Use of the Self

Use of the Self

by F. M. Alexander

F. M. Alexander created the Alexander Technique through a long process of self examination to discover the connection between the bodies alignment and the mind.  Along the way, he discovered how the bodies health is directly correlated with proper alignment and how the way we use our bodies takes us out of alignment, and therefore out of health.

The application of the Alexander Technique comes as close as any source, I have yet seen, to describing the "use" of the body in taijiquan.  There was no connection between F.M. Alexander and Tai Chi yet the language, while using different words, essentially describes the Ten Principles of Yang style taijiquan.  

Alexander's initial objective was to correct a physical health issue, but found that all aspect of a persons health, mental and physical were affected.   The term psychophysical integration to describe this mind body connection has been attributed to F.M. Alexander.

Details of the synchronicity between Alexander Technique and Taijiquan will be examined in future posts.