Dear Friends,

In my website www.humanposture.com, Section 5, I have suggested a model to explain the phenomenon of postural collapse. This model has a weakness, in that it mainly focuses on the skeletal system.

In addition to this model we need to visualize in more detail, problems specific to the muscular system.

THE SUPER SANDWICH MODEL:

Let us take a case where an individual is trying to figure out why his eyeballs are not moving freely; he would like to solve the problem as expeditiously as possible. Most people will imagine that the problem can be sorted out by exercising the muscles close to the eyeballs. While such exercise could improve eyeball mobility to some extent, it is unlikely that for most people the problem will be sorted out satisfactorily this way, because the problem would have got sandwiched in multiple layers. A very simplified model of what will happen is shown in the figure below:

Fig 1

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

Because of this sandwiching process it is not possible to easily sort out any postural problem locally. The process of postural collapse entangles the whole body ... minor problems in the upper half of the body will create minor problems in the lower half of the body ... which will cause another problem in the upper half of the body .... which will cause a problem in the lower part of the body ....

Hence it is unavoidable that in the process of posture correction we will have to shuttle back and forth over the whole length of the body.

Is it possible to correct such a complex mess?

Yes, it is possible to correct such a system:

1. If we think in terms of BALANCE ... which must be supported by:

2. Clothing and footwear must not block the natural movement of the body.

3. Recognize the concept of 'Present Space' (only the subconscious brain can coordinate proper movement)

4. Recognize the concept of USE AFFECTS FUNCTIONING; which means we must persist in adopting what we consider to be proper posture.

5. Knowing in which direction we must move in order to achieve balance. (My fear is that we are making a big mistake here).

1 to 4 are covered in the second page of my website www.humanposture.com

For more information on 5, visit: www.headbalance.blogspot.com

Very fluid balance of the head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP8bWU6zIos&feature=related

Selvaraj

P.S. It goes without saying that 90% of our effort should be focused on preventing children from developing postural problems. Unfortunately, because of vague ideas on what causes bad posture, there is limited effort in this direction.

Replies to the post - Friday, Sept 16, 2011 - in a discussion group:

Hello Selvaraj,
Nice effort. But I wonder about your use of the word "use":

"4. Recognize the concept of USE; which means we must persist in adopting what we consider to be proper posture."

If you by this are refering to the Alexander Technique concept of USE I'm afraid you have got it wrong.
'Posture' is only an effect of USE.

In "A Time to Remember" by Walter Carrington, FM Alexander is asked:
"Is 'use' synonymous with 'reaction'? FM said that it was." (page 3).

Regards,
Halvard

--------------------------------

Hi Halvard,

I made a mistake here, I should have written:

4. Recognise the concept of USE AFFECTS FUNCTIONING; which means we must persist in adopting what we consider to be proper posture.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to correct myself : - )

Regards,

Selvaraj

------------------------------

Intriguing stuff. What are your thoughts on how this relates to Alexander's writings?

ATB,

Steve

-------------------------------

Hi Steve,

I got introduced to The Alexander Technique - more correctly THE ALEXANDER PRINCIPLE - through Dr. Barlow's book. I have not read any of Alexander's writings; I think it is time I corrected this omission on my part.

If you are asking me what I think of The Alexander Technique in general, based on the posts in this group, and how the movement has progressed over the last hundred years, my reply would be to repeat what Marjory Barlow states in her interview:

"FM used to say we are only on the fringe of this thing - only on the fringe - we have got so much more to learn and it will develop in all sorts of directions and will be applied to all sorts of different things".

If you are asking me what I think of the potential of the Alexander Technique, I think the sky is the limit. When I ask myself the question, could I have obtained the perspective I obtained from reading Dr. Barlow's book, from reading some other book, the answer is a simple "No".

But I am not sure that humanity is in a position to capitalise on all this. Our media, our sciences and our governments have built up over the years a sense of entitlement. We expect someone else other than ourselves to solve our problems for us, and it is difficult for us to take a path that could be rewarding yet difficult.

I see the problems related to 'posture' as being more difficult to solve than the problems related to the destruction of our environment, overpopulation and resource depletion. As I have tried to explain, we have inherited this problem from a long, long time back. 'Faulty Posture' is deeply embedded in our culture, our arts and our sciences.

Regards,

Selvaraj

---------------------------

On 9/16/2011 7:18 PM, sraj wrote:

I see the problems related to 'posture' as being more difficult to solve than the problems related to the destruction of our environment, overpopulation and resource depletion.

Something like Alexander Technique might be the *prelude* to solving the rest of the troubles.

Mike

---------------------

If we could find ways to encourage people to let go of their holding patterns in their bodies, the same would happen in their minds and then the sky is the limit!

Kit

-------------------

Hi Kit,

On 17 September 2011 17:19, Kit Racette <kit@directionjournal.com> wrote:

> If we could find ways to encourage people to let go
> of their holding
> patterns in their bodies, the same would happen in

> their minds...

And vice versa and both at once too. I think this problem has been
studied for a long time and lots of technqiues developed. Getting
people to realise how good they would be for them seems to be the
biggest problem.

Keith.

---------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

In my website www.humanposture.com, Section 5, I have suggested a model to explain the phenomenon of postural collapse. This model has a weakness, in that it mainly focuses on the skeletal system.

In addition to this model we need to visualize in more detail, problems specific to the muscular system.

THE SUPER SANDWICH MODEL:

Let us take a case where an individual is trying to figure out why his eyeballs are not moving freely; he would like to solve the problem as expeditiously as possible. Most people will imagine that the problem can be sorted out by exercising the muscles close to the eyeballs. While such exercise could improve eyeball mobility to some extent, it is unlikely that for most people the problem will be sorted out satisfactorily this way, because the problem would have got sandwiched in multiple layers. A very simplified model of what will happen is shown in the figure below:

Fig 1

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movement of the eyeballs

PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE BODY

Problems in the free movements of the eyeballs

Because of this sandwiching process it is not possible to easily sort out any postural problem locally. The process of postural collapse entangles the whole body ... minor problems in the upper half of the body will create minor problems in the lower half of the body ... which will cause another problem in the upper half of the body .... which will cause a problem in the lower part of the body ....

Hence it is unavoidable that in the process of posture correction we will have to shuttle back and forth over the whole length of the body.

Is it possible to correct such a complex mess?

Yes, it is possible to correct such a system:

1. If we think in terms of BALANCE ... which must be supported by:

2. Clothing and footwear must not block the natural movement of the body.

3. Recognize the concept of 'Present Space' (only the subconscious brain can coordinate proper movement)

4. Recognize the concept of USE AFFECTS FUNCTIONING; which means we must persist in adopting what we consider to be proper posture.

5. Knowing in which direction we must move in order to achieve balance. (My fear is that we are making a big mistake here).

1 to 4 are covered in the second page of my website www.humanposture.com

For more information on 5, visit: www.headbalance.blogspot.com

Selvaraj

P.S. It goes without saying that 90% of our effort should be focused on preventing children from developing postural problems. Unfortunately, because of vague ideas on what causes bad posture, there is limited effort in this direction.