This video demonstrates a clear illustration of the primary control and how the practitioner maneuvers the neck of the student. Allowing the neck to be free, forward and up which release the body to be free so that the student can move easily. The exercise helps to reduce muscle strain, release tension, to extend and expand the student’s movement. The student discovers and brings attention to how they are moving while the hands of the practitioner guides them. Sitting and rising from a chair unites feelings of emotions as one is involved in daily activities. The use of the table allows one to experience non-activity and direction guidance, making this the core of the Alexander Technique. Squatting down and raising up allows the person to return to the inborn quality of moving. The practitioner guides the student to use the hands and joints without excess effort while maintaining the relationship between the head, neck, and the back. The movement becomes effortless and easy for the student. The floating ribs are connected to breathing mechanisms, loosening the facial muscles, lowering the lower jaw and breathing with a whisper. This is known as the whispered ah. For more information, please watch:
The whispered ah is a vocal exercise, not a breathing exercise. The video demonstrates what the whispered ah should sound like. There should be some tension in the tongue to make that sound. The reason for making a vocal sound is to communicate. Emotions and feelings are connected to the sound that humans make. One can practice this exercise with a partner or face a mirror.
1. Face someone or a mirror. Don’t do anything.
2. Feel the support of your feet (standing) or the support of the chair (sitting)
3. Primary control: head is forward and up
4. Breathe out through your nose with your mouth open.
5. Relax your eyes. Repeat this.
6. Let the lower jaw hang naturally.
7. Tip of the tongue is resting on the lower teeth and is inactive
8. Breathe in and out again.
I found this exercise to be a good breathing exercise for relaxing and releasing tension in the facial muscles and the neck and lower jaw.
These exercises allow the dancer to efficiently return to the functioning of one’s body way of moving such as sitting, rising and squatting encourages alertness, changing emotions by being engaged in routine activities. The dancer is more aware of tension present in the body, learns how to avoid or release it and is more in tune with the bodily alignment of the head, neck, and back. These principles like primary control can be applied to standing in the parallel position in contemporary dance or first position at the ballet barre. It gives the dancer a sense of elongation and lengthening of the spine during preparation and while dancing. It engages and integrates the body to move as a whole.
Reference:
Alexander Technique (2010) An Introduction To the Alexander Technique By Ofir Mizrahi. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCS8JGINrtg [Accessed 1 May 2015].
Ron Murdock (2009) Alexander Technique The Whispered Ah. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ga2ThmuE8&index=41&list=WL [Accessed 2 May 2015].
1. Face someone or a mirror. Don’t do anything.
2. Feel the support of your feet (standing) or the support of the chair (sitting)
3. Primary control: head is forward and up
4. Breathe out through your nose with your mouth open.
5. Relax your eyes. Repeat this.
6. Let the lower jaw hang naturally.
7. Tip of the tongue is resting on the lower teeth and is inactive
8. Breathe in and out again.
I found this exercise to be a good breathing exercise for relaxing and releasing tension in the facial muscles and the neck and lower jaw.
These exercises allow the dancer to efficiently return to the functioning of one’s body way of moving such as sitting, rising and squatting encourages alertness, changing emotions by being engaged in routine activities. The dancer is more aware of tension present in the body, learns how to avoid or release it and is more in tune with the bodily alignment of the head, neck, and back. These principles like primary control can be applied to standing in the parallel position in contemporary dance or first position at the ballet barre. It gives the dancer a sense of elongation and lengthening of the spine during preparation and while dancing. It engages and integrates the body to move as a whole.
Reference:
Alexander Technique (2010) An Introduction To the Alexander Technique By Ofir Mizrahi. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCS8JGINrtg [Accessed 1 May 2015].
Ron Murdock (2009) Alexander Technique The Whispered Ah. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ga2ThmuE8&index=41&list=WL [Accessed 2 May 2015].