Rose Bronec: Supporting with the Arms: From Baby to Adult

Babies offer an accessible model as their movements develop in early months from supporting with their arms to supporting with their legs by twelve months. As adults, we are out-of-touch with this early experience. Our arms no longer support us. Possibly, they pull us down, brace or stiffen as we use them to touch, hold, carry, pick up and set down objects. However, when our arms begin to serve us, more similar to the baby gaining distance from the floor with their arms, we can experience greater lightness and freedom in our arm movements.

Founder of the Alexander Technique, F. M. Alexander wrote of “supporting the torso with the arms”. In Binkley’s diary of private lessons with F. M., he provides this F. M. quote, “stop doing with the neck what needs to be done only with the arms or legs, etc.”

The subtle adjustments and adaptations the baby makes as they press against or pull along the floor extends through the length of their arms to the sternum and engages the back providing them with support for actions. This same supportive energy through the arms can be present to us as adults. The workshop will use selected baby movements on the floor to inform simple adult arm movements while seated and standing.

During the workshop, attendees are free to participate in the explorations or to simply observe. The first 15 minutes will be on the floor. For those who don’t want to get on the floor, clear a table or desk and bend at the hips to rest the torso and arms on the surface. The next 30 minutes will be seated in a chair and standing at the back of the chair. If time allows, questions are welcomed.

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