Reviews: Langford: Mind & Muscle

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Alexander Technique Review 8.22.18

Reviews

Elizabeth Langford*

Mind and Muscle
– An Owner’s Handbook

1999 pb, 217 pages, pb, illustrated, 170 x 240 mm, Belgium, Garant.

In print: general.

1. Review by John Nicholls

2. Review by Lee Warren

1. Review by John Nicholls

First published in STATNews vol. 5, issue no. 6, 2000.

The title of this book aptly conveys its contents. It explores the connections between our thinking processes and how our muscles work in two related ways: the effects of our often mistaken ideas about our own anatomy and physiology on how we function (FM’s “erroneous preconceived ideas”); and the effects of accurate concepts guiding clear ideas about what we want to happen and not happen (FM’s direction and inhibition).

This is a substantial book, written by a very experienced Alexander teacher who has clearly thought long and hard about the subject, and experimented with ways of communicating the information to pupils. It begins with sections on body-image; the triangle of use, structure and function; muscles - what they are, how they work, how they organise the framework of the body; and how our moods and choices influence our muscles. Then a section deals with the two ends of the body vital for balance, the head and the feet. This brings in the relevance of head balance as we understand it in the Alexander Technique, and allows room at the other end for some pithy comments on the silliness of such footwear as exercise sandals and negative-heel shoes. Also in this section is an invaluable chapter on breathing, covering some of the widespread fallacies on this topic, e.g. abdominal breathing, beautifully (and deliberately) described in the book by a friend of the author’s as “abdominable breathing”. Ms Langford points out how many misguided attempts to improve breathing are stimulated by the effort to correct breathing itself, without noticing that the real problem is the collapsed or distorted framework of the body within which the breathing is taking place.

Further on the book goes into how the arms and legs relate to the central column of the body, leading into aspects of bending, walking, running, and the many ways we use our hands. Then some useful comments and advice on chairs, beds, and other equipment; Repetitive Strain Injury; exercise, with a valuable untangling of the different types of exercise for different purposes such as cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength and flexibility. And finally the difference between habits and reflexes; and the muscular aspects of fear reactions. Incidentally, it might have been helpful in the section distinguishing reflexes from habits to warn the reader that FM in his books did not follow this distinction. He often used reflex as a synonym for habit, a more common English usage in the earlier part of the century, as in the phrase “habitual reflex activity” used in The Universal Constant in Living.

The last section, on muscles and fear, illustrates one of the most admirable features of this book. When thinking about how to review it, I at first thought to put in a few direct quotes from the book to allow its quality to speak for itself - and perhaps save myself some time and mental effort! However it is difficult to find appropriate short quotes. Not because the writing is at fault: it is clear, lively and well expressed. But there are no sound bites. In other words, when dealing with difficult, complex subjects Ms. Langford does not settle lazily for the easy oversimplification. For example, in dealing with fear reactions she avoids the glib assumption sometimes heard in Alexander circles that the Startle Pattern underlies all “pulling down”. Instead we are given helpful observations and speculations about the relationship between infant alarm responses like the Moro reflex and the adult startle pattern, suggesting that the adult response may be an unconscious attempt to partially prevent the infant one, momentarily trapping the adult in two contradictory movements. To further allow for the complexity of real-life situations, the author then suggests a “slow motion” form of the reaction, brought on more by worry than sudden alarm. And all this is linked to why the performing arts have been such a fertile field for the Alexander Technique.

So just one quote: “However, no amount of correcting, pretending, or ‘good posture’ will have the same effect as a series of personal decisions genuinely not to do the things we know are self-destructive. I think the need for this silent turn-around is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today, and one in which we each have a part to play, a part that cannot be played by anyone else.”

All the way through, the anatomical and physiological information is clearly presented, accompanied by excellent drawings and interesting photographs. Each section includes what the author calls “Experiments”. These are suggested movements to bring about practical experience of the anatomical information which makes it real, enhancing body awareness instead of just being theoretical knowledge.

I would advise that you read this book slowly, one section at a time, and play around with the experiments. Put it down and then come back to it a few days later to continue with the next section. It is not a light read in the sense of something you can skim through in a couple of evenings, but it will repay careful reading and re-reading and enrich your understanding of how the Alexander Technique works.

One criticism in relation to the above: a book of this length and richness of information really should have an index so that you can quickly find and re-read passages of interest. Publisher please note!

This book is a thoughtful, thorough exploration of the subject that provides a bridge between anatomy and the Alexander Technique. I recommend it to all teachers and training course students, and to anyone who wants to understand more about how the bodymind works and how its functioning can be improved. I also intend to add it to the list of books we use as study texts in our Alexander teacher training class in Brighton.

2. Review by Lee Warren

First published in The Alexander Journal no. 18, 2002.

Recently there has been an increasing interest among the public in a more intelligent approach to all things physical. Pilates, yoga and suchlike seem to be more fashionable than aerobics or weights, and at a local health club where I teach, the studio manager informs me that small classes in yoga and T’ai Chi and so on are popular sessions in the gym.

It is in the light of this sort of awareness that Elizabeth Langford sets out to demonstrate to the average reader that in fact it is the way in which we approach activity which is as important as the activity itself. This approach, however, is determined by our habitual use of ourselves, which in its turn is determined or at least influenced by the concepts that we hold about ourselves. She attempts to give the reader “. . . an awareness, not only of habitual muscular patterns, but also of the background thinking with which they are associated.” She achieves this admirably.

Mind and Muscle is divided into seven parts. The first four - “Establishing the Context”, “Clearing the Decks”, “Essential Information (basic)” and “Essential Information (specific)” are excellent. Aiming to establish, in layman’s terms, a clear and practical understanding of our structure and the way in which our thinking affects our functioning, the chapters are interesting, humourous and, most importantly, accurate. Covering subjects such as errors in the body image, muscles and choice, breathing, the coordinating factor of the head and the nature of joints, the reader is lead to a much more precise “map” of the system with a clear idea of the extent to which our preconceptions can limit our functioning and distort our structure.

I found part 5 less helpful. This is essentially a collection of well-conceived “experiments” (rather than exercises) designed to assist the reader in exploring their own use. However, I am rather doubtful of their use to the sort of reader that Langford seems to be aiming her book at. That is, an average person with faulty sensory appreciation, unperceived habits and so on. I fear that the temptation to turn the “experiments” into exercises might be overwhelming! However, I am sure the “experiments” will prove useful to teachers conducting introductory or group classes in the Technique.There are many ideas here that would be wonderful if applied under supervision and within a climate of “non-doing”.

Part 6 is a series of short essays ruminating on such subjects as RSI, furniture, lying down work and habits. These essays are useful and thought-provoking. The last part gives a brief account of the Alexander Technique, limited to a recapitulation of Alexander’s story, and a comment on teaching and teachers today.

Like so many “beginner” books, Mind and Muscle should ideally be read in conjunction with lessons in the Technique. However, a general reader would derive considerable benefit from Langford’s work, even if they have never had a lesson, and this is unusual.

Langford has an excellent illustrator - Enci Noro. The book features many illustrations that are both detailed and beautiful. The illustrations support the text and are very useful because of their clarity. I now regularly use them in my teaching.

I enjoyed this book. Sometimes Langford can be a little too fastidious when she’s being prescriptive; phrases such as “leaving your hand severely alone” would not encourage release in me! However, when she’s being descriptive, she’s superb. What I particularly admire is the fact that Alexander’s work permeates every page, so that the reader absorbs his ideas as if by osmosis, and therefore doesn’t feel preached at. This is an intelligent, clear, and welcome addition to the increasing number of “basic” books that follow in Alexander’s footsteps.