2. What is the activity and Why did we
choose it?
Backwards roll/ fish flop?
From watching the performance of the activity we noticed;
Neck Shortens
Chest Raises
Back Shortens
Posterior surface does not move as a whole. E.g. the back
arches when moving backwards
We perform this activity in one of our dance classes on a
weekly basis and therefore believe we would benefit
from improvement.
10. Method Of Improvement: -
Conscious Direction
Set up: - “It feels weird though”
Activity:-
Whilst practicing performing the activity with conscious direction
we observed that we were still pulling down when walking
backwards and relying on our legs to jump rather than sending
the head.
6
12. F.M Alexander
“The belief is very general that if we are told what
to do in order to correct the wrong way of doing
something, we can do it and if we feel we are
doing it all is well” Alexander The Use of the Self
pg33
13. Method Of Improvement: -
Strategy For Change
Before:-
When first performing the activity we found that we were just “end-
gaining” – (just doing it / doesn’t matter how we get the end result)
During:-
Whilst practicing the activity after observing our habitual performance we
found we were consciously directing a lot more with practice and using
PAUSING!
After:-
When we had found out a new way of performing the activity we found that
we were using Alexander’s term “means-where by” more consciously –
(where we worked out the best method to achieve by breaking it down and
using a step by step approach). This would help if maintained in the future.
14. In order to ensure we still apply the new
approach when in different
environments/ surroundings (real life) we
need to make sure we PAUSE before
performing the activity and use inhibition. We also need to maintain
conscious direction through
out to avoid misuse.
15. Conclusion: -
What did we find?
People often assume that if someone explains and demonstrates
an activity to you, then you can repeat it instantly. Have we found
this to be true ??
16. Conclusion: -
What did we find?
To begin with we were;
-Unsuccessful
-Seemed to perform the activity in the original habitual way.
-Always remember to pause.
When putting the activity in to practice we noticed;
- Timing
- Did not have time to pause
- Persevere with conscious direction
We believe the hypothesis is correct because;
-Although we only had limited time to apply the new activity we begun to
notice that the problems we were experiencing before hand are less apparent.
-Therefore if we continue to put alexander's principles into practice this will
prevent misuse and further problems.
17. Bibliography
ALEXANDER, F . MATTHIAS. (2001) The use of the self: its conscious
direction in relation to diagnosis, functioning and the control of a
human reaction. London, Orion.
BASMAJIAN, J . V. (1998) Primary anatomy. Champaign, Illinois,
Stripes Publishing.
Editor's Notes
REMEMBER TO STAND USING ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE !!!!!
Talk about how when we perform the jump during the activity for long periods of time, it causes pain and discomfort in our legs, shins and ankles. Therefore we wish to improve the activity to avoid this problem. This could be because we are doing it wrong (links to hypothesis) This is why we decided to experiment/investigate with applying the Alexander technique. We also found that when trying to walk backwards we would think of our posterior head, neck, back and pelvis separately rather than thinking of it as a whole, meaning we would arch the back, raise the chest and shorten the neck etc. This activity of walking backwards also becomes problematic as inherently as humans we ‘do not like walking backwards’ and therefore pull down. This aspect of the activity could also benefit from improvement using the alexander technique in order to avoid pulling down.
Here are the videos of us habitually performing the activity. Notice the neck, head, back and knees and how the back seems to move in segments rather than as a whole piece resulting with pulling down. This shows our unconscious direction and that we were end-gaining rather than interpreting means whereby.Mention that these are Alexander's terms in which he uses (Chapter One, The Use of the Self) Repeat videos 3-4 times before commenting or analysing, allowing observers to take in what they are seeing.
This links to slide one and was the reason to lead us into investigation into a new approach in order to improve. (Alexander technique). We also need to consider the way we are thinking about the activity as we found most people including us thought for example that jumping is all about the legs and there strength rather than “letting the knees go before sending the crown of the head.
Show as a live demo of what we were doing in the first place. Talk about the walking backwards.
Display whilst performing the live demo.
Display whilst performing the live demo.
Display whilst performing the live demo.
Here is a video of us consciously directing a new approach using the alexander technique, as you watch these videos you will notice that we have a lot more proprioception(position sense). Notice the difference in the neck ,head, back and knees. We also PAUSE! We need to pause in order for the new approach to work and for means whereby to take place (Alexander) and this also shows we did not react straight away to a stimulus (which is what we were doing before)Repeat videos 3-4 times before commenting or analysing, allowing observers to take in what they are seeing.
This quote shows us that we shouldn’t trust our feelings as they often give us unreliable sensory appreciation. Notice how we do not use the usual terms e.g. bend knees – send the knees over the toes. By not referring to the usual stimulus we change the way we engage ourselves as a whole in any activity (Psycho-physical use). Show a live demo of the activity with conscious direction.Link quote back to how humans are not used to going backwards.We also need to consider the way we are thinking about the activity as we found most people including us thought for example that jumping is all about the legs and there strength rather than “letting the knees go before sending the crown of the head”. Before being introduced to alexander technique we also believed: -Walking backwards was about using your legs to lead movement while the torso and head follow.This is incorrect as we should actually use the posterior surface as the initial movement before the legs move in order to support the upper body and head.Whilst attempting to apply conscious direction we imagined a pole going from the crown of the head all the way to the tail bone. However this was unsuccessful as we were not thinking of the back of the body as a surface including shoulders, back, neck etc. and therefore continued to pull down.
Display whilst performing live demo.
This is basically explaining how people believe what they feel is right but its not. You cannot always trust your senses hence why we observe ourselves like Alexander did. This quote also contributed to why we wanted to change the activity so that during our investigation we could prove not to rely on our sensory appreciation.
You need to consciously pause at all times before doing the activity else you will react to the stimuli and complete the activity in its original state (Habitual habit) The “After” stage will be something that occurs after prolonged use and will take a while. Obviously we did not achieve the most desirable outcome straight away as we only had a short period of time to perform the investigation but if elongated the difference in real life occurrences would be larger.During the process and means whereby we decided to split the activity into two sections, walking backwards and jumping. Therefore breaking the activity down before reuniting them together again. We also used imagery and the ‘lying down game’ to help when consciously directing movement.Lying down game – This helped us think about the surface of the upper body as a whole. Imagery – This helped us apply alexander technique successfully rather than slipping back into habit. E.g. Martin (something pulling you backwards through space) Jenna (Creating space in front of you rather than minimising pace behind you) Talk about the process.
When trying to apply the method in a new space and in an actual dance class we instantly slipped back into habitual habits and misuse because we didn’t pause, however, pausing can prove difficult when trying to apply the to several movements in one activity, so further practice was needed. We also found that we could not necessarily stop in the middle of the piece to set up in our position ready to perform the “Jump after walking backwards” therefore after applying it to this activity it enabled us to consciously direct the correct use of the self with minimal pausing delay. Overall, conscious direction and thinking needs to be apparent at all times for the new direction to take place correctly.Repeat videos 3-4 times before commenting or analysing, allowing observers to take in what they are seeing.
From previous experience although shown movement by someone, we tend to attempt to mirror what the person is doing rather than observing beforehand and then trying. Therefore we were end-gaining and not considering the means-whereby. This meant that we were not consciously thinking about what we were doing as we were ‘copying’ and unconsciously using trial and error. As a result, we would continue to do the movement in the ‘wrong way’ through trial and error eventually becoming habitual. In order to improve and successfully apply the alexander technique, we would adjust our learning method and ensure that we observe movement closely, pause and consider the technical aspects of what is required before attempting the activity. We would also need to consciously direct an activity continuously to avoid habitual behaviour and end gaining. Alexander quote “Herein lies the difficulty in making changes from unsatisfactory to satisfactory conditions of use and functioning, and my teaching experience has taught me that when a wrong habitual use has been cultivated in a person for whatever purpose, its influence in the early stages of the lessons is practically irresistible” This quote supports our opinions as alexander also believes that when trying to repeat immediately something we are taught, we slip back into our habitual behaviour as this is what we believe is correct from the sensory appreciation we experience. Overall, this means when using the trial and error method we are actually learning the ‘wrong use of the self’.
We found that when we first tried to consciously direct the new activity in “real life” to begin with we were unsuccessful and seemed to perform the activity in the original habitual way. Until we remembered to pause.When putting the activity in to practice in dance class, we found in certain exercises due to timing that we didn’t feel we had enough time to pause. We would need to persevere with the conscious direction in order to improve. After finding and arriving at a sound means whereby rather than focusing totally on the end product. We believe that it is true that anyone can improve their performance and that it isn't actually anything to do with ability as we all have very similar anatomical structures and therefore are capable of the same activities providing you go about it in the right way.Distribute Hand-outs.
