Jennifer Sielicki: Head Forward and Up and Its Influence on the Primary Control

The direction of head forward and up and non-doing can seem quite elusive. While working with students I wanted to create a replicable, hands off exercise that would allow students to experience thinking in activity:

• by non-doing,

• through direction and inhibition,

• to show them how thinking in a particular way can influence movement throughout the whole body,

• that can influence the primary control, connection or movement,

• that might shift sensory perception which includes body perception,

• to recognize force of habit,

• to influence movement indirectly,

• that can become a primary means of controlling movement,

• or psycho physical unity.

When an individual is used to working in a direct way to manipulate the body, working indirectly can seem very ephemeral. Especially when the head, which by Alexander's work has a primary role, has no role and is often left out of movement completely. As Alexander Technique teachers we tend to be aware of how the messaging to move the head in a beginning student is conflated with the neck movement and is very difficult for people to conceive that the two, head and neck, are in fact separate entities with movement potential of their own.

For this workshop you will need:

• a mat

• books to support the head while lying down

• a blanket if prone to getting cold

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