Why does my teacher tell me not to focus on what I feel during lessons and self-work?
Alexander lessons typically include hands-on instruction from the teacher, as well as verbal instructions. Alexander called those instructions "directions".
Here they are:
I allow my neck to be free TO ALLOW
my head to move forward and up TO ALLOW
my back to lengthen and widen TO ALLOW
my knees to release forward and away.
These words are a narration of what happens when we effectively interrupt overwork in our muscles and other contractile tissues in the body that are creating misalignment and compression on joints, nerves and discs.
The words Alexander used and taught to his students come with the following caveats:
1) Don't interpret the words as instructions to "do" something, i.e. as a set of muscular actions or movements; and
2) don't seek out a corresponding set of sensations that match your idea of what these words should "feel like".
The tendency to do and/or feel for evidence that you are "getting it right", that you are effectively implementing the shift that the "directions" are intended to produce, is a misunderstanding of the skill being taught.
People often over-focus on sensations when they begin to explore this work. It is not necessary or even effective to narrow attention on sensations.
Consider when you drive a car: You are able to sit in the drivers seat and perceive how long, wide and tall the vehicle is. In a way, your perception extends beyond your physical boundaries to locate the physical boundaries of the car and you steer it through space, avoiding collisions and coordinating the interplay between the accelerator, the brake, sight lines enhanced by rear view and side mirrors. Even more impressive is the ability to adjust from one vehicle to another. Each vehicle handles differently, and drivers routinely adjust skillfully between
Try This:
Sit with your legs uncrossed, feet resting on the floor and your back supported against the back of the chair.
Keep your eyes open and remain aware of what you can see in front of you, expanding your interest in your upper and side peripheral vision.
You can either think, say aloud or pre-record and listen to the following words:
I allow my neck to be free TO ALLOW
my head to move forward and up TO ALLOW
my back to lengthen and widen TO ALLOW
my knees to release forward and away.
Practice continuing to see and hear, and refrain from focusing on feeling anything in the body parts being named in the directions.
After 3 to 5 minutes, observe changes in your perception. Practice this skill in varied environments. You can always expand your awareness to include what you see and hear so that you are less inclined to "do" the instructions as a muscle action or over-focus on the sensations