Alexander Technique

[gusl]

http://www.alexandertechniqueinstruction.com/at-desc.htm

The Alexander Technique deals with how we use ourselves as we perform
the many different activities of our lives. During the first couple of years
of life we used ourselves beautifully. This photograph (from Michael Gelb's
excellent introductory book Body Learning) is a nice illustration of the
natural integrity of the head, neck and back that we had as young children.

As we continue through life most of us acquire a variety of habits of misuse:
habits of tension that interfere with the good use with which we started. Some
of these habits originate in the unconscious imitation of the posture, carriage
and movement of others around us. Most people also develop habitual
responses to the many forms of stimuli encountered daily which can involve
unnecessary tension (such as tensing the neck and back when rushing or
tightening arms and shoulders while working at the computer). Poor posture
and pain in the neck, back and shoulders often result from the cumulative
effect of these habitual patterns and our lack of awareness of how we're using
ourselves as we're going about our lives.

Lessons in the Alexander Technique provide the means to restore the good use
with which we began our lives. During a lesson the teacher instructs the pupil,
both verbally and with gentle hands-on guidance, to learn how to perform such daily
activities as standing, sitting, bending and walking with greater and greater ease,
balance and poise. With each lesson the pupil's awareness grows along with
the ability to unlearn existing habits of tension and prevent the formation of new ones.

Less is more
Just as most things function better and last longer if they're well taken care of,
so do humans. By knowing how to perform the activities of personal and
professional life with appropriate effort and tension, people typically find that
they're able to do more with greater ease and less strain.

I've sometimes wondered why I would get unnecessarily strained playing an instrument. Actually, coming to think of it (and trying it), I see that fiddle (violin) is an uncomfortable instrument to play, especially when you do it fast. Maybe I'm just suffering from a lack of classical training.