It was a new car to me, and I was unfamiliar with the tire pressure alert system. I then learned that after refilling the tires, I had to hold down a certain button for a certain length of time to recalibrate the tire pressure system; otherwise, it would sense that something was still amiss. I did this, and at first all seemed well, but then the light came back on…and I tried again, and the tire got lower, but I was busy, so I kept refilling it but didn’t take the time to do anything more permanent about it… until the tire was so flat that it had to be replaced. I’d been driving on a flattening tire for most of a week, damaging the inner tube material and the tire itself…all because of a measly puncture AND my lack of response to the tire pressure warning light. I’d gotten used to it, had decided it’s just the way things would be for a few days – I was SO BUSY, remember? I’d ignored my car’s request for recalibration, and I ended up replacing a 6-month old tire.
When we study and practice the Alexander Technique, we are learning to recalibrate our own neuro-muscular system. We’ve gone for days, weeks, years, perhaps, with slowly flattening spinal discs, or compression in the joints, or tension that causes pain and strain. Headaches, jaw tension, and even flustered thinking are also signs of a system out of balance. At first our bodies give us warning signals, but often we are too busy and preoccupied to do much about them. Our sensors (neuro-muscular sensory system) get used to this state of affairs and start to malfunction, no longer telling us that we aren’t in optimal working order. Pretty soon, we may have chronic pain or repetitive motion injuries, and we take it for granted that “it’s just how life is.”
Let me tell you: it’s not!
Since we are not replaceable in the same way the parts of a car can be interchanged, it is vitally important that we learn this recalibration of our own systems, to stop the injury before it starts, and to get our lives moving toward poise and freedom. The first step to pushing the reset button?
Just Stop.
Pause.
Let some breath out.
If you can, find a place to lie down for 5 minutes in semi-supine, and practice some constructive rest.
Doing this repeatedly will begin your journey to recalibration! You’ll recognize your stress, strain, and pain more easily. But to unlearn the habitual tension that’s holding you back, stop in for an Alexander Technique lesson. When you’ve returned to optimal functioning order – the way we all start as children! – you’ll feel so much better, you’ll have more choices, and you’ll be in a place of freedom to enjoy life more.
Curious how it works? Please contact me for a lesson! Mention the code RECALIBRATE and receive $5 off your first lesson.