meerkats.
Reading your blog I was reminded of my wife's ability to catch herself as she tripped over an obstacle and remain upright without stumbling.
Ronnie (my wife) claims this is because of our Argentine Tango dance lessons over the last 7 years.
Argentine Tango dance requires a near perfect posture and balance.
Thanks for being there.
Jim McCullough
Hi Jim, Thanks for getting in touch. I can well believe Ronnies balance is improved by dancing Tango. It's wonderful that she can maintain such good poise and balance even if she trips. Keeping upright poise when walking rather than leaning forwards a lot helps with this. If we're leaning forward when walking we are more likely to fall if we trip. Interestingly, many people who have had Alexander Technique lessons find learning to dance much easier than they might have otherwise as good balance is developed during the sessions.
Great to hear of Ronnies good balance. Thanks for the feedback.
Noel
Posted by: J&R McCullough | February 16, 2008 11:53 PM