Direction (Alexander Technique)

Direction is a term for a principal tool used in practicing the Alexander Technique. The principle underlying "Direction" is the substitution response, practiced to prevent habitual solutions from becoming more exaggerated and ingrained over time.

Someone "directs" by visualizing or stating the more constructive means and manner of reaching their temporarily suspended objectives. "Direction" is used with a temporary suspension of goals (termed "inhibition"), because suspending goals postpones habitual remedies, allowing the newer "directions" to have a chance to happen. Some ways of "directing" are:

• to give consent for exploration and for "feeling odd";
• to learn to connect one's anatomical knowledge of the structural capacity of design for movement to the demonstration of it.

This is sometimes done by stating the incremental steps of what you intend to do, as you begin the action, continuing to state them to yourself as you do them, as long as your attention can continue. Rather than gunning the motor by trying harder, and muscling your way through an activity, people who "direct" use strategic forethought to conduct and coordinate more constructive responses as they discover.

"Directing" in the "Alexander Technique" means "mentally guiding the flow of force through the body", instead of "trying to do it". Since the body responds to "giving directions" by preparing to move at a minuscule response level, the body's reflexive coordination seems to handle the action by itself, gracefully and effortlessly. Continuing to "direct", builds easier responses over time, eventually completely replacing short-sighted, habitual knee-jerk solutions.