Tom Russell

   When we walk the spiritual path it is vital that harmony increasingly unfold between all our centers. If we become too weighted in the intellect, neglecting the body and emotions, we will become lopsided and our spiritual growth will be hampered. Our "lips' will know the truth (as the New Testament says) but our hearts will be far from it. If we focus too much on the emotions the intellect suffers. However, the most common mistake made by people walking the path is neglecting to bring the physical center into alignment with the new vertical direction of mind and emotions.

   You can enrich your spiritual growth by learning the Alexander Technique. Why? Because the A.T. teaches you how to apply constructive principles of awareness right in the midst of daily life. You learn precisely how to pause, let a habitual muscular pattern float by and instead do the action, whatever it is, in a conscious and released way. As an educational study the Alexander Technique reinforces and illuminates everything you learn in all the good spiritual books. It helps make a powerful shift from theory to application and can save you a great deal of time.

Freedom is internal harmony, where thoughts, emotions, and physical movements all cheerfully do the same thing. -- Vernon Howard

   In his rich and practical book The Power of Your Supermind, Vernon Howard writes, "Freedom is internal harmony, where thoughts, emotions, and physical movements all cheerfully do the same thing. They are in agreement, having no argument with each other. It is like the harmony produced by the separate strings on a guitar when plucked by a skilled musician."

   Over a century ago F.M. Alexander was a successful Shakespearian actor. But his voice failed him during vital performances and he was forced to give up his promising career. The experts of the day could not help him so he decided to take matters into is own hands. He observed himself for years in front of a mirror to discover what he was unconsciously doing that was straining his voice. These intense observations led to an amazingly simple and beneficial insight.

Mr. Alexander observed that we all have one habit in common, although manifested in many different ways. -- Tom Russell

   Mr. Alexander observed that we all have one habit in common, although manifested in many different ways. In particular he noticed that in beginning a movement (no matter how small), we tend to tighten our necks, which pulls our heads back and down. This habit of subtle tightening is so small and so familiar almost no one ever notices it.

   It is possible to begin to notice this habitual tightening and prevent it. When you learn how to observe and refuse a habitual muscular pattern, and instead choose to pause and release vertically, the rest of the body naturally follows.

   Being a kinesthetic study the A.T. is learned in private sessions with a certified instructor. These lessons give you THE EXPERIENCE of being taller and wider without "trying" to be. You'll learn how to maintain maximum length and width as you do all the simple acts of daily living. It is a powerful tool and it is 100% practical, educational and down-to-earth. F.M. Alexander had a laser focus on a few simple principles. The Technique's most appropriate domain is the school system but in our degenerating society it is far too practical to be of interest to most of today's "educators."

   In addition to health and awareness, another benefit of the A.T. is the positive impact it has on your sense of ease and presence before an audience. You'll learn how to attend to yourself first and speak and move with the least amount of muscular effort, whether your audience is one or a thousand. This is why the A.T. is practiced by many professional musicians, actors and performers. It is a part of the core curriculum at the Juilliard School of Performing Arts because inefficient and habitual use of the self can be a huge stumbling block at the higher levels of artistic expression. If you're a sales professional lessons in the A.T. might prove to be a hundred times more valuable than the next new "way to sell" book or seminar.

When everything is in agreement on releasing vertically it is amazing how much energy you have and how good you feel. -- Tom Russell

   The A.T. helps to open communication between all your centers. When everything is in agreement on releasing vertically it is amazing how much energy you have and how good you feel. Spiritual principles must permeate all of life and not remain an isolated domain that you go to once or twice a day. The advanced practice occurs when you bring the spiritual to everything, and the A.T. is a powerful tool that will help you do just that.

   Vernon Howard also said once, "The greatest inspiration on earth is something practical, something that really works." The Alexander Technique was never recommended by Mr. Howard -- I doubt that he knew about it. But from personal experience I can tell you, The A.T. really works.

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