Hello friends!

I recently decided to try Toastmasters. The local chapter allowed me to come as a guest and test the waters. Today’s theme was about life as it may be, in the future. Living in Silicon Valley, that means technology and how that changes our lives.

My Alexander thought about that is, as life as we know it, changes, how well do we adapt? If we don’t, won’t, or can’t, what are the repercussions?

How do we change in response to technology? Given Moore’s Law and the rapidity of change, are we able to change fast enough to keep up with the times? Or do we become quicker in reply, but pay the price with our relationships, lack of free time, being overweight, out of shape, and too stressed to relax after dinner and play baseball with our kids?

F.M. Alexander postulated that many of our physical ills are a result of our maladaptive responses to an environment that is changing faster than we, as living beings, are able to adapt. Evolution transpires over millennia. Technology changes year-to-year.

If human development is to keep up with these ongoing changes, then I predict that our psycho-physical-spiritual selves will need booster shots of consciousness to keep our spines erect and our nervous systems from becoming overloaded.

I don’t know about you, but when I get tense, I “Alexander” myself and feel better, on the fly.

When called upon at Toastmasters to give an impromptu two-minute talk on a subject that they proposed to spring upon me, I said, “Sure!”

Then my topic was given to me: I was to tell everyone that “aliens are coming.”

I took a moment to let me body release tension and breathe. I let go of the fear; “Oh no, I have nothing to say!”

Then my imagination could run freely. I didn’t want to scare people. I felt inspiration coming from a Disney movie, “Enchanted.”

I began, “I have some news for everyone.”

And in my best Disney princess voice, said, “We have some new friends coming to visit…”
If you want to know what came next, drop me a line :-).

Alexander Technique is a skill that lets you take control of your body, your stress, and your life. It is an amazing tool to relieve chronic pain. It uses very light touch, verbal instruction and gentle guidance to help retrain the way we deal with pain and stress. In the process, neck tension and backache often clear up. Posture often improves dramatically.

We can take remedial action to recover after the fact, or we can take a pre-emptive strike and learn a skill to handle stress on the fly. Field the baseball as it comes rather than running to the outfield, chasing the ball.

If you want to improve performance, respond more quickly and have fun doing it, try the Technique!