Authentic Change
“The problem is, or rather one of the problems, for there are many, a sizable proportion of which are continually clogging up the civil, commercial, and criminal courts in all areas of the Galaxy, and especially, where possible, the more corrupt ones, this.
The previous sentence makes sense.
That is not the problem.
This is:
Change.
Read it through again and you’ll get it.”
-Douglas Adams, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
The ocean is the best example of constant change with unwavering authenticity that I could think of. Iceberg Point, Lopez Island, WA
It does happen that sometimes people come to take Alexander Technique lessons and they don’t like the experience. I’ve heard several reasons given for why someone doesn’t plan to come back after a lesson or two, and the one I want to talk about is change - usually the issue is that the person feels like they are changing in one way or another and that feels uncomfortable or even frightening.
AT is all about change. We are looking at changing habits, changing how someone moves or sits or walks, changing their thought processes about their body, and so on. I don’t advertise lessons by saying “You Will Change!!!” but part of my description of the Technique includes phrases like ‘we will take a look at your habits as you move and see if your old habits can be replaced with new ideas about moving more freely and easily’. Many people want to change (fix) their posture or change (improve or get rid of) their chronic pain. The problem is - or rather one of the problems, haha - that in Alexander lessons we are also hoping to change how we think about movement, how we think about the body, how we think about effort and goals and discipline and boundaries and taking up space in the world. Those are big thoughts and it can be scary to give yourself the option of slowing down or restating a goal or having a different timeline than what you planned on.
I described myself as an intense, driven, Type A personality for many years; as a piano teacher I hated taking days off and would show up for a performance commitment even if I was sick. I also wanted to make sure people knew how anxious and worried I was about solving problems or achieving a certain outcome. Look how hard I am working! Can’t you see how stressed I am and how important this is to me? Out of my way!
This is, I think, where authenticity comes in - I still work hard to honor any commitments I’ve made and I take time to be prepared for classes or rehearsals or meetings, but I’ve learned more about how I want to spend my time and energy and how to prioritize my mental and physical health when working with others. I can actually say NO to requests and have developed some ability to decide whether I am being asked to solve a problem or just listen. I think I am still intense and driven! But I hope that I comes across as caring and invested instead of anxious and worried.
Given the quote that I started with, I thought a fish would be appropriate. This one lives at the Biopark in Albuquerque, NM.
