Tip 89 – How to Pick Up a Child

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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

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Buy The Secret to Using Your Body

By |2014-05-02T14:27:41-04:00April 19th, 2014|Bending, Weekly Tips|0 Comments

Tip 84 – Video, How to Lunge

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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

 

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By |2014-08-09T15:36:23-04:00November 19th, 2011|Bending, Weekly Tips|1 Comment

Tip 68 – Video: Think of Your Body as an Archer’s Bow

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Instead of thinking of posture as a straight line, try thinking of your body as an archer’s bow.

There are different ways to help you understand the body as an internally dynamic event, something much more than a bunch of bones, muscles and joints that lug you around.  In Tip 66 I say that the body can be viewed as an ocean wave.  In the above video tip, I talk about the body as a hunter’s bow. This tipe comes from  Tip 1, which is really my favorite.

And here are a few more ideas on not standing up straight.

Extra
A Podcast from Robert Rickover: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique

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By |2014-08-23T10:25:26-04:00July 16th, 2011|Bending, Dynamic Opposition, Weekly Tips|8 Comments

Tip 63 – Video: When Bending, Keep Your Head Away from Your Heels

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For easier, stronger bending,  keep your head away from your heels.

This is a video version of  Tip 12, where you can see illustrated photos and a short description.

More Tips on Proper Bending.

Your Body Is a Spring

Video – Three Tips for Improved Bending

Bending Down? Think Up!

Extra
A Podcast from Robert Rickover Singing and the Alexander Technique

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By |2019-01-16T15:43:08-05:00June 11th, 2011|Bending, Head/Neck, Weekly Tips|6 Comments

Tip 58 – Video: Your Waist Is Not a Joint

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Your waist is not a joint.

Bending is a whole body process that generally involves three sets of joints: the ankles, knees and hips.  The waist isn’t one of  those joints.  The hip joints are also much lower than most people think, about four five inches below the waist.  Here is the original  Tip 5 with graphics.

A little more on your hip joints.

Finding Your Hip Joints, a perennial favorite.

Article and Video: Three Tips for Bending

Bending Forward While Sitting

And something for Pointing Your Spine.

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By |2019-01-16T17:55:12-05:00April 30th, 2011|Bending, Weekly Tips|6 Comments

Tip 57 – Video: Think Up When Bending Down

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Bending Down? Think Up!

This video tip follows up on the previous tip’s graphic look at the meaning of “Up”.  As long as your feet are on the floor, aiming up is generally your best option.

A little more up.

Think Up When Bending Down

Your Body Is a Spring, my favorite tip.

Your Body Is a Wave

Bending Forward While Sitting

And something for feeling taller.

Extra

Back Stage – Training to Stand Out

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There are more resources available at www.freeyourneck.com. Please write your requests in the comment section.



 

By |2014-07-26T22:44:52-04:00April 23rd, 2011|Alexander Technique Theory, Bending, Weekly Tips|4 Comments

Tip 56 – Think Up When Bending Down

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For easier bending, think that your torso is going up when you are bending down.

Leland Vall Alexander Technique Tip 56

Enough dressage, now for something more practical.

Up seems pretty obvious when you are standing at your full height, but up is also right in front of you when you bend down. In order to feel lighter when you bend, think that you are going up even when you are bending down. In fact, unless you are falling, you are holding yourself up even when you bend down.

A little more up.

Video: Think Up When Bending Down

Your Body Is a Spring, my favorite tip.

Your Body As a Wave

Bending Forward While Sitting

Video & Article: Three Tips for Bending

And something for feeling taller.

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By |2014-08-02T18:51:02-04:00April 16th, 2011|Alexander Technique Theory, Bending, Weekly Tips|3 Comments

Tip 48 – Seated Bending, Lead with Your Head

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Seated bending? Lead with the crown of your head.

Leland Vall Alexander Technique Tip 48

For reaching while sitting (and not sitting), lead with the crown of your head, not your chin. It’s more comfortable, reduces neck tension, and you will be able to reach farther.

More resources for comfortable sitting:

The Chair Is Incidental

Video: The Chair Is Incidental

Video: Improve Computer Posture

Improve Computer Posture

How to Lean Back in a Chair

Seated Bending? Use Your Hip Joints

Video: How to Lean Back in a Chair

Video: Think of the Chair as Your Legs

Point Your Spine when Bending Forward

Seated Bending, Use Your Hip Joints

Reaching While Sitting

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By |2019-01-16T16:07:59-05:00February 26th, 2011|Bending, Comfortable Sitting, Head/Neck, Weekly Tips|7 Comments

Tip 40 – Reaching while Bending

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When bending, reach with your arms, not your back.

Seeing a theme here?  The position doesn’t matter.  The the back stays back in relation to the arms, the arms reach forward from the back.  Standing, Sitting, and above.

More on Reaching

Reaching while Sitting

Your Arms Are Emissaries of Your Back

Arms and Standing on the Subway

Be Like Roger Federer (That arm is sent from the fingertips, up to the shoulder!)

Avoid Pulling on the Steering Wheel

Your Torso Stays Behind Your Head

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By |2014-08-16T15:32:19-04:00January 1st, 2011|Arms, Bending, Weekly Tips|3 Comments

Tip 37 – Use Your Knees When Bending Even Less

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Bend your knees even for bending hardly at all.

Leland Vall Alexander Technique Tip 37

This is the third tip in a row on bending. For reaching all the way to the floor or only to a table, in the Alexander Technique it’s always the same.  Remain standing over your feet and bend at the hips, knees and ankles. Avoid bending at the waist or upper back. The back is strongest and feels the best when you maintain its full length. Check out the previous Tip, and the one before that.

The Whole Bending Category (All on bending, but each a little different.)

Video: Your Waist Is Not a Joint

Bending, Leave Your Hips behind Your Legs

Think of Your Body As a Wave

Bend at Your Hips, Knees and Ankles to Touch the Floor

Use Your Knees When Bending a Little

Reach with Your Arms, Not Your Back

Think Up when Bending Down

Video: Think Up when Bending Down

When Bending, Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

Video: When Bending Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

Finding Your Hip Joints

Article & Video: Three Tips for 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 |2014-08-16T15:28:51-04:00December 11th, 2010|Bending, Weekly Tips|1 Comment

Tip 36 – Use Your Knees when Bending a Little

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Not just for reaching to the floor, bend your hips, knees, and ankles when bending a little, too.

Leland Vall Alexander Technique Tip 36

Last Tip we touched the floor. But what if you only have to go half way or less? All bending is the same no matter how far you go. Keep your weight over your feet as you bend at the hips, knees and ankles. The difference is more strength, power, and ease. Try it.

The Whole Bending Category (All on bending, but each a little different.)

Video: Your Waist Is Not a Joint

Bending, Leave Your Hips behind Your Legs

Think of Your Body As a Wave

Bend at Your Hips, Knees and Ankles to Touch the Floor

Bend Your Knees When Bending Even Less

Reach with Your Arms, Not Your Back

Think Up when Bending Down

Video: Think Up when Bending Down

When Bending, Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

Video: When Bending Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

Finding Your Hip Joints

Article & Video: Three Tips for 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 |2016-07-23T08:45:07-04:00December 3rd, 2010|Bending, Weekly Tips|3 Comments

Tip 35 – Bend Your Hips, Knees, and Ankles to Touch the Floor

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Always bend at your hips, knees, and ankles in order to touch the floor.

Leland Vall Alexander Technique Tip 35

There is no “waist joint”, and the back loses most of its strength when it isn’t at its full length. Bending at the waist also restricts breathing and reduces the internal volume of your torso, making less room for your organs. Bending at the hips, knees and ankles gives you much more strength and stability, and it is also more comfortable.

The Whole Bending Category (Each tip has a slightly different angle.)

Video: Your Waist Is Not a Joint

Bending, Leave Your Hips behind Your Legs

Think of Your Body As a Wave

Bend Your Knees When Bending a Little

Bend Your Knees When Bending Even Less

Reach with Your Arms, Not Your Back

Think Up when Bending Down

Video: Think Up when Bending Down

When Bending, Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

Video: When Bending Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

Finding Your Hip Joints

Article & Video: Three Tips for Bending

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By |2014-08-16T15:26:59-04:00November 27th, 2010|Bending, Weekly Tips|1 Comment

Tip 26 – Bending, Leave Your Hips Behind Your Legs

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In the first moment of bending, leave your hips behind.

When bending, eave your hips behind your legs.

At least as far as the hips are concerned, bending with two knees is a lot like walking. To bend more easily, right from the beginning of the movement, pay attention to leaving your hips behind your legs as your knees bend.

A Lot More on Bending:

Finding Your Hip Joints

Video: Your Waist Is Not a Joint

When Bending, Keep Your Heels away from Your Head

Video: Think Up when Bending Down

Think Up when Bending Down

Reach with Your Arms, Not Your Back

Use Your Knees for Bending a Little

Use Your Knees for Bending

Bend Your Knees to Touch the Floor

For Bending, Think of Your Body As a Wave

Video: Three Tips on Bending

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By |2014-08-16T15:22:14-04:00September 24th, 2010|Bending, Dynamic Opposition, Weekly Tips|2 Comments

Tip 13 – Think of Your Body as a Wave

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Try standing and bending as if you are a wave of flowing water.

The body is much more than a statue with movable parts. When you think of the internal flow of things like the blood, neurological activity, even the subtle remodeling of the bones, the body is more like a wave, a structure that is created every moment.  In the case of the wave, that same flow creates oppositional relationships that we can also see in the body (look at the arrows on the images).

More on the Wave

Video: Good Posture Is Like a Wave

Your Spine Is Like a Fountain

Article: Five Alternative Posture Tips

Video: Three Tips on Bending

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Tip 12 – For Bending, Keep Your Head away from Your Heels

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For easier, stronger bending, think of the back of your heels and the back of your head as always going away from each other.

Like Tip 11, Tip 12 also addresses oppositional relationships within the body. The main difference (getting a little more technical) is that Tip 11 addresses a very close oppostional relationship (head and neck) whereas Tip 12 explores the most distant oppostional relationship (head and feet). The possibility of establishing these oppositional relationship exists everywhere in the body. The more you take advantage of them, the taller, stronger,  more open, and stable you will be.

More on the  Head/Heels Relationship

Video: Head away from Heels

Your Body Is a Spring

Article/Video: Three Tips on Proper Bending

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By |2014-08-16T15:11:11-04:00June 19th, 2010|Bending, Head/Neck, Weekly Tips|3 Comments