January 17, 1978

“Don't get bored. You are on a spiral of change. “

“When working on hands, start by dealing with the totality, out of which you move the hand.”

Think of the hand as being open and free. It is one of your most precious tools. Be nice to them.

Stretching often uses tension. Allow it to release. Direct it to release. She [Judy] used the example of reaching an octave on the keyboard. First stretch to reach it. Then allow your hand to release to reach. Think of the hand as material that has no bones. Your hand can be full of energy. When placing it on something, allow the energy to “flow” to that.

Think of the energy as moving out through your hand. Allow it to rest there. Be there. Move into the object. Think of the person as clay. You can go into them. Mold them. (This is an image by a classmate).

It is an intangible energy. You can't see it, but trust it. As teachers, we work with you where you are on that particular day.

Remember the space under the armpit in order to release the shoulder girdle.

Flow within the concentration. (To inhibit fixing and to remain energized.)

Release into the immediacy of the energy.

You must learn to put on a hand that is not an imposing hand.

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.