Looking Down/Going Up

Weather cleared in Seattle for a few glorious hours today.  The mountains to the east and west emerged, banks of clouds raced on the southern horizon, and clear fresh light washed every view in blue.  

Happily for me, my friend Ann kindly accompanied me on a snail walk to the local grocery store.  Her good company and patience reassured me as I faced the scary adventures of crossing a thoroughfare with briefly timed "walk" signs, and stepping up and down some steep curbs.  It was a very pleasant walk without any incident, and I learned a few lessons en route.

For obvious reasons, I look down at the sidewalk for any sneaky cracks.  I also need to look at curbs as I step up and down to allow my stiff leg to swing appropriately, and to take weight without losing my balance.  However, looking down does not mean going down!

Early in study, many Alexander pupils mistake the direction of "sending the head up and forward" to indicate a position of the head, when the intention is quite the opposite.  Pupils will sometimes be afraid to look at stairs as they descend, for instance, in case that is "wrong".

We send the head up and forward not by doing a position but by un-doing any internal or muscular positioning.  The head, as long as we are not fixing or collapsing into a position, moves up and forward of the back.  You can't place it there, as that would be fixing.  It's a determined, dynamic non-interference (best learned in Alexander lessons, by the way).  And, since "up" is not one interpretation or position, not an answer but a question, the head has myriad options to move up and over and around the top of the spine, if we can just allow it to do so.

We are designed to be able to easily look up at the stars or down at the sidewalk or around to that sudden sound behind us.

So, as I walked with visual awareness of the ground, up and forward could continue to inform me.  I didn't move any faster, but I did experience ease.