Posture and the Alexander Technique:
Four reasons for NOT sitting up

An effort to sit up makes you fixed, rigid and immobile

Think about it. To sit or stand straighter you tighten muscles. When you want to move you’ve got either to fight those tightened muscles or first let go of your so-called good posture.

Try it. Reach for something near you. Now sit up very straight. Pull your shoulders back. Then reach out again. Was it easier? I don’t think so.

An effort to sit up makes you tire quickly

How would you feel after holding that sitting-up posture for 10 minutes? Would you be full of energy and ready for anything? More likely, you’d be longing to slump back in the chair and recover from your effort.

An effort to sit up makes you hurt more

Maybe not after 10 minutes, but what if you did it for an hour?

Would it even be possible to maintain that posture all day long?

An effort to sit up makes your mind wander

Have you noticed how people’s eyes glaze over when they’re making a special effort to “sit up and pay attention”? No? Maybe your own eyes were too busy glazing over. After all, who’s immune from this obsession with posture?

Alertness is an early victim of postural effort. Attempts at concentration only make matters worse. The more you concentrate the more you stiffen. The more you stiffen the more your mind wanders.

Attentiveness is incompatible with effortful attempts at posture. Easy, automatic, effortless posture goes hand-in-hand with awareness.

So choose a better way.

What is the better way?

Here’s the first step. The very best way to start working on your posture is to practise Constructive Rest. The Constructive Rest articles are here — or watch these videos that show you how.

This article is included under the following categories:‒

• Posture

Further Resources

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If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)

1. I’m also running Friday lunchtime group lessons. Go here for details.
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If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool

1. There’s still nothing better than individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
2. I suggest you also do the things I listed above for everyone:–
   1. Read my weekly articles
   2. Get direct day-to-day guidance from me by joining Repoise.
   If you’re having plain Alexander Technique lessons from someone else, you still need to learn the Smiling Back Method of the Alexander Technique. You’ll get a lot more out of your lessons when you do.