'LIke other brilliant tehniques, Alexander is tremendously simple but difficult to practice well. With John Gay one can enrich one's experience enormously. HIs teaching has been of great help to me.'-Kenneth Branagh, star and director of film Henry V.

The Alexander Technique is a proven process of mind and body reeducation that reduces struess and muscle tension, and revitalizes those who practice it. Used by many actors, athletes, and dancers, the techniques can help anyone increase his or her energy and achieve a more dynamic presence.

Written by a veteran instructor of the Alexander Technique, this authentic and easy-to-follow guide allows everyone to learn the increasingly popular program, with clear instructions for each exercise, and dozens of helpful photographs that show correct and incorrect postions to use for the exercises and througout the day.

John Gray has taught the Alexander Techniques for more that twenty years. He lives in England.

Contents

Foreword by Alec McCowen
Inroduction: Where fools rush in
What is the Alexander Technique?
Unnecessary tension
Patterns of mis-use
F.M.'s story
Part One
1 Inhibition
2 Direction
The first primary order: 'neck release'
The second primary order: 'head forward and up'
The third primary order: 'back lengthen and widen'
Linking primary orders to experiences
The quality of attention
3 Working method
Working on a couch
The lying-down position
The back
The shoulders
Absorbing the change
4 Working on oneself (1)
Balanced resting state
'end-gainng'
The 'means whereby'
Attending to oneself
Releasing into a better state
5 Body image
Types of physique
General attention
6 Feelings
7 Working on oneself (2)
Lying down
Getting up from lying down
Part Two The intermediate lessons
1 Working through movement
2 Working with a chair
Getting into and out of a chair
Sitting for long periods
3 Working against a wall
Moving back to the wall
Going down the wall
Coming up the wall
Moving away from the wall
Rising to tiptoe
4 'Monkey'
'Monkey' and sitting
5 Hands over the back of a chair
Part Three: Later lessons
Breathing Whispered 'Ah'
Standing
Walking
Work programme
Questions asked of Alexander teachers
A personal story

Sounds like a throwaway subject, but without the proper posture the stage can be a grueling nights work. ( )