Playing with Posture Positive Child Development using the Alexander Technique by Sue Holladay First published in 2012 by HITE HITE Limited, 10 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF Email: [email protected] Website: www.hiteltd.co.uk Copyright © 2012 Sue Holladay The rights of Sue Holladay to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library. Book and cover design by Nalini Thapen ISBN: 978-0-9568997-2-9 4 Note to readers This book conveys the opinions and ideas of its author. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher are providing medical advice. If the reader has any concerns, or requires advice, a doctor should be consulted. The ideas and games outlined in this book may not be suitable for everyone, and are not guaranteed to produce any particular results. The reader will gain most benefit from reading alongside having lessons with a qualified Alexander Technique teacher. Both the author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of use and application of any of the contents of this book. Some names and identifying details of the individuals mentioned in this book have been changed to protect their privacy. If you would like to contact the author or publisher with any comments, requests, or suggestion, then please email: [email protected] To my three children, Oliver, Nicholas, Lucilla, and six grandchildren, who have led me along this delightful and rewarding path of learning, with my love and thanks. Contents Foreword 1. Introduction Searching for ideal posture Posture is conditioned by habitual movement Why the Alexander Technique is unusual Education and positive child development Can the Alexander Technique help your child 2. Foundations Alexander Technique origins and now Building up integration Concepts in the Alexander Technique 3. Not so common sense Indirect means Alexander thinking 4. Alexander and positive child development Stages of development Early years Primary years Secondary years 5. Mapping the body Eliminate strain Increase freedom Body Mapping Importance of head balance Importance of breathing The back and limbs How it all goes wrong 6. Reset and restore Releasing the spine Lying down the Alexander way Waiting time 7. Putting it into practice Listening and communicating Internal discipline Sensitivity to touch Keeping mind and body in step 8. Thinking in action The daily round Standing – the plumb line test Lifting with leverage Sitting in an armchair Lying in bed Dealing with stress Integration – your mindset Reminders for thinking in action 9. School life Sport and fitness Music, dance and drama Arts and crafts Special needs 10. The home environment Support and nourishment Rhythm Play Joy 11. Conclusion Appendix 1: Games to play with children Appendix 2: Scientific Support Acknowledgements References Foreword Sue brings to this work the same quality of lightness of being, playfulness and delight that I experienced from her teaching when I began my own journey with the Technique some 12 years ago. My first encounter with the Alexander Technique had been through musicians describing the greater ease with which they created sound. As a violinist (albeit amateur), I was intrigued. Subsequently, in my role as a chiropractor, I questioned the use of external functional appliances to ‘correct’ or optimize the mechanics of the foot and temporo-mandibular joints, and I began taking lessons myself. With this experience I recall observing that primary school children would benefit if the teaching of the Technique were part of their formal learning experience. Over the years this instinct has been borne out as I have observed the benefits in children of all ages who have taken lessons. There are, of course, the direct and more tangible benefits of effortlessly making a fuller sound when playing a musical instrument, or improvements in coordination. More profoundly, the ease within the body that they develop seems to help these individuals navigate the challenges of transitional periods in their lives, or what we might call ‘rites of passage’, like puberty. However ‘Playing with Posture’ has a far broader scope. The book excels at communicating the essence of the Alexander Technique in such a way that is very readable and also highly kinaesthetic - immediately I read the directions ... ‘Let the neck be free To let the head go forward-and-up, To let the back, lengthen and widen, And let the knees go forward-and-away’ ... I feel my body responding! Head forward and up, back opening and I notice that I carry this reawakened awareness with me in all the normal comings and goings that make up my day. What a joyful, peaceful and delightful space this is! It’s a place from which there is space to chose my perspective in any given moment. I particularly like Sue’s short form, ‘Stop, Think, Act’, as I feel it’s a useful translation of the directions both for those who have not yet had the experience of one-to-one Alexander Technique lessons and for those who have. It shortens the directions to a form that both children and adults can very easily integrate into their lives making all the benefits of being truly present in one’s body, and therefore present in all activities, accessible in a new way. When I recommend patients take Alexander Technique lessons it can be a challenge to convey the essence and therefore value of the Alexander Technique in a way that makes the potential benefits meaningful to an individual. This book easily and clearly communicates this message by demonstrating its applicability to the everyday, through examples of activities and tasks that most people can relate to, such as pushing a supermarket trolley, sitting at a desk or washing-up. The inclusion of games for parents and teachers to play with children provides ample opportunities for practical exploration and fun. The author brings to this work the unique combination of the authority of a teacher who has a wealth of experience in many different contexts and a compassionate understanding of the ‘human condition’ - our lapses, our forgetfulness as we fall into old patterns of postural strain and compromise. The material is readable and accessible through the sharing of personal experience and the lightness of approach. Those ‘slouching’ postural tendencies are explained when we understand that too much tension in one muscle group pulls us into a place of compromise. As we comprehend the roots to such patterns we can let go of the idea that it is about laziness – and then there is room for a different choice, beginning with freeing the neck, – breakthrough! Neuro-developmental delay and the remediation of persistent primitive reflexes is an area of special interest in my work with children. Sally Goddard-Blyth has been profoundly important to the area as a whole and to my personal practice and references to her work within this book give further validation to ‘Playing with Posture’. I have observed some of the most rewarding and dramatic results as the retained reflexes are inhibited, allowing age appropriate neurological development to be restored and completed. It is an area of work that is huge in terms of positive consequences for the individuals enabling them to reach their full potential. It is also an area which, despite compelling evidence, continues to be largely neglected at huge cost to individuals and their families with the consequent implications for society as a whole. It is particularly gratifying that this topic is covered in a straight forward and encouraging manner in this book and in such a way that the material will be relevant to parents, teachers, both mainstream and special needs, and to the wider field of health practitioners. ‘Playing with Posture’ is relevant to the individual who wishes to gain an initial understanding of the Alexander Technique, perhaps before embarking on lessons, and for different reasons would be equally helpful for those already having lessons. It is highly relevant for parents and carers of children and its scope is sufficiently broad to be a manual for parenting. Sue’s commonsense style is refreshing and her message is ultimately uplifting and inspiring. Alison Edwards Chiropractor Cambridge, England