Catch the wave

I love the creation story where spirit, breath, moves upon the face of the waters. What happens when your breath moves upon the face, the surface of, say, your morning coffee. Waves. What if all creation were waves? That’s what some physicists are telling us...

The 10,000 pound bow

Lengthen. Be the 10,000 pound bow of Mr. Herrigel (Zen in the Art of Archery), its top in the clouds, while from the “the lower end, as though attached by a thread, hangs the earth.” Widen. The air, the sky, if you will, is leaning on you, buoying you up,...

Alexander Technique: The Olympics of the Self

The Winter Olympics are well underway in Sochi and the Earth’s air is warmed by our “ooohs” and “aaahs.” Each performance is more remarkable than the one before. The athletes are so beautifully put together. Their flexible joints permit their bones to cantilever one...

The trio of our freedoms

I know how I want the piece to sound. I’m a pretty musical guy, but it just won’t come out. The piano refuses to play what I hear. Then I remember. Free the wrists. Let them rotate, do their thing, and suddenly I’m more musical than I imagined....

Alexander Technique: Advancing while staying back

There’s a wedding and a humble man arrives and takes a seat on the back row. The father of the bride takes note, approaches the newly arrived guest saying, no my friend, come up higher. There is advantage in humility, merit in staying back, and no methodology...