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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Offa's Dyke to Notting Hill
Having had two fulll weeks holiday walking the hills of the Welsh Borders, touring some of the Wye Valley in the footsteps of Lord Nelson, Wordsworth and the fashionable folk of the 18th century when it was the trendiest of tours to rival the Grand Tour of Europe; and having paused to ponder the splendid ruins of Tintern Abbey amongst others, I land back in London with a thud.
Instead of the wild call of buzzards and skylarks soaring and descending above the hills, we arrive in Nottinghill to the shrill call of 100,000 whistles as Carnival weekend takes its grip; the street pavements move to the unremitting throbbing beat of drums that accompany the dazzling costume displays of bespangled dancers with head-dresses of feathered plumes so high as to make any wild bird of prey insanely jealous.
I glance in the bathroom mirror to peruse my own diminishing locks, not so many plumes there....just the bedraggled curls that are awaiting a well overdue cut at the hairdresser; shorter the better at my age and definitely not tinted.
The shock of being back in London is quite profound after two full weeks of peaceful quiet in the quintessentially English countryside of Offa's Dyke where 1,200 years ago warring peoples clashed to invade and defend their territories; where they build castle after defensive castle along these borders to protect their kin and country. But as the Carnival celebrations in Nottinghill give way to mob violence at dusk; as some seek refuge in pubs with names such as 'Castle' or the 'Kings Head', I suppose not much has changed.
Sitting now at my desk in London, the peacefulness of Wales and the borders seem so far away; the culture and landscape so very different from the city. When we were there, the business of London seemed a million miles away too. If we can't see something, does it exist?
I guess Wales will be there for another visit at some time, but now is the time for me to meet all the many people interested in helping their posture by means of the Alexander Technique. The recent spate of newspaper articles reporting the outcome of the extremely successful clinical trial on how Alexander Technique provides significant help for chronic lower back pain, has meant the phone has not stopped ringing with enquiries. (STAT site provides links to the report and articles.)
Holidaying in the Welsh Borders was lovely. But it's also nice to be back. :-) Now it's my job to help people who come for Alexander lessons to feel as sprightly as a Carnival dancer.
