1. What do you like about Viewpoints?
Viewpoints, when done right, involves non pre-planned actions, and is based on impulses. These impulses of each individual in a group can all form into a collaborative thought, and it's kind of beautiful when you think about it. Everyone thinking the same thought, or just the same story. It was pretty awesome when watching and the group would form this sort of scene, and you could find out what the story was by what they kept doing. It's just another version of storytelling—a very interesting one at that. It was also kind of exciting to be the group moving around because you start off doing your own thing, but then you observe what others are doing, and maybe form different actions because of that. It starts to become completely collaborative. All that shared energy and teamwork was the funnest part.
2. Were there any moments that felt particularly alive for you?
The moments that felt most alive were moments when the whole group was working together, not on purpose or because they had to, but just because it felt right to do that in the moment. Presence. When the whole group was honing their presence, or maybe just skimming the edge of it, everyone was working together and not caring what the output was.
3. Were there times when the activity felt dead and forced? If so why and when?
Whenever we had the activity of forming how ever many circles, lines, and clumps—it was dead. Even when I tried to focus on just the impulses, I would suddenly remember that we would have to form those shapes—also remembering the fact that we couldn't have over or under the number. Because we were assigned to pre-plan our impulses, it threw everyone off and everyone was too focused on finishing the task ahead. Whether we succeeded in forming the correct number of shapes, everyone's presence was going toward the assignment instead of the impulses.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Body Learning Pt. 2
a. Summarize: Primary Control, Unreliable Sensory Appreciation, Inhibition, Direction, Ends and Means
Primary control- a dynamic, ever changing relationship that functions all the time, for better or worse, in every position; serves as a key to coordinating the organism as a whole
Unreliable sensory appreciation- habitual misuse that adversely affects the reliability of kinaesthetic sense; the feeling of 'rightness in action' is untrustworthy; if the sensory appreciation is inaccurate the true needs of someone is uncertain, but as the standard of rightness develops, intuition becomes a more valuable tool
Inhibition- the ability to stop and delay a response until one is adequately prepared to make it; common sense, 'Stop, look and listen'; it is a process of stripping away things that impose on people so that one can work naturally and reason can function without distraction; leaving oneself alone
Direction- the experience of trusting reason rather than habit, even if it feels awkward; directing yourself to do something without forcing it; the activity of all the parts reflects direction of oneself as a whole
Ends and means- a balanced relationship achieved by indirect means; to stop and inhibit the habitual response--practise the projection of conscious direction; 'keep your options open' through to the critical moment of decision; continuing to project the directions for maintenance of the new Use
b. Reflection: What did you find interesting, helpful, confusing, etc. about the reading?
I found some of the ideas to be very interesting, and easily understood. Once you're reading through the ideas, you can think about it observantly and understand how simple and concrete the idea is. All the ideas coincide with the idea of instincts, natural thinking, or rather not thinking. When the author was describing how Alexander had to 'think' and not 'do' when he trying to put his body in the natural alignment, I found it more useful to think of it the opposite way. To 'do,' but not to think. All of Alexander's techniques involve the body's natural way of positioning itself and moving. If one were to stop thinking of 'standing right' or 'moving right,' it just happens on its own accord. However, I do understand that many people's bodies (probably including mine) are so used to positioning themselves in a stressful manor. I think the best way to "fix" this is to take an Alexander class because having someone else adjust your body or put it at ease and into a more natural way of being is much more effective than just the words. I think my favorite quote from this reading is, "...the path to self-realization involves finding out what one's true needs are and then fulfilling them." I believe this quote to be extremely accurate in the matters of everything. Many moments of life are wasted on things that people, in the moment, believe are their true needs. I know I have definitely wasted some money on "true needs." But the main focus of this quote is, one should first examine the situation or item, wait on it, and then decide. One would want to fulfill their true needs vs. their momentary wants. Deciphering the difference is key to living a more productive and guided life. Alexander pushes us to develop an accurate standard of rightness, which I believe many people are lacking of. If more people were to learn and study Alexander's techniques I believe that they would be much healthier and happier. I hope personally that I can also form into this natural way of moving and positioning myself.
Primary control- a dynamic, ever changing relationship that functions all the time, for better or worse, in every position; serves as a key to coordinating the organism as a whole
Unreliable sensory appreciation- habitual misuse that adversely affects the reliability of kinaesthetic sense; the feeling of 'rightness in action' is untrustworthy; if the sensory appreciation is inaccurate the true needs of someone is uncertain, but as the standard of rightness develops, intuition becomes a more valuable tool
Inhibition- the ability to stop and delay a response until one is adequately prepared to make it; common sense, 'Stop, look and listen'; it is a process of stripping away things that impose on people so that one can work naturally and reason can function without distraction; leaving oneself alone
Direction- the experience of trusting reason rather than habit, even if it feels awkward; directing yourself to do something without forcing it; the activity of all the parts reflects direction of oneself as a whole
Ends and means- a balanced relationship achieved by indirect means; to stop and inhibit the habitual response--practise the projection of conscious direction; 'keep your options open' through to the critical moment of decision; continuing to project the directions for maintenance of the new Use
b. Reflection: What did you find interesting, helpful, confusing, etc. about the reading?
I found some of the ideas to be very interesting, and easily understood. Once you're reading through the ideas, you can think about it observantly and understand how simple and concrete the idea is. All the ideas coincide with the idea of instincts, natural thinking, or rather not thinking. When the author was describing how Alexander had to 'think' and not 'do' when he trying to put his body in the natural alignment, I found it more useful to think of it the opposite way. To 'do,' but not to think. All of Alexander's techniques involve the body's natural way of positioning itself and moving. If one were to stop thinking of 'standing right' or 'moving right,' it just happens on its own accord. However, I do understand that many people's bodies (probably including mine) are so used to positioning themselves in a stressful manor. I think the best way to "fix" this is to take an Alexander class because having someone else adjust your body or put it at ease and into a more natural way of being is much more effective than just the words. I think my favorite quote from this reading is, "...the path to self-realization involves finding out what one's true needs are and then fulfilling them." I believe this quote to be extremely accurate in the matters of everything. Many moments of life are wasted on things that people, in the moment, believe are their true needs. I know I have definitely wasted some money on "true needs." But the main focus of this quote is, one should first examine the situation or item, wait on it, and then decide. One would want to fulfill their true needs vs. their momentary wants. Deciphering the difference is key to living a more productive and guided life. Alexander pushes us to develop an accurate standard of rightness, which I believe many people are lacking of. If more people were to learn and study Alexander's techniques I believe that they would be much healthier and happier. I hope personally that I can also form into this natural way of moving and positioning myself.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Body Learning Pt. 1
a. Summarize the life of F.M. Alexander
Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in 1869 at Wynyard, Australia. He had eight siblings and was raised on a large farm. Having been raised in this type of environment, Alexander was taught self-sufficiency from a young age. He suffered from respiratory health issues, causing him to be removed from school for private education. His two great loves became horses and theatre. When financial issues arose, Alexander was forced to move from his rural life into a mining city. Although he worked various jobs, Alexander studied music and drama himself constantly. Moving again, he was able to study dramatic and musical training under the best teachers. His recurrent illnesses and bad temper kept him from holding any sort of steady job. Alexander then decided to devote himself to be an actor and reciter. He gained an excellent reputation. His illnesses persisted with hoarseness and respiratory trouble that affected his performances. When no doctor could help Alexander with his persistent problems, he decided to find methods of fixing them on his own. He decided to observe himself in the mirror while speaking and reciting. Alexander observed that when he recited: he stiffened his neck, he depressed his larynx, and he sucked in breath with gasps. When Alexander worked to remove one of those problems, the others followed and disappeared. Once Alexander organized all his findings and began to learn more and more, he eventually began to teach it to other people. While many of his time were affected by his teachings, he is said to be ahead of his time. Now Alexander is becoming well-known, as opposed to before when he was less. Alexander taught in Sydney, London, United States, and Africa. Since Alexander was his own prodigy for his teachings, he was easily able to teach many people of his time. His fame as an actor also grew along with his methods. Alexander developed on his own a scientific method for bodily success, which is becoming more widespread even after his death.
b. Summarize the first two operational ideas: Use and Functioning, The Whole Person (please include a quote that best captures the key idea behind each concept)
Use and Functioning is the process on control over all actions that seem to have the potential of control. It can be closely related to heredity and environment.
"If you teach an individual first to be aware of his physical organism and then to use it as it was meant to be used you can often change his entire attitude to life and cure his neurotic tendencies"
-Aldous Huxley
The Whole Person is based on understanding that the human organism always functions as a whole and can only be changed fundamentally as a whole. Alexander's technique of unity is not just theoretical, it is the process that led to his discovery he at first believed, like most other people, that 'mind' and 'body' were separate entities.
"The world seems mad in preoccupation with what is specific, particular and disconnected in medicine, politics, science, industry and education."
-Dewey
Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in 1869 at Wynyard, Australia. He had eight siblings and was raised on a large farm. Having been raised in this type of environment, Alexander was taught self-sufficiency from a young age. He suffered from respiratory health issues, causing him to be removed from school for private education. His two great loves became horses and theatre. When financial issues arose, Alexander was forced to move from his rural life into a mining city. Although he worked various jobs, Alexander studied music and drama himself constantly. Moving again, he was able to study dramatic and musical training under the best teachers. His recurrent illnesses and bad temper kept him from holding any sort of steady job. Alexander then decided to devote himself to be an actor and reciter. He gained an excellent reputation. His illnesses persisted with hoarseness and respiratory trouble that affected his performances. When no doctor could help Alexander with his persistent problems, he decided to find methods of fixing them on his own. He decided to observe himself in the mirror while speaking and reciting. Alexander observed that when he recited: he stiffened his neck, he depressed his larynx, and he sucked in breath with gasps. When Alexander worked to remove one of those problems, the others followed and disappeared. Once Alexander organized all his findings and began to learn more and more, he eventually began to teach it to other people. While many of his time were affected by his teachings, he is said to be ahead of his time. Now Alexander is becoming well-known, as opposed to before when he was less. Alexander taught in Sydney, London, United States, and Africa. Since Alexander was his own prodigy for his teachings, he was easily able to teach many people of his time. His fame as an actor also grew along with his methods. Alexander developed on his own a scientific method for bodily success, which is becoming more widespread even after his death.
b. Summarize the first two operational ideas: Use and Functioning, The Whole Person (please include a quote that best captures the key idea behind each concept)
Use and Functioning is the process on control over all actions that seem to have the potential of control. It can be closely related to heredity and environment.
"If you teach an individual first to be aware of his physical organism and then to use it as it was meant to be used you can often change his entire attitude to life and cure his neurotic tendencies"
-Aldous Huxley
The Whole Person is based on understanding that the human organism always functions as a whole and can only be changed fundamentally as a whole. Alexander's technique of unity is not just theoretical, it is the process that led to his discovery he at first believed, like most other people, that 'mind' and 'body' were separate entities.
"The world seems mad in preoccupation with what is specific, particular and disconnected in medicine, politics, science, industry and education."
-Dewey
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