Reading

I had a kind of fix me table turn with Margaret, which worked out really well. Feeling still quite jetlagged, it helped me to stay in my body, with a reduced amount of stimuli interfering. It looks like the process of unravelling my bodily habits looped back to my shoulders, after noticing the extra effort in my ankles, knees and hips.

We dealt with the worry habit during the reading session, yet not really in a satisfying matter. Although most teachers encounter apprehension, worries and anxieties at some point with their students, FM Alexander offered only an approach resembling cognitive therapy. Fortunately Alexander teachers use their hands as well, which allows them to give their students new (psychophysical) experiences instead of analysing causes to death.

In Jenny's group we tried to use the monkey to find out about our own worries, which failed me a bit, mainly because the jetlag diverted most of my attention.

Inhibition

I had a turn with David again, doing the old sitting in a chair routine. I realise that the feeling of locked knees belongs in my habits to the idea of standing. Today's reading dealt with inhibition, and we extended the topic in the group sessions. Jenny tried her best to explain the difference between inhibition (in AT understanding) and withholding consent. I'd better reread the chapter for today to get my head a bit better around this.

I still struggle trying to do the right thing instead of more not-doing, end-gaining remains a temptation. I use the low ceiling in the basement to check my height every now and then, currently just my chin is lower than the ceiling on the last step.

Luckily I did my anatomy homework already yesterday, it took me more than an hour. My progress definitely depends on my efforts, which I might increase in a non endgaining way.

Literature

Today I worked a lot with Libby (or she with me :), and just a little bit with the freshies. Bo borrowed me his anatomy book, so I can do my homework for next week, until I got my own copy. Libby helped me discovering mobility in my tailbone, something I never thought of before.

I enjoyed discussing the readings, and as group work we played with the position of position of mechanical advantage. From a coordinated position sitting on the back of the chair Libby put a book between my back and the back of the chair. I wasn't really leaning on it, just touching it with the shoulder blades.

Although I expected to see Duncan at some point, it felt a bit different than the private lessons. Yet it allows me to see him working, and observing teachers has some great value.