12/04/2023
I am an unabashed advocate for explaining the concept of Use to Alexander Technique students. I believe, to quote Ron Dennis, that "The Alexander Technique is the teaching that imparts the meaning of the use of the self”. Getting that across, along with empowering students to figure out how to harness and improve their Use on their own, is what differentiates the technique from mindfulness, Feldenkrais, Pilates, cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, and anything else with which the technique may share ingredients. Of course, I do get asked what exactly constitutes Use by students (not in so many words) and occasionally by other AT teachers (totally in so many words). I wish I could answer that succinctly, but I did manage to put it into about 1700 words. (Self-editing is painful). If anyone is interested in my take on what constitutes Use, and doesn’t mind giving my website some traffic, then here’s a link to the blog post. Feedback and additional thoughts are welcome. https://bit.ly/3uIGRL7
When Alexander Technique teachers go about imparting “the meaning of the use of the self”, they will generally explain how the verb or the noun use can be employed in reference to one’s self. Once students understand th...