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How Bad Is The “P” Word? — 5 Comments

  1. Robert, I love the metaphor of the shelf. The label on the shelf doesn’t tell you everything that’s in the book, and the book may be about many more subjects than the lable conveys — but if the book isn’t on the shelf in the first place, it won’t be read.

    We could extend to any short description of the Alexander Technique, whether involving posture or not: it doesn’t have to — indeed, cannot — convery the full profundity and subtlety of the work. It can, and should, give one clear idea about the Technique that might motivate a person to want to find out more.

  2. Hi Robert, nicely balanced argument. I have a question, for you and any other teachers who might like to join in. In your experience, how many students do actually come to a realization about posture for themselves? I’m firmly and vocally in the ‘anti-posture’ camp precisely because most students I encounter definitely do not budge on their concept of posture, or the fixed muscles that go with it!

    • Hi Karen,

      Well it’s true some students are reluctant to give up their fixed ideas about “posture”, “right positions” etc but it’s something I address all the time when necessary and, over time, most students do “get it”.

  3. Nice topic. I resisted using the word posture in the past because of the fixed ideas students had about it but then I realized it provided a great place to discuss how they think about themselves and their body. Now I approach the issue by telling people that posture is a snapshot of body position at any one time so that if you are moving well then any snapshot is also going to show good mechanical alignment.

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