First off – it passionately appreciates food, drink, activity and all manner of feel good emotions and sensations. Right?
But here are 3 more things that your body really appreciates:
- An appropriate level of tone to get the job done. Think using your arms with less big muscle tension and more oppositions.
- An awareness of your interfering habits (Yes, we all have them!) Awareness = knowing what to modify. I can help you become aware and modify.
- Freer breathing which is facilitated by 1 and 2.
I remember how uncomfortable I felt nearly 16 years ago during my Alexander Technique training, being encouraged to adjust the level of tone in my body, even while walking across the floor. My habits were strong and automatic. It just didn’t feel right to modify the thing that felt right, yet slowly the “new” wrong feeling became what felt right, because it was more easeful and coordinated. That feeling helped me to consciously adopt a methodology for CHANGE.
If it were a formula, it might look like this:
right feeling = wrong feeling
wrong feeling = pause and consider
pause and consider = awareness
awareness = possibility of a new feeling
a new feeling = the new efficient habit
Will the old habits go away completely? Certainly not! Yet, can our thinking activate more organization, strength AND ease whenever we choose? Definitely.
As a ballet dancer, I wish I knew about this way back then. Looking back I estimate that I was using at least 30% too much muscular tone in classes, rehearsals and performance. I can see now that often, fear of losing my balance, forgetting the choreography, and holding my breath contributed greatly towards this 30% excess.
I can help you to create a new conscious tool that can help you feel better in ALL your activities. This is another tool that all of us ballroom dancers can acquire that gives us another advantage in our competitions.
If you want to find out more, book a lesson with me, either on Zoom or if you are in the NY/NJ area at my studio in Montclair, NJ. Please use my contact form, tell me about yourself and leave your availability. I will respond within 24 hours.
Happy Dancing! If you know other dancers who may benefit from reading my blog, please forward. If you are a studio owner, I offer workshops on location. Go to my home page to see an outline.
