Blog2019-02-27T14:16:57-05:00

Leland Vall’s Alexander Technique Tips

This Alexander Technique Blog

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

This blog has about a hundred Alexander related posture and breathing tips. I started it in March 2010 and added a post every week for about two years. After that I slowed down and now I think I have stopped for a while. I hope you scroll down look around so that you can find some tips that you like. You can also receive one of these tips every week as an email if you join the Weekly Tip mailing list.  And if you are looking for new(er) posts, check out the ones my students are writing on the Students’ Blog

By |January 4th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|2 Comments

Tip 95 – What’s Wrong with Crossing Your Legs?

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

The important thing to remember here is that there is no Alexander Technique “position”  It all depends on how you do it.  Instead of using your legs to pull your body together, allow for some ease and oppeness.

And here are some more ideas on comfortable sitting:

Avoid Tipping Your Chair Forward

The Chair Is Your Legs

Reaching While Sitting

Improve Computer Posture

Leaning Back In a Chair

To receive these tips as a weekly email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |June 13th, 2015|Categories: Back Pain, Sitting|2 Comments

Tip 94 – Rising from a Chair like Snow from a Bamboo Leaf

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

A bus shelter window will have to do…

As you can tell, I was very excited when I saw the snow starting to move on the window of the bus shelter and couldn’t help thinking of Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel. The falling snow is the essence of seamless movement that does not telegraph its intent. It is the same quality that allows the archer to release the bow without disturbing the arrow.

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |February 14th, 2015|Categories: Alexander Metaphores, Alexander Technique Theory, Comfortable Sitting|4 Comments

Alexander Technique Tip 93 – How to Get Out of a Modern Chair

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate
——————————————–

The ideas in this video can work with any chair or couch that’s very deep or low.

More on Chairs

Video:  Avoid Tipping Your Chair Forward (This video is a particularly useful comment on Tip 93).

Video: How to Lean Back in a Chair

Video: The Chair Is Incidental

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |July 12th, 2014|Categories: Sitting, Weekly Tips|0 Comments

Tip 92 – Avoid Tipping Your Chair Forward

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

Reduce excess tension by avoiding tipping your chair forward.

More on Pulling Down

Avoid Pulling Down to Go Up

Point Your Spine when Bending Forward

Improve Computer Posture

Video – Improve Computer Posture

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |June 13th, 2014|Categories: Comfortable Sitting, Sitting, Weekly Tips|2 Comments

Tip 91 – Climb Stairs More Efficiently with the Alexander Technique

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

For easier, more efficient stair climbing, extend your moving leg all the way to the next step without lowering your body.

This is a link to a graphic tip on climbing stairs.

And here’s an old video I made on climbing stairs.

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |May 17th, 2014|Categories: How to Climb Stairs, Weekly Tips|1 Comment

Tip 90 – How to Rise from Lying on the Floor Using the Alexander Technique

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

Alexander Technique students know that it’s a good idea to spend time lying down with a book under your head.  But when you are finished, how do you stand up?

More on Lying Down:

Lying Down Exercise I

Lying Down Exercise II

Proper Head Position

Point Your Spine

Find Your Hip Joints

And for a  longer excerpt, visit The Secret to Using Your Body.

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |May 2nd, 2014|Categories: Lying Down, Weekly Tips|2 Comments

Tip 89 – How to Pick Up a Child

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

How to Pick Up Your Child Using the Alexander Technique

Thanks to Rebecca Tuffey – www.rebeccatuffey.net

More ideas on bending:

Video: Think of Your Body as an Archer’s Bow

Video: When Bending, Keep Your Head Away from Your Heels

Video: Your Waist Is Not a Joint

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |April 19th, 2014|Categories: Bending, Weekly Tips|0 Comments

Tip 88 – How to Get Out of Bed Using the Alexander Technique

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

Getting in and out of bed is easier when you allow for length and width.

Other things to do while getting in and out of bed:

Point Your Spine

Proper Head Position

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |April 12th, 2014|Categories: Weekly Tips|0 Comments

Tip 87 – Rounded Shoulders and the Alexander Technique

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate

——————————————–

Why you shouldn’t pull your shoulders back.

More on Your Shoulders:

Point Your Shoulders

Five Alexander Technique Links on Improving Rounded Shoulders

An Arch Made of Arches

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |April 4th, 2014|Categories: Arms, Weekly Tips|3 Comments

Tip 86 – Video: How to Lean Back in a Chair

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate
——————————————–

Point your spine when leaning back in a chair.

For more information on this tip, take a look at Tip 9.5.

More on sitting in a chair:
Your Lively Spine
Bending Forward Is the Same

Video: Think of the Chair as Your Legs

Your Waist Is Not a Joint

 

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

By |January 7th, 2012|Categories: Comfortable Sitting, Weekly Tips|11 Comments

Tip 85 – Video: When Walking, Leave Your Hip Behind Your Leg

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate
——————————————–

When walking, leave your hip behind your leg.

For more information on this tip, take a look at Tip 24.

More on Walking
Video: Lead with the Crown of Your Head
Diagram: Lead with the Crown of Your Head
Videos and Exercise: Walk with More Stability and Power

Extra
A Robert Rickover Podcast: How the Alexander Technique can help Musicians

 

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

By |December 10th, 2011|Categories: Head/Neck, Walking and the Alexander Technique, Weekly Tips|2 Comments

Tip 84 – Video, How to Lunge

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate
——————————————–

Lunging is bending with one knee instead of two.

Lunging is faster than bending both legs and it’s also useful for reaching. Looking at the video I see that I unintentionally pull my head back a little as I reach. Oh well. Take a look at the lunge diagram at Tip 19, and another for pointing your spine.

Extra
A Robert Rickover Podcast: Alexander Technique and Music Education

 

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

By |November 19th, 2011|Categories: Bending, Weekly Tips|Tags: , |1 Comment

Tip 83 – Reduce Back Pain by Standing Over Your Legs

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate
——————————————–

Reduce low back pain by standing over your legs.

Avoid Leaning Against Your Lower Back

It is common for people to stand by leaning against the lower back while pushing the pelvis forward. Your back doesn’t end in the lumbar region, it continues to the bottom of your pelvis. Standing over your legs takes pressure off your lumbar region, as well as allowing you to stand taller and move more easily. Watch the video at Tip 77.

More on Using Your Whole Back
Point Your Spine
Awareness Begins Behind You


To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

By |November 12th, 2011|Categories: Back Pain, Weekly Tips|Tags: , , , , , |11 Comments

Tip 82 – Video: The Chair Is Incidental

Schedule a Private Alexander Technique Lesson

Alexander Technique Group Classes

Alexander Technique Lessons over Skype

Alexander Technique Gift Certificate
——————————————–

The chair (and most other objects) is incidental to the movement.  

This is a video representation of Tip 34, and the last in a video series on Inhibition and Direction. To get an idea of what is going on here, also take a look at Tips 31, 32, and 33.

Or, for a more practical approach:
Three Tips on Bending

To receive these weekly tips as an email, visit Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.|
There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.

By |November 5th, 2011|Categories: Alexander Technique Theory, Comfortable Sitting, Weekly Tips|6 Comments