I have been teaching Alexander Technique in San Francisco for 24 years, but I had to go to Death Valley to learn and experience something very primary. It’s not what you think! I did feel the full weight of just how much power and momentum is generated to move ourselves around. I felt it smack in my face! Literally!
Let me explain. The first day of my return to the hot lands brought me to the general store for Ice, Jerky and sundries. I was quite keen on sharing my love for the desert with my old So Cal pal, Paul, who had just turned into the store. Car parked, I moseyed toward some picnic tables to spy the maps. I watched to my left as two thirsty Crows searched for a drink of water from a drippy spigot when CLANG!
Overhangs require posts for support and I unknowingly got to feel just how supportive. But admittedly, at a bad angle of interaction. Accidentally and without seeing in front of me through the sunglasses, a corner and my right temple met. I sat at the nearest table and searched for my handkerchief because blood appeared. My old pal comes out and gets to witness the full horror of what happened. Poor Paul! Luckily, for me Paul got some ice from the cooler in the car and said the corner of my forehead swelled up like a doughnut around the gash from the post corner. Sorry for all the graphics, but suffice to say, it frikin hurt!
Dizzy and woozy, I was fine after a while and we proceeded to enjoy our vacation.
The point? I guess I must admit I did not understand fully the energy involved in locomotion. It’s no joke. Moving our bag of bones takes strength and many other coordinative factors. I got a chance to feel the force of moving myself forward and used my face to stop it. I highly discourage this type of research lol!
In an Alexander sense, when I reflect upon how unintentional it was, it’s remarkable that I can still feel traces of the pain 7 months later. So much power! Granted, it’s a sensitive area, but just imagine how much more force comes with intention? Or the intent to counteract gravity’s pull? We can be pretty heavy without some conscious direction. We always have the option to lighten our load. Unfortunately, accidents happen to all of us. No choice there. I guess keep watching. The world, …not the phone…. or darn Crows!