Philosophy and the Alexander Technique- Midterm Blog Post 1- Morgan Farmer- Section 14

For my midterm blog post series, I want to begin by giving a little bit of background information on a subject I've mentioned a few times in group discussion. Before delving into how it relates to philosophy, I would like to explain, in depth, what the Alexander Technique is. The Alexander Technique is an educational process of mind and body awareness and co-ordination developed by F.M. Alexander. Alexander Technique was created when Alexander, originally an orator, had vocal difficulties for which no cure could be found so he began a process of observing his habits and what happened when he changed them. Through this process, Alexander found that to cure most ailments, a person must achieve mind and body awareness through observation and change habits that they have developed that are detrimental to their daily life and comfort.


Here is a little video explaining about what the AT is and what is is not:

During the AT education process, students go through a series of stages, the first being observation. In this stage, the student asks him or her self what they are doing, how they are doing it and how it effects their everyday life. The next step is Inhibition, which in AT doesn't mean exactly the same thing as it does normally. In AT, inhibition means choosing not to respond to a stimulus with your habitual response. The next phase of Alexander Technique is often called Direction, in which students are educated on how to use their bodies to their greatest mechanical advantage. Direction is composed of Alexander's four concepts of good use: to let the neck be free, to let the head be forward and up, to allow the torso to lengthen, widen, and deepen, to let the legs move away from or out of the hip joint, and to allow the shoulders out to the side and float. Teachers emphasize to think these directions instead of attempting to do any of them, because what we feel is not always what is right( spoiler alert: there will be a post about the skeptics later on!) and also because the mind-body connection is extremely important to the discipline. 

I believe that the Alexander Technique applies to philosophy because while the practice typically is used to help with body ailments, performance, or physical awkwardness, the Alexander Technique involves awareness and connection of the body and mind, and many AT students report more mental clarity and performance, less anxiety, and are better equipped to cope with their emotions.  Several philosophers that we have covered in class recognized a mind-body connection in their work and I have observed aspects of AT in a few other theories we have covered. Philosopher John Dewey was also an important student of Alexander Technique and helped Alexander develop and refine his work. 

In my next post I will discuss F.M Alexander's personal life philosophies and those of his student and close friend John Dewey.