Posted on June 12, 2008 by Dimitri P in - Posture/Set-up
Based on my experience with Alexander Technique and other bodywork methods, I have developed this strategy for helping young students to gain awareness of their head-to-spine alignment. The student should imagine that his head is gently floating upwards as if it were a helium-filled balloon. The spine is like the string attached to the balloon, which easily draws itself upwards with the balloon, while still being flexible and moveable. The student can imagine this flexibility as being like a gentle breeze that can move the balloon from side to side, but doesn’t stop the balloon from always floating up toward the sky. It is helpful to bring an actual helium balloon along as a visual aid, in order that the student may see how the balloon and string always return easily and without strain to the their fully extended position. It is important to emphasize that the balloon does not pull roughly or violently on the string, but instead floats to its highest point naturally.