Learn to breath better - lesson 6. I hit a problem that I experience: when I know I'm 'kicking my self' badly, going round in my thoughts negatively, about something I could perhaps have done better at even though actually it was made difficult to for reasons beyond my control. This lesson helped me override thoughts enough to think more constructively: decide what I'd do next and what I can"t do; reason out what I can learn from the situation and what are the consequences of: (a) my lack of perfection; (b) my planned actions & (c) learning through my reflection.. This stopping was difficult. But as body-mind is one, doing this work then gave me mind space to think of: stopping more in body (as James said, body-mind is intertwined), of letting my neck be a bit freer, of letting my back to be more expansive, of allowing my heght to increase right out of my heels right up into my head, and to do the allowing work with the breath. The message of trusting that these thoughts would be recognised and they would happen was helpful too. I sensed greater empowered for constructive actions, and more accepting of my self.

Learn to breath better - lesson 6. Though working with this helped me to let go of my unconstructive response, it helped me to take opportunity to recognise the difficulty beyond my control and very importantly not let go of my responsibility. I feel strengthened to follow through on that with a purer stronger attitude.

It's interesting to begin to begin to spot embedded habits that have come to feel the norm over what I realise now is a very long time even going back to the earliest age. It's difficult for me to know what ideas are constructive and relevant versus what are not which are a mixture of both. The breathwork seems to be inseparable from my space for whatever upward expansiveness I might allow with the Alexander Technique professional's help and my inquiry and exploration with it. Together they bring a bit more self security, calm and more alive use of my senses. This all helps me with courage to question my beliefs about situations bring to mind other possibilities.

Breath work learn to breathe better lesson 5. It's brilliant to be reminded that Alexander is a method for 'waking up the conscious mind' as you put it James. My life seems to involve never ending reactions to countless different things. Stopping seems impossible as the reactions are part of living. But it's brilliant to know that there is technique for this problem.

It's so interesting. The pause, change nothing, when ready. But then the extra few beats of breath in after a stop. This seems to link in with upward thought, and it the ah is a soft thing in the face and also makes me want to take a natural yawn which I presume is a needed thing if it wants to happen?

I love the pause. I find that my habit of largely un-necessary worry about negative possibilities ends up in a worried sense in my face. I've started to notice this. I have increased ability to just put those thoughts and ideas (that's all they are it seems) out of my mind. It is this for me that automatically allows the sense of a smile or at least the thought in the face and jaw of softening. This is so interesting. This then links in with allowing the breath to happen. So tempting for me to make it happen. But then it's been so interesting to understand special breath work in this context. It seems to have greater power. The beats seem to give me a sense of opportunity to connect with the breath and what is is. Really helpful and calming in a further way. Thank you James. Great session for me.

Yes I can really see that. Hard to spot - so embedded! I have a lot of discovering to do. At some point I may have begun to begin!! Thank you.

I appreciate the 'when you're ready', and as James says, the beats not being seconds but our own. Without the 'when I'm ready' I interfere with the moment the breath is just going to occur without me 'helping it'. For me, the 'when I'm ready' is when the breath is just going to happen without me doing it. This is an interesting space where its as if there is more residual breath to be allowed to exhale but without me helping that either. For the beats, I have started by making them to fit the actual length the in breath takes (which is interestingly very short and shallow for me at times); followed by the 5 to hold at the same rate (again really short but a bit longer by a beat); and then 6 for out at the same rate. I am then finding that the in breath is not ''ready' (perhaps not needed?!) so the 6 turns into longer!. This pause seems very calming too. Interesting exploration, I will see what happens with this and write on here what happens! James' mention of having an idea of the expanding back and neck (I think of the whole expanse of that right out up the back of my head) to the best of my ability. This gives me a greater sense of where the breath is but also something I cannot put in words but something like - 'It's okay, this is something of where I am, even who I am'. This helps me relate in a much more measured, sensible and calmer way in my relationship to things coming at me, duties to others, things to be done et cetera. Thank you James.