Golden Times September 2016

LIVING THE
ALEXANDER
WAY OF LIFE
by Liz Jeffries
Get your motor running... Head out on the highway.
This little ditty was particularly
relevant to me recently, as I
was invited to attend a Speed
Awareness Course. For those of
you not in the know, you receive
such an invitation if you have
been driving above the speed
limit and get caught on camera!
No, I was not doing a ‘Princess
Anne’, i.e., going at 93 mph in
a 70 mph zone. I was, in fact,
doing a rather sedate 68 mph on
the M25; I just forgot that I was
in one of those 60 mph variable
speed limit zones. Frustrating
certainly, but in fact the course
was really illuminating. I learned
a lot and I really feel that
these courses should be made
available to non speedos. The
one theme going through all the
information we received was
how our awareness plays such a
large part of how well we drive
and how we need to be alert to
everything going on around us.
A lot of what we do is habit. For
example, who, when they see a
green traffic light, doesn’t speed
up just a little so we don’t have
to wait? Habits follow us around
in whatever we do and are very
often responsible for pain and
postural problems. We don’t
usually start out in life with pain
and posture difficulties. Think of
a toddler and how they move,
squat and run with such ease
and balance. So we develop
postural habits later on that may
be stirring up problems for us
in later life. Here’s one to think
about. Look at how people text
on their mobile ‘phones. The
mobile is usually held more at
waist height and the head is
bent down over the ‘phone.
The head is very heavy, around
6/7 kg. That weight could be
causing damage to the neck/
spine as it struggles to deal with
that weight. Far better to bring
the mobile up more towards eye
level.
However, in order to break a
habit we first need to become
aware of what we are doing
which is forming the habit. So
awareness is key and the only
way we can change. As we are
on a driving theme, next time
you start to drive, think about
where you put your hands on
the steering wheel. Most of
us were taught left hand at 10
and right hand at 2. However,
this can cause tension in the
neck and shoulders. By putting
your hands at 9 and 3 it relaxes
them a little whilst still being
safe. Oh and the next time you
are becoming frustrated by the
driver in front, sticking carefully
to the speed limit, don’t get too
cross; it may be someone who’s
just been to a Speed Awareness
Course and if they get caught
again within the next three
years, it becomes a £100 fine
and three points on their Driving
Licence!
By the way, in case you’re trying
to remember, the lyrics above
are from “Born to be Wild” by
Steppenwolf
The Alexander Technique helps
with pain, postural and balance
issues. You can learn individually
or in groups. Do get in touch,
without obligation, if you would
like to know how it could help
you.
www.MovingU4ward.co.uk
01424 465838/07929 725156
Golden Times offer: The first
three people to contact me
quoting Golden Times can
come along for individual free
introductory forty minute session
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