Feldenkrais v Alexander Technique?

[prettydaffodil]

Can anyone help me?  Having just had my first lunge lesson at Arrow I've signed up to do the Feldenkrais, Lungeing & Alexander Technique day and, as a feldenkrais and Alexander Technique virgin, I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to what the difference is between the two?

Many thanks,

Kate

[thegaffer]

Hi lucky you,

I went to Arrow and did Feldenkrais and AT, sorry not expert enough to explain the difference, but absolutely loved every minute of the day.  The Feldenkrais was done in the therapy centre after a ridden demo and AT exercises were used in my lunge lesson.

I am unashamedly jealous.

Hope you have a great time.

Heather

[prettydaffodil]

Oh good, thank you Heather, I'm really rather excited about it actually - hence trying to find out more about it all!  Will let you know how I get on

[Ritchie]

As a general concept both are about body awareness and body posture, the Alexander is mainly about aligning the spinal column and Feldenkrais is body awareness through movement/breathing.  Are you going on the 27th? I was hoping to go, but unable to due to family commitments on that day .

I do try to get to at least one FL & AT day each year if only for the lunch!!!  

You will have a great time, let us know how you get on

[Heather]

We'll be doing another Feldenkrais workshop with Joy Morris down here later Sue! I want to do more of it, loved the last one!

[Flyingfox]

We'll be doing another Feldenkrais workshop with Joy Morris down here later Sue! I want to do more of it, loved the last one!

Brrrrilliant!     Count me, Rosie and Flo - and possibly Geoff too in for that workshop then! Any chance of getting an Alexander Technique teacher in as well?

[Heather]

You would all love it Jacquie! A friend who owns a large manor house one mile from the farm lets us use the music room and the morning room, plus kitchens and dining room, so it is a perfect facility and setting too! Will get onto it for the spring.

There is too much content to try to fit in AT too !! Joy does private sessions too which are bliss!!

[prettydaffodil]

Great, thank you Ritchie that explains it very succinctly.  Yes I am going on 27th, i've begged a day free from childcare from my husband so it's a double treat!

[Ritchie]

How was yesterday at Arrow?

[prettydaffodil]

Thank you - it was amazing, extremely enlightening and I think will have an impact in not only my riding life but life outside horses too - I am now so conscious of how I am carrying myself and what strain I might be putting my body under just by sitting badly - as I sit here, I'm completely in line, where normally I'd be slumped with a big curve in my back!

Sue did an exercise with us all that I pretty much haven't been able to get out of my head since and that has made a huge difference again to my posture and it was a bolt out of the blue to be taught in the alexander technique that we shouldn't be trying so  hard.  Throughout life we're taught that it's good to try and that this can lead to huge muscular tension in our bodies and this will, of course, relate to how the horse moves underneath us.  I have always been a great one for trying - if it's something I'm interested in and enjoy, I'll put as much effort in as I am able, so it was eye opening to be told not to and also to be shown how my position went wrong when sitting in the saddle when I tried but when I didn't try it came right.  That'll be very hard to retrain but as Chris said, I can't expect to learn about Alexander Technique in it's entirety in one day!

So, all in all, I had an amazing day - I almost felt naughty and self indulgent to have a day where I concentrated entirely on myself without having to think about cleaning the house, walking the dogs, cooking for the family, changing nappies, playing with the babies, feeding the animals etc etc so it was an extremely guilty pleasure!

[Flyingfox]

So, all in all, I had an amazing day - I almost felt naughty and self indulgent to have a day where I concentrated entirely on myself without having to think about cleaning the house, walking the dogs, cooking for the family, changing nappies, playing with the babies, feeding the animals etc etc so it was an extremely guilty pleasure!

I know exactly what you mean! Soon I shall be indulging in Heathers EE teaching course - starting this month in fact and I cant wait to get away and indulge!!!!  Good for you doing the Alexander tech sessison though    - I want to do that too - I am just turning totally self indulgent!!!