שיטת אלכסנדר עוזרת לנו לזהות ולמנוע הרגלי יציבה, תנועה והתנהגות שצברנו לאורך השנים, המשבשים את הפעולה הטבעית של הגוף באמצעות פיתוח המודעות. אבל מדוע בעצם זה כל כך חשוב, בייחוד בעולם המערבי? כמו כל יצור חי, אנחנו נולדים עם היכולת הטבעית לפעול, לנוע ולהתנהג בדרך היעילה והחסכונית ביותר. בכל רגע שאנחנו חיים, אפילו כשנראה לנו שאנחנו לא מבצעים פעולה כלשהי (יושבים על הספה ורואים טלוויזיה, ישנים), נדרש מתח מסוים בכל חלק בגוף, על מנת שהמערכת תתפקד כשלם על הדרך הטובה ביותר. מהי הדרך הטובה ביותר? אותה הדרך שמשתמשת במינימום אנרגיה, לא גורמת נזק לעצמה, ולא משאירה מתח לאחר שהפעולה הסתיימה. הדרך האופטימלית הזו גם משפיעה על איכות הפעולה שאנחנו מבצעים. נרוץ מהר יותר אם הריצה תתבצע בדרך יעילה, נקפוץ גבוה יותר אם הקפיצה תתבצע בדרך יעילה, וכן הלאה. פרדריק מתיאס אלכסנדר, מפתח שיטת אלכסנדר, טען בפשטות ש”שימוש משפיע על תפקוד”. העיקרון הזה נשמע לכם אולי טריוויאלי וברור כשמדובר במכונה או כל מוצר אותו אנחנו רוכשים. אנחנו יודעים שיש דרך מסוימת להשתמש במוצר (הדרך הכתובה ב”הוראות השימוש”), ושהדרך הזו תשפיע על התפקוד של המוצר. אם נשתמש שלא לפי ההוראות, המכשיר יתפקד בצורה לא אופטימלית ויש סיכוי שגם ייהרס מהר יותר.

When it comes to humans, the principle is the same. But in modern life, especially in the Western world, it all gets complicated. At first, there is a system of reflexes that works on its own and essentially makes us “use” ourselves exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In animals and small children, we can see good examples of this. A cat, for example, is known as an animal with exceptionally fast reflexes. In one moment, it goes from a state of rest to an emergency state of fast and efficient movement. After the danger has passed, the cat immediately returns to the muscular balance that characterized its state of rest. If you observe children in a playground, you will notice that they also exert themselves in a very efficient way. Walking, running, playing in the sand, are all effortless actions for them. The only effort that is exerted is only when it is necessary: ​​climbing, lifting heavy weights. Not surprisingly, children also demonstrate exactly the same principle on a mental level. If you are a parent, you have probably been amazed by the ability of children to have a particularly dramatic fight, and in a moment of distraction, go back to laughing and having fun together as if nothing had happened. More efficient and economical than continuing to be angry all day, right? From about the age of 5, we begin to live a more modern and less natural life. Sitting on the floor is replaced by sitting on a chair. Spontaneous action, thinking, and behavior are replaced by passivity in front of the teacher, or in front of screens. In addition, we learn a lot from the way our parents conduct themselves by imitation. As a result of all this, the natural and effective reflex system goes haywire. It has developed over millions of years of evolution, but the pace of technological development of the outside world is much faster. Certainly in the last 200 years. It essentially becomes a system of compensation. A system whose entire energy is directed at dealing with stimuli to which it is not adapted. Let’s take a common example: staring at a smartphone screen while standing or sitting. If I hold it in the abdominal area and lower my head towards it, the system must take emergency measures so that my head does not fall forward, followed by the entire body. The neck muscles are called for help and tense up in order to achieve this goal. This imbalance of the neck muscles will result in a domino reaction with one goal: to keep me from falling. Forward or backward. The shoulders, shoulder blades, lower back, and basically every muscle in the body goes out of balance and is directed towards two goals: that I will be able to stare at the phone and that I will not fall. Remember that I talked about our innate ability to conduct myself efficiently. So it is exactly that: just an ability. When the appropriate means are not present, this ability is neglected in favor of the two goals that I mentioned: achieving the goal of the action (staring at the screen) and protecting myself (not falling). This ineffective use of ourselves develops into habits of use. So that in a short time, the tension in the various muscles when I lower my head to my smartphone is no longer noticeable to me. Moreover, it has become the state that feels most natural to me. Not because it is truly natural, but because I have become accustomed to it. The Alexander Method comes to help us correct this disruption in a system that is supposed to work naturally and automatically, and efficiently. The system always works, just not always efficiently. Through the method, we regain this innate ability by improving our awareness of ineffective habits. We develop the ability to identify and prevent these automatic habits in real time, and thus act and live in a more efficient, healthy, and balanced way.

Reporter: Ilan chose a certified Alexander Method teacher