February 17th, 1978
Judy Leibowitz in the ACAT Training Course, working with Rupa Cousins and Ron Dennis, circa Photo montage courtesy Rupa Cousins.
A question came up about how one can be certain that he/she has really understood an idea or experience and can repeat it. Judy said that you cannot learn it by trying to hold onto it. The learning may not be possible to verbalize. Judy can get quick results because she is clear about objective: neck, head relationship, back, etc. She also sees before she touches. This cuts down time required to work period these skills are required over the years and they develop as you teach. First thing is to establish the primary control (poise of the head on the neck, and spine) then get on to the rest of the work. Judy says that she takes the student ahead of the previous experience and knowledge (a preview) to where the student will go, thus it will feel to the student that the use is “odd” or wrong.
Judy said she felt the use of the directions are part of the meditative process. Old supports are dropped and replacement with new structures takes time. There is a need for faith to continue. It is necessary to [trust] if one is to develop. There will be a cycle of achievement and desperation and confusion. It is important at such times to watch. Also, remember that there is support of the training class period furthermore, it is alright to take “time out” if concentration is too demanding at the moment. You want your activity to be productive.
Judy working with the trainees. One in chair, one with hands on and one reminding the second person of direction and releasing. Everybody is giving directions to themselves. Judy differentiated between direction and movement in space.
We broke up into groups of three to work by ourselves [and with] teachers on getting in and out of chair. One has to keep [one’s] own directions going while visualizing direction of the person that you are working with. Even when the person is going into the chair, the direction is still up. Try to keep comfortable, direction will keep you balanced and ready to move if you have to follow your hands. When working with the person, you wait for them and move as a balanced and ready to move [unit] if you have to follow your hands. When working with the person you wait for them and move as a balanced unit when their direction and yours begins to express itself.
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.