Lauren Hill's Alexander Teaching Studio
Move Better. Feel Better.
How would you describe someone who’s moving quickly? And how would you describe someone who’s hurrying? Is it the same thing?
John Wooden is credited with saying, “Be quick but don’t hurry.” What does it mean exactly?
An elite runner running a marathon is moving quickly. But is she hurrying? Continue reading “How to Harness Your Mind-Muscle Connection”
I started running (again) this past year. It’s been 30 years since I last ran (except to catch the random bus).
In high school I was a pretty fast 800-meter runner (2:24 for those track enthusiasts out there). I was co-captain of my track team my senior year. It was an important part of my life.
Then came age 19 and a car accident. 10 years of dealing with chronic pain. And stopping a lot of activities I previously enjoyed. Including running. But also finding the Alexander Technique. Continue reading “Strain Creeping In? Ask Yourself This One Simple Question”
I took piano lessons for 8 years growing up.
One afternoon a week my mom drove the 10 minutes over to my teacher’s house. In her living room that was too small for both the baby grand and the harpsichord and the living room furniture, I’d have my lesson.
I won’t lie. I never really enjoyed playing the piano. And I don’t enjoy it now. Once in a while, I’ll touch a piano. But it’s just not my thing.
The lessons though did give me an experience of what muscle memory is all about. Continue reading “What Does Trying Hard Feel Like?”
My husband and I visited the Black Hills in South Dakota this past summer. I love the outdoors and it was absolutely spectacular.
One day during our trip, we visited Mt. Rushmore National Monument. Even though we’d arrived early it was quickly heating up and already quite hot by 10 o’clock. My husband Bruce and I decided to sit on the veranda with a view of the faces and have something to drink.
Various groups of people were milling around. Out of the blue I heard a very young and loud voice say, “Come on! We haven’t got all day!” Continue reading “Time. Tension. Posture. Pain.”
One of the skills that students of the Alexander Technique learn is how to Direct themselves or give themselves Directions.
There are a set of traditional Directions that come down to us from F.M. Alexander, the founder of the Technique. They can be a bit baffling at first, especially without the aid of a teacher.
Therefore, I find when initially introducing the idea of Directing yourself it’s much better to start in a simple way with the bigger picture.
Think of it as learning to see the Forest first. Then the Trees. Continue reading “Don’t Compress Yourself (improving your posture by doing less)”