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Are you a bouncy castle or a bundle of nerves?

A children's bouncy castle
Imagine a children’s bouncy castle with a difference: a bouncy castle with a mind of it’s own. A bouncy castle that believes it is in danger of collapsing.

So what does it do?

To stop itself collapsing it grabs hold of its guy ropes and tightens them as hard as it can. So tight that it ends up squeezing itself out of shape. The air pressure inside the bouncy castle is no longer able to keep it standing tall with all its walls expanded.

How are we like that bouncy castle?

Our abdomen (that’s all the space between our chests and our legs) is like a large muscular bag holding our organs in place. Now here’s the thing: all those organs, pushing out on the walls of that muscular bag, keep our backs open and stretched. They also provide a support to hold our chest up. Just like the air pressure in the bouncy castle keeps it firm and in place.

That’s how it should be. Alas, we don’t let it. Instead, we pull on our muscular guy ropes in a vain, unnecessary effort to hold ourselves up and in shape.

That unnecessary effort is what pulls us out of shape. Why do we do it?

We do it because, unlike the bouncy castle, we have a mind of our own — and don’t yet know how to use it.

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Further Resources

Here are some ways I can help you further.

Wherever you live

  1. If you’re not already getting my free weekly article delivered to your inbox, then go here to get it.   Subscribe to “Back in Action”  (It’s free)
    When you subscribe you also get to download “The Hows & Whys of Semi-Supine”. This free e-booklet is indispensable to anyone serious about strengthening their bad back (or further strengthening an already-strong back).
  2. Repoise is our membership site for people who are serious about improving themselves (and getting out of pain as they do that). When you join, you will:–
    1. Have daily access to me. Together we will work out what’s going wrong for you and how to fix it
    2. Learn from reading other Repoise members’ questions and following their progress as they work with me
    Find out more about joining Repoise here.
  3. I’m writing a book about my work. It will come out on the 1st December 2010. If you're getting the free weekly articles, I'll send out more details about the up-coming book as soon as the information is available.

If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)

  1. I’m also running Friday lunchtime group lessons. Go here for details.
  2. There’s nothing better than individual lessons. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to talk to me about booking individual lessons. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).

If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool

  1. There’s still nothing better than individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
  2. I suggest you also do the things I listed above for everyone:–
    1. Read my weekly articles
    2. Get direct day-to-day guidance from me by joining Repoise.
    If you’re having plain Alexander Technique lessons from someone else, you still need to learn the Smiling Back Method of the Alexander Technique. You’ll get a lot more out of your lessons when you do.
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January 15th, 2009 in Good Posture

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