Conference noted::equitation

    Here is a short description on the Alexander Technique which was
    written by Lorna Faraldi.
    
    [reprinted without permission from Dressage and CT, March 1991]
    
    The Technique of Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) is a
    psychophysical, re-educational process that is taught world-wide.  
    In a sense, the Alexander Technique is *dressage without the horse*.
    
    Through the Alexander teacher's hands-on assistance, riders are quite
    literally worked "in hand" and put "on the aids" as they are guided
    through their "school figures":  standing, bending, sitting, and
    walking.  Through them, riders rediscover the head-neck-back
    relationship that restores their optimal balance and functioning.  Then
    they learn to apply it while working in the stationary saddle and
    riding on and off the lunge.
    
    Once they are "calm, straight, and forward", "on the bit", and in
    "self-carriage", riders, too, progress more steadily.  They become more
    elegant and effective on their horses.
    
    For more information, refer to Lorna Faraldi's aritcles "The Alexander
    Technique" (June, 1988) and "Classical Principles, Classical Parallels"
    (March-August, 1989), published in DRESSAGE & CT.

    Kiirja,  I don't know how they apply Alexander technique to riding, but
    I had some sessions several years ago when I was a voice student (a lot 
    of professional singers and actors use it).
    
    The idea is to competely relearn how to use your body.  During a
    session, you basically must let go, give your body over to your
    teacher and just allow your attention to rest on the physical feelings
    so that later you will be able to repeat those feelings on your own. 
    Your teacher then will guide your body through various movements.  For
    example, I spent one session re-learning how to sit in and rise from a
    chair.  Several sessions on walking.  One wonderful session, I lay on
    my back on a table and the teacher moved slowly around me, gently
    stretching, repositioning and replacing my arms by my side.  She did
    the same thing with my legs and with my head and neck.  She also
    reached under my shoulder blades and very gently stretched and pulled
    them free, and did the same thing above and behind my pelvis and my
    head and neck.  When I stood up, I found that my torso had much more 
    inner space...it literally took up more space, had more room for 
    breathing.  After a session, I mostly felt like I was floating around
    rather than walking.
    
    There are some gentle exercises you can use, but nothing like leg-lifts
    or sit-ups.  Those kinds of exercises are almost the antithesis of
    Alexander, since their primary goal is to strengthen and tighten
    muscles (and therefore can become movement-restrictive), whereas 
    Alexander's goal is to re-learn movement.   Also, I think Alexander 
    doesn't work so much on muscles as on connective tissues, posture and, 
    most especially, movement.
    
    Its an ongoing thing and because you are trying to undo the habits of a
    lifetime, the more sessions the better.  The sessions feel really
    wonderful...very pampering.  Wish I had the $$ to do it again.
    
    Mary

    Kiirja,
    
       Mary covered a lot in .3.  Mostly it's the teacher gently working
    with your muscles.  I think they concentrate basically with muscles
    and connective tissue.  Bones not in alignment are usually caused by
    muscles pulling them out of alignment, so working with the muscles
    helps to restore the bone alignment.  One example of this is Sally
    Swift, herself.  She has scoliosis (sp?) of the spine (side-to-side
    crookedness) and wore a back brace most of her life.  She wore it
    constantly before Alexander lessons and after 4 years was able to go
    without it for most of the time (AND she was probably in her 70's when
    this happened!).
    
       The sessions where you lie on a table are great.  The teacher will,
    for example, take your arm and move it around.  You are supposed to do
    nothing with the arm while the teacher is moving it - you really are
    tempted to try to help move it, but resisting the temptation is what
    it's all about (i.e. inhibiting your natural reflexes).  Also you don't
    "go limp" either - you allow the teacher to move your arm.  It may
    sound easy to do, but it sure is hard at first.  Once you start to
    learn how to inhibit your natural reflex to do certain things (mostly
    done through awareness and thinking and not through doing something
    with your muscles), you can inhibit your reflex to tense certain
    muscles in certain situations.  One of my problems was I didn't know
    some of my muscles were tense.  They felt perfectly normal to me, but I
    had some that felt like sheet metal to my teacher.  First I had to
    learn to feel that they were tense, then try to inhibit the tension.
    
       Some teachers do a lot of "table" work, and some do more with
    walking, sitting, and other activities.  Teachers who work with actors,
    singers, dancers, etc. will work with you as you perform.  I usually do
    some piano playing in my lessons (mostly because I tend to do the same
    things playing piano as I do in front of my workstation at work!). 
    It's pretty hard for them to work with you while you're on a horse, but
    you can simulate a few things involved with riding (like following the
    horse's movement with your hands).
    
       As Mary mentioned, exercises to build muscles are somewhat counter
    productive as they do limit your flexibility.  Mostly there isn't
    anything you really "do" except become aware of what you're doing with
    your muscles.  "Let it happen" is a phrase that is sometimes used.
    
    						Jan

    Can you suggest a teacher or place in the Boston Metro West area
    where we could possibly take "lessons"? (if that is a correct term?)
    
    	-Kate

    I always thought my horse had a problem moving to the left...After
    my reining lesson on Sunday, we (instructor and me) realized that
    the problem is not the horse but me.  My weight goes to the right,
    I guess you would say I'm not centered!!  
    
    Just like Kiirja's reaction, my first thoughts were of exercise.
    Do I need to build my muscles on my left side?  Obvoiusly not. 
    This note couldn't be more timely for me.
    
    Sounds like I should go back to my muscle therapist.  Although I
    don't think she teaches the Alexander method, a lot of what you
    are describing is what she does in a session.  Relaxing muscle to
    get the bones back in place.  After a session I always felt "lighter".
    The table work described in the previous note is what she does.
     
    Any other suggestions on what can be done to be in balance would
    be most appreciated.  I'll try a session just before I go for a
    lesson and see if that helps my balance and let you all know if
    it helps!!!!
    
    Caryl

    Re: .5
    
    Kate,
    
       I have a booklet which has an address to write to in order to get a
    list of Alexander teachers.  However, I haven't found the booklet yet
    so I could post the address.  The one teacher I know of in Boston is
    Tommy Thompson and he is supposed to be really good (my former
    Alexander teacher went to him).  This also means he's probably really
    busy and fairly expensive.  Will try to get back soon with that
    address.
    
    						Jan