52. Attention and Imagination

52. Attention and Imagination

Ultimately a pupil must be able to make reliable kinaesthetic observations of himself in activity. Such observations, however, cannot be performed by the suggestions of the teacher. The purpose of lessons is to sharpen the kinaesthetic sense and to increase self-knowledge and self-control. The purpose is not to help the pupil develop his fantasy life. To imagine, for example, that your head is a balloon (which it certainly is not) is to get further away from reality than you already are and to reduce your chances of ever observing the head relation for what it is and does. Movement within an expanded field of attention is the means by which change is effected in the Alexander Technique. It cannot be effected by substituting imagination for attention.
Frank Pierce Jones (“Freedom to Change” – chapter 14 p156)

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