What is it like to experience “open awareness”? What’s the difference between doing and non-doing? What is “thinking”?

Welcome to another episode of “Imagine an apple”.

In this episode, Vynn and Francis talk with Michael Ashcroft about what it is like to do Alexander Technique, an awareness-based skill which he teaches.

Twitter: @imagine_apple @SurenVynn @frabcus

Timestamps:

01:00 Michael’s introduction to Alexander Technique
03:00 The origins of Alexander Technique
05:32 Internal Awareness
05:40 Michael Imagines an Apple!
06:44 How does AT make people aware of their awareness?
08:01 Coming back to the world
09:15 Being in the world
11:06 Attention in the world
12:10 Flow states
14:25 Non-doing
17:39 Habitual responding and not responding
19:29 Actively not doing vs just not doing
20:28 Mind and body are one process—Bodymind
23:20 Inhibition
24:26 Practice
26:20 Feeling “it” for the first time
27:31 Letting go of control
28:42 Meditation and Alexander Technique
34:15 Exercises in Alexander Technique
37:34 Thinking
39:54 What do you mean by thinking?
41:52 Conceptual thinking and subconscious thinking
43:10 Conscious cognition and nonconscious cognition
44:20 Parallel processing
45:44 Thoughts, feelings, IFS parts
47:14 AT mode 24/7
50:30 Technology and contracted awareness
52:15 Wrapping up
54:28 Tips about Alexander Technique
55:52 Francis’ experience of AT

Links:

South Bank Alexander Centre - school Michael first went to
”Unthought” - book by N Katherine Hayles
Expanding Awareness - Michael’s Alexander Technique site
Fundamentals of Alexander Technique - Michael’s beginner course
Michael’s YouTube channel
@m_ashcroft on Twitter
Michael Ashcroft - personal website

Theme written, performed and recorded by @MJPiercello

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