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What Does Trying Hard Feel Like?

Read Time: 5 min
woman weighlifting

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?”

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Time. Tension. Posture. Pain.

Read Time: 2 min
Mt. Rushmore National Monument

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.”

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Don’t Compress Yourself (improving your posture by doing less)

Read Time: 2 min
spring being compressed

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)”

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Christmas in April

Read Time: 2 min
winter street scene

April played a cruel joke on us last weekend.

Just as we were getting excited about spring finally arriving; just as we were beginning to see the grass appear after months of being covered with snow; April delivered 20 + more inches of the white stuff and strong winds last Saturday and Sunday.

“Blizzard!” The weather man declared.

“This is not a blizzard!” my mom replied. She grew up in North Dakota and therefore considers herself a blizzard connoisseur.

“I can still see in front of my face,” she added.

Well, blizzard or no blizzard I got a lot of exercise.

Shoveling. Continue reading “Christmas in April”