CLASSIC LESSONS
EATING AN APPLE WITH MARJORIE BARSTOW Lincoln, NE circa 1987
A mid-twenties Aussie explained to the Alexander students in the Barstow summer workshop that because people were using the technique to do what they do best, singing, performing monologues, dancing, etc, he would do what he does best- EAT. So he took a bite of an apple. Marjorie Barstow showed him how much tension he was using to bite and chew. She helped him move with less tension to bring the apple to his mouth. And when he took a bite, even the sound was different, less harsh, more pleasing. The sound of his chewing was different too. He looked astonished and smiled saying, "And it tastes better too!"
A mid-twenties Aussie explained to the Alexander students in the Barstow summer workshop that because people were using the technique to do what they do best, singing, performing monologues, dancing, etc, he would do what he does best- EAT. So he took a bite of an apple. Marjorie Barstow showed him how much tension he was using to bite and chew. She helped him move with less tension to bring the apple to his mouth. And when he took a bite, even the sound was different, less harsh, more pleasing. The sound of his chewing was different too. He looked astonished and smiled saying, "And it tastes better too!"
DOUG HATCH: STILL WATCHING OUT FOR THE OTHER GUY Washington DC 1989
When Doug Hatch started to walk across the classroom, he leaned backwards and brought his right leg up high in the air, then leaning forward, bringing his foot to the ground began walking to the other side of the room. His windup astonished everyone. The teacher, Donald Weed, smiling, thought for a moment and then asked, "Can you walk without doing that?" Doug looked at him and answered, "Yes", and agreed to show us. He turned and took off, walking without leaning back or pulling his leg high in the air. Hmmm.
Don asked him if he had any idea why, since he could walk without the big windup, he always started walking by leaning back? And again, Doug said "Yes," astonishing the group. 99% of the time the answer is "Without doing what". Most of us do not know what we do in preparation for an action much less why. Doug knew exactly what and why. He explained that when he was in Military School marching drills, he had more than once nicked the back of the shoes of the guy in front of him as they started to march, ruining not only the shoe's mirror polish but owner's demerit free record. Doug figured out that if he leaned back as he brought his foot up high that by the time it came down, the guy in front of him had moved far enough out of range for Doug to miss the back of his shoe every time, thereby saving himself from off-parade-grounds fisticuffs. In fact, Doug was so successful that thirty-five years later, he had still not nicked this guy's shoes ONCE!
No longer on parade, Doug has options.
"I DON'T NOTICE A CHANGE" Washington, DC, 1989
Peggy came to the Sunday afternoon Alexander Class with her husband. She sat in a chair; her head was forward, her back a pronounced curved "C". She did not engage with other people. When her turn came, she said that her back bothered her but she didn't think anything could be done. The teacher stepped behind her and assisted her in turning her head more easily than usual and helped her notice tension in her neck and torso. In the next round, Peggy, releasing more unnecessary tension, moved up out of her habitual slump. In the short distance from forward slump to sitting up, her face dropped 20 years. She appeared alert and was looking at people in the room. When asked if she noticed a change, she paused for a second, and then looked around and said, "No I don't notice a change."
Peggy's husband noticed a change and they came to the next class.
When Doug Hatch started to walk across the classroom, he leaned backwards and brought his right leg up high in the air, then leaning forward, bringing his foot to the ground began walking to the other side of the room. His windup astonished everyone. The teacher, Donald Weed, smiling, thought for a moment and then asked, "Can you walk without doing that?" Doug looked at him and answered, "Yes", and agreed to show us. He turned and took off, walking without leaning back or pulling his leg high in the air. Hmmm.
Don asked him if he had any idea why, since he could walk without the big windup, he always started walking by leaning back? And again, Doug said "Yes," astonishing the group. 99% of the time the answer is "Without doing what". Most of us do not know what we do in preparation for an action much less why. Doug knew exactly what and why. He explained that when he was in Military School marching drills, he had more than once nicked the back of the shoes of the guy in front of him as they started to march, ruining not only the shoe's mirror polish but owner's demerit free record. Doug figured out that if he leaned back as he brought his foot up high that by the time it came down, the guy in front of him had moved far enough out of range for Doug to miss the back of his shoe every time, thereby saving himself from off-parade-grounds fisticuffs. In fact, Doug was so successful that thirty-five years later, he had still not nicked this guy's shoes ONCE!
No longer on parade, Doug has options.
"I DON'T NOTICE A CHANGE" Washington, DC, 1989
Peggy came to the Sunday afternoon Alexander Class with her husband. She sat in a chair; her head was forward, her back a pronounced curved "C". She did not engage with other people. When her turn came, she said that her back bothered her but she didn't think anything could be done. The teacher stepped behind her and assisted her in turning her head more easily than usual and helped her notice tension in her neck and torso. In the next round, Peggy, releasing more unnecessary tension, moved up out of her habitual slump. In the short distance from forward slump to sitting up, her face dropped 20 years. She appeared alert and was looking at people in the room. When asked if she noticed a change, she paused for a second, and then looked around and said, "No I don't notice a change."
Peggy's husband noticed a change and they came to the next class.