The Alexander Technique: First Lesson

Stand up straight! Eat your vegetables! You're face is going to freeze like that! You'll go blind!!! Well, mama was right about some things and as soon as I find my coke-bottle eyeglasses, I'll tell you why she was right about posture. Throughout his acting career, F. M. Alexander (1869-1955) suffered enormous bouts of stage fright. After years of research, Alexander discovered a technique built around body movement that would eliminate the jitters and change his life forever. Actor William Hurt and former dancer Jane Kosminsky illustrate the "Alexander Technique" in this introduction to posturing, breathing and balancing your way to health and happiness. According to Kosminsky, aligning the spinal cord and changing the 'habitual' resting place of one's head (which is 12-15 lbs.) on top of one's skinny little neck (unless you're a football player, in which case you have no neck) can bring buoyancy to the rest of your body. Acting as Kosminsky's student rag doll, true believer Hurt is taken through a series of poses, including proper sitting, standing and walking techniques as well as a series of floor exercises, while Kosminsky feels Hurt's neck and rib cage and they both say "fabulous" a lot. Kosminsky is a well spoken, amiable teacher; Hurt, a most sincere student; and this engaging, quasi-chiropractic-biofeedback-exercise tape offers yet another means of stress and tension damage control. Also available: The Alexander Technique: Solutions for Back Trouble (either separately for $24.98, or bundled with The Alexander Technique: First Lesson for $39.98). Recommended. Aud: P. (N. Plympton)