It’s always New Year’s Eve

What’s unique about New Year’s Eve? What provokes such a thing as a “New Year’s Resolution”? Of all the holidays, it’s the one where people bring their lives into sharp focus, when they become acutely aware of who and how they are. For that moment, they’re conscious of habits which interfere with their best interests. The prospect of a fresh start generates hope and excitement.

The problem with habits is that they come to feel good. They promote living in the default mode, without the burden of conscious thought about our use of ourselves.

Why, then, the beaming smiles as midnight approaches? Is this not an admission that our habits have not really served us well? When the ball drops, are we not seeing that moment as symbolic release from the yoke that our habits have become?

The Alexander Technique develops conscious awareness of how we use ourselves. We leave the default mode permanently behind us. We live in the present moment, fully open to experience all that life has to give us. Conscious awareness is an essential step in overcoming dysfunctional use of our selves. Think back to all those smiling faces you saw on TV on New Year’s Eve. Are they smiling today? Then, think of this: for students of the Alexander Technique, it’s always New Year’s Eve.

I usually tell students before suggesting they think this that nothing I’m about to tell them should be interpreted as doing, holding etc of any kind. As close to a pure thought as possible, with no expectations. Most students, after a bit of practice, notice that their breathing becomes smoother and fuller, particularly when they’re lying down in constructive rest or in bed – less other stuff going on that would obscure the effects of this negative direction.

A warning: Some people have a lot of fear built up around anything that might suggest restricting breathing and it’s very important for the teacher to know this.

More on negative directions at http://bodylearningcast.com/teachers/negativedirections/