A first principle in Alexander Technique is inhibition. When I first started taking AT lessons that word did not feel comfortable to me. It seemed negative, and I associated it with a lack of freedom and self-expression.
Anytime there’s a change to make (and there always is), the first step is inhibition. In the case of a habit like sitting with the pelvis rocked forward (true confession of a slow AT student), my instinct is to figure out how I’d rather my pelvis be and put it there. The philosophical stance underpinning inhibition is that you don’t need to do that. Or actually, you need to not do that. Actively putting my pelvis in a different posture through effort is inevitably going to lead to the same kind of tensions. Instead, inhibit the habit of rocking the pelvis forward. Sit down and choose not to do it. Then naturally the pelvis will be in a neutral position.
Maybe.
In order to really discuss this I guess I need to open another can of Alexander’s worms - habitual behaviors like that feel correct. I never noticed that I rocked my pelvis forward until it was pointed out. That allowed me to develop some awareness around it. At first, my pelvis in a neutral position felt like it was leaning back because of what Alexander called faulty sensory appreciation (I just learned that he also called it Debauched Kinaesthesia, which is a 1st class turn of phrase). Anyway, because of the habit of distorting my body in this way, it began to feel like the correct way to hold myself, and a more natural way of sitting felt distorted. Changing deeply ingrained habit (and karmic) patterns can be a long and challenging process.
I’m writing about inhibition because, contrary to my first instincts, inhibition is the key to freedom. Without inhibiting, we live entirely propelled by our accumulated karma.
Stopping and inhibiting gives us the chance to make different decisions. Being able to make choices is actual freedom.
Inhibition is on super clear display when I’m working with my dogs. A first principle dog game that’s about inhibition (and choices) is ItsYerChoice, from Susan Garrett (of course). This game teaches a dog that by inhibiting and making a conscious choice they can get what they want. A simple version of the game goes like this: I hold some treats in my hand and put my open hand near my dog. If she moves to try to take them I close my hand. If she starts sniffing and licking and nosing at my hand that’s fine. That’s her choice. I leave my hand closed and the treats inaccessible. If she backs up from my hand, I open it again. Now she can decide if she wants to try to take them from me again - if she does, my hand closes and we repeat. If she waits patiently for a moment, I praise her and give her one of the treats. Repeat.
If you want, ponder how inhibiting your habitual reactions and giving yourself even a microsecond to make a choice might change how you do things. If you’re ready to see the matrix, choose to do it a few times today.