Matthias Alexander Quotes

One of the most remarkable of man's characteristics is his capacity for becoming used to conditions of almost any kind, whether good or bad, both in the self and in the environment, and once he has become used to such conditions they seem to him both right and natural. This capacity is a boon when it enables him to adapt himself to conditions which are desirable, but it may prove a great danger when the conditions are undesirable. When his sensory appreciation is untrustworthy, it is possible for him to become so familiar with seriously harmful conditions of misuse of himself that these malconditions will feel right and comfortable.

... the delusion that because we are able to do what we "will to do" in acts that are habitual and involve familiar sensory experiences, we shall be equally successful in doing what we "will to do" in acts which are contrary to our habit and therefore involve sensory experiences that are unfamiliar.

Head is tilted slightly forward, and upward. Neck is free and relaxed Shoulders relax downward Shoulders widen Back lengthens On the outbreath especially concentrate on allowing the above 5 points to happen The diaphragm may naturally sink on the inhale as your body assumes the natural posture (as contrasted with moving upward during the inhale) This allows the chest to expand without the shoulders lifting upward The air comes into the body as a natural action, not as a sucking. The body is in general to be relaxed One can practice making an ahhh sound on the exhale, which teaches the body to be relaxed on the exhale. There are certain stimuli and situations that can cause a person to go into a tightening of their body. One can practice inhibiting ones reactions to those stimuli. Let go of end-gaining, the attachment of getting to a goal.

You translate everything, whether physical or mental or spiritual, into muscular tension.