Moving Consciously: Somatic Transformations through Dance, Yoga, and Touch

One of the aims of an Alexander lesson is to give the pupil the experience of a balanced working of the Primary Control. This is not an end in itself but rather a preparation for activity. I know from my own experience that when this balanced Use is maintained in movement the quality of action changes. Movement becomes lighter and easier, breathing

As the singers settle into their seats again, I sum up the point of the exercise: It is the middle way between chaos and rigidity—the flow of independent voices linked together in harmony—that maximizes both complexity and vitality. This is the essence of integration.

One example is in the area of our cultural belief in core strength. Believing muscular weakness to be the primary problem, we embark on programs that continually condition through building muscular control. However, growing density in muscle tissue, disguised as strength, rather than cultivating somatic intelligence simply creates additional armori

Or: Will this form of exercise make me strong? Instead, we need to ask: How much somatic awareness can I maintain in any given position, movement, or activity? What sensory cues signal present space and time?