Posts by Heart Hand
Computers, Sitting, and Pain: The 20-20-20 Rule
Many of us find ourselves in front of a screen for hours during the day, mostly to our detriment. We may experience eye fatigue and blurriness of vision, tight and achy muscles, sore joints, mental fogginess, and even sluggish digestion. If these long hours are the result of a job sitting at a desk, there…
Read MoreMeans and Ends, Part 2: Playing a musical instrument
In the previous post, I explored the concept of “end-gaining”—Alexander’s term for ignoring what is happening while we focus all our efforts on achieving a goal. Since end-gaining is the basic mode of our culture, we do it without knowing it. Mostly this is to our detriment. Nowhere is this more evident than in playing…
Read MoreMeans and Ends, Part 1: Running
One familiar quotation you may have heard is this: “The end justifies the means.” Or maybe it is in the form of a question: “Does the end justify the means?” In the Alexander Technique, we could firmly answer, “The end does NOT justify the means if the means causes us to distort ourselves psycho-physically [F.M.’s…
Read MoreHelp for Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common complaints in our culture. It is also something the medical profession has found almost impossible to treat successfully. ~Drugs may dull the pain for a while, but they run the risk of becoming habit-forming. They also dull other senses and fog our thinking. The drugs themselves…
Read MoreWhat is “Beyond” in “Alexander Technique and Beyond?”
While my work is often healing in many ways, it is not in the form of treatments. Rather, each person gets to connect with their own Inner Wisdom through one of the modalities, and through practice, they can access this source of wisdom and healing for themselves. I am there both for instruction and support—a…
Read MoreStressed? Who isn’t!!!
In the very stressful times in which we live, so many distractions are available that we are rarely present in the moment, rarely even “in our bodies.” All our energy is in our heads. We are not grounded. Not being grounded or present in the moment or “in our bodies’ creates stress in itself. Add…
Read MoreWhat is the Alexander Technique?
When people ask me what I do and I say, “I teach the Alexander Technique,” their usual response is a look of puzzled curiosity and the words, “What is the Alexander Technique?” My “elevator response” is to say, “It is a way of getting out of your own way.” Some people immediately recognize what that…
Read MoreMeet Your Guide
So, who is this person who is inviting you on a journey of learning and healing? I am first and foremost a teacher. I have taught many things, but my current passion is teaching the Alexander Technique, which I do at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and in my private studio. I…
Read MoreWelcome to The Alexander Technique and Beyond!
Writing a blog is a new venture for me and I am really excited about the potential for spreading news about the work I do and how it might help you or someone you know! From time to time, I will post notices of classes or workshops that I am holding. Also included in this…
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