Alexander Technique Breathing.
I teach the Alexander Technique in Manhattan. Manhattan is about as far away as you can get from the stillness, calmness, and tranquility of the woods.
Once away from the city and in the woods, I immediately notice the sounds- the open sound of the wind moving the branches and leaves of the trees, rushing water sounds, and the sound of breathing.
Alexander Technique Breathing Exercise.
Let go of your jaw and neck muscles. Take your time.
On an unprepared exhalation, whisper an open ah sound. Whisper fully.
When you are ready, ease your lips together and let the air come back in through your nose, silently.
Smile, let your head go up, and whisper another long, controlled, ah.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Nice post Mark! Marjorie Barstow, when people would ask her to teach Whispered Ah, would say something like: “You can’t do it well unless you’re prepared to look a little silly” I’ve found it’s great for doing at home, while walking etc – but not at an important business meeting! Or in the middle of teaching a group (unless, of course, I’ve warned them, and explained it to them.)
Keep on a bloggin’!
Thanks Robert,
I know what you mean about the look of the Alexander Technique whispered ah. I have found though, that if you don’t open your mouth quite so wide, and you make a slightly softer sound, you can do them almost anywhere. Plus, in NYC, it takes quite a lot to draw attention to yourself!
Thanks, Mark, for this lovely and simple description of the “whispered ah.”
And I would very much like to see you doing them on the F train 🙂
Thanks Imogen! Alexander Technique whispered ah is too good to keep to ourselves! (And you can catch me on the beautiful F train five or six days a week. I just can’t get enough of it.)
“Whispered ah” has always intimidated me as both student and teacher of the A.T. Your description brings it down to earth and puts me at ease…ah. Thank you, Mark. Hope to see you on the F train.
Thanks Roz! If Alexander Technique teachers have intimidated you, try doing some whispered ah’s. They’re great for stress-even the stress of intimidating Alexander teachers teaching the whispered ah.
Very good Mark! There’s no music without breathing as well there’s no life without it. A very good simple/effective piece like the way breathing should be.
Thanks Matteo,
And the Alexander Technique is simple as well! And, extremely effective.
[…] worked on breathing…regular breathing, exhaling on a silent la la la, and breathing out doing whispered ahs. Very fascinating stuff. I get dizzy doing this, as it extends my breathing and I am not used to […]
Hey Rena,
Yeah, the Alexander Technique whispered ah is valuable in about 500 different ways. I also use the idea of whispered ah thinking, just like hands on the back of a chair thinking. Once the whispered ah is more incorporated into your life, doing this classic whispered ah becomes easier and more familiar.