Laying down on the floor in active rest position

Semi supine/Active rest is one of the aspects of the Alexander Technique that most people absolutely love.  It is likely that it will be +/- the only “Alexander Technique Exercise” your teacher will give you. The challenge is to develop the habit of doing it daily.  The benefits will begin to show themselves and your body will thank you for it!  Rest in this position (with the support of books under your head) at least once per day (for about 5 – 20 minutes)

Allow your body to settle, and rest into the support of the surface you are laying on. Observe your body/notice what it is like. Notice your surroundings. Invite release of any unnecessary tension. You have given yourself permission and time for this. You might also like to think…”I have time. I have time to rest, I have time to invite my body to release unnecessary tension, I invite flow through my neck, I invite flow through my spine, I invite flow through my arms and legs.”

Learn how to get the most from this process via a 1:1 lesson.  Contact me via email or phone me (01759) 307282 for details.

Below are audio/video active rest talk through’s you might like to try:

Active Rest Audio, using the Alexander Technique Primary Directions, plus extra directions for joints: August 2019

Active Rest Audio to listen to whilst laying down 2018 

On my YouTube channel you can access 9 Video’s (originally produced for International Alexander technique week 2017)  on Active Rest which formed a retreat and would form a good basis for learning and doing Active Rest.

You can also experience the process of active rest via this audio instruction. Just use the player below. (or if you are using an older browser you may only see a download link). Any problems – contact me! 

Links to other Alexander Technique teachers active rest information 

Benefits of active rest:

• Influences
  • Muscles and joints – conscious control/releasing/thinking reduces unnecessary/habitual tension patterns
  • Digestion – the relaxation influence on nerves normalises the activity of the gut and gives an opportunity for the abdominal muscles to release and provide space for gut
  • Breathing

• Can increase energy levels and ease, and alleviate pain and discomfort by allowing:
  • complete rest of the body
  • a decrease in muscular effort and excess tension
  • fluid to be imbibed (absorbed) into intervertebral discs

• Facilitates heightened self-awareness, specifically:
  • Improves kinaesthetic awareness (awareness of the position of your body in space) as a result of giving directions (invitations to your body to release)
  • Facilitates awareness of the relationship between the head, neck and back
    • Facilitates awareness of how body and mind are not separate
    • Provides an opportunity to notice and reduce unhelpful habitual thought patterns/mental chatter via the use of stop and the mindful approach of using conscious thought (i.e. directions) to release excess tension

• Facilitates/speeds up your learning process of The Alexander Technique via improved kinaesthetic awareness

• Helps you to re-train your thinking to gain conscious control of how you use yourself by providing an opportunity for quiet self-observation

• Can be an effective stress management tool and can induce calm (before and after a stressful event) as it provides a stop and a release

Learn how to get the most from this process via a 1:1 lesson.  Contact me via email or phone me (01759) 307282 for details.