Posture and the Alexander Technique: Four reasons for NOT sitting up
Page 2: The truth about posture
Page 3: Four reasons for NOT sitting up
Page 4: Posture that works
When you make an effort to sit (or stand) straight:–
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.
If you’re already doing step one, then also choose posture that works.
Further Resources
Here are some ways I can help you further.
Wherever you live
- If you’re not already getting my free weekly article delivered to your inbox, then go here to get it.
- Repoise is our membership site for people who are serious about improving themselves (and getting out of pain as they do that). Find out more here: SmilingBackMethod.com/Repoise
When you join, you will:–
- have daily access to me. Together we will work out what’s going wrong for you and how to fix it
- learn from reading other Repoise members’ questions and following their progress as they work with me
- get access to all my articles, not just the ones that are published on my web-site
- I’m writing a book about my work. It will come out on the 1st July 2010. The book I was going to write this year (on the Tube Principle) was a bit too specialised so I changed my mind about writing that book. This new book will still include a chapter or two on the Tube Principle — and, of course, much more besides.
If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)
- I’m also running introductory workshops in Liverpool teaching you how to apply my work to improve your life. Go here for details of the next workshop: SmilingBackMethod.com/workshop
- There’s no substitute for individual lessons. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to book your initial lesson. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).
If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool
- There’s still no substitute for individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
- Remember to still do the things I listed above for everyone. Even if you’re having lessons from someone else, you will find these a very great help. They’ll help you understand your lessons better and get a lot more out of them. All my own pupils read my weekly articles and several of them are active members of Repoise.
