Tomsterdam - a touch of technique

I was a bit taken aback when I stumbled upon this reference in an article titled “God is not dead“. The author posits that religion, far from disappearing in Europe, is rather taking on new “alternative” forms.

Forms of alternative spirituality such as Alexander technique, Buddhist groups, Islamic Sufism, herbalism, reiki, and yoga are also thriving.

To suggest that the technique, based as it is on physiological reality and empirical observations, is some type of spirituality suggests to me that the author needs either a dictionary or at least one lesson in the technique from a certified teacher.

I would have preferred had the author called the Alexander Technique an alternative to spirituality.

An article in Tuesday’s Guardian talks about “a new approach to running using the principles of the Alexander Technique.” How strange that a technique over 100 years old is still called “new”.

I am trotting around Bedford Square in central London like a pony in the ring, steered by a hand on the back of my neck and another on my lower back. The potential for feeling foolish is high, but what I actually feel is a great sense of joy. I’ve been running for 18 years but it has never felt this easy and, well, bouncy.

“Think of running over the ground, rather than into it,” says the owner of the guiding hands. He is Malcolm Balk, an Alexander technique teacher and running coach who has created a new approach to running.”

Ruth Dreier came for her first lesson in the Alexander Technique on 11 November 2004. Patrick filmed the entire lesson, then distilled it down to this 2 minute video.