Tuesday, February 28, 1978

Turning the head on the table. Our wrists are free. Holding book between the hands. A figure eight pattern of movement allows for the expanded mobility of the wrist joint. When the other person is on the table, with their head resting on the books, we give head direction and also lateral rotation of the head on the atlas/access articulation. A finger is on the chin to suggest the jaw with head, separate from neck. We observe the height of the books, taking note of the relationship of the shoulders, neck and head. What we are looking for is a relationship of the head forward of the neck. Notice shortening and pressure at the nape of the neck. Our objective is for the neck to drop back, to get the release of the head and jaw away from the tip of the spine. Knowing one’s objectives, there are varied ways of using the hands. Within the experience of length, the spine goes into its natural structure. Body types very. We do not interfere with given curves. There is a release of muscles allowing what is appropriate to happen.

The tendency is to shorten into existing curves. Our objective is to lengthen with an existing curves. We work with the total body. We give me individual and experience of length and width, without knowing their existing structure. We change the shape of the body by changing the shape of the movement.

Idelle Packer, MS, PT, mAmSAT, certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, has been creatively exploring its broad application for over 35 years. In her private practice, Body Sense, in Asheville, NC, she teaches the Alexander Technique in context of physical therapy assessment and rehabilitation. She authored the chapter on the Alexander Technique in Springer Publishers’ Encyclopedia of Complementary Health Practices (1999). Her current passion is Contact Improvisation, a somatic and athletic improvisation form, to which she has been joyfully integrating the principles of the Technique over the past fifteen+ years.