This issue was published in January, 2001. Listed below are some of the articles featured in this issue. You can order this issue now by going to our order page.
This listing is organised into three levels -
by Betsy Polatin. What belongs on the contents page of an issue on spirituality? What is "spiritual?" Are there any rules? Betsy introduces a second issue on the topic.
by Mika Hadar-Borthwick. Simon was understandably restless, fidgety and fed up. Then the aliens and their dog arrived, and something in him released. In a moving and inspiring diary account of four year's work with Simon, Mika describes how she engages his language, his imagination and his senses to communicate the spirit of the Technique.
by Wade Alexander. Are mind and body one? Faced with a conflict between AT and A Course in Miracles, the author concluded that it is crucial to define "mind." When it comes to dealing with the nature of the relationship between body and mind, the Technique and "A Course in Miracles" seem to contradict each other. Can they be reconciled?
by Michael Protzel. How does change happen? When the editor was ready, a book with some of the answers appeared, leading to a four-year labour of love. The Alexander Technique produces profound changes in people. But how? For the writer, the answers emerged out of working for four years on this far-ranging project.
by Debra Cash. "The promise of tshuvah can orient my thoughts. Direction can orient my body. Together, they can orient my spirit." At Yom Kippur, Jews are offered a fresh spiritual start: they can stop and choose not to act on false habits which seem second nature.
by Hope Martin. Hope explores two forms of mindfulness, and two kinds of awakening. Alexander Technique and Buddhist meditation - two practices that lead the mind and body into direct relationship.
by David Gorman. In a two part series based on a lecture given at the Centre for Training, Gorman speaks about the nature of circular habits and how to escape them.
by Nicola Hanefeld. Nicola presents a further 7 photographs from the International Alexander Congress in Freiburg in 1999. I think I can see those cogs turning....smiles and all.
Letters to the Editor. Dominated this issue by a difference of opinion between regular contributors John Coffin and Robert Rickover. What he said, was not necessarily understood as what he meant...and the rest is history.
by Jeremy Chance. In damage control this issue, Jeremy apologises for allowing an unsubstantiated remark go to press regarding FM's alleged anti-Semitic views. The plan to publish twice annually is aired, as is an invitation to all AT professionals to consider the opportunity to contribute to the only International Alexander Journal.
by Dr. David Garlick. Following on from his Freiburg Congress presentation, Dr. Garlick talks of the evidence provided by Dr Paul Hodges of the interdependence of the abdominal muscle groups and their influence on the functioning of the diaphragm. He outlines plans to conduct "before" and "after" effects of pupils taking Alexander lessons.
by Cathy Madden. Cathy teaches for the University of Washington School of Drama. She revisits a statement made by her master teacher Marjory Barstow, "Who's the most important person in the lesson...The teacher." Relating this seemingly selfish attitude to the traditionally selfless teaching of spirituality she speculates on the practicalities in an Alexander sense.
This is the 12 page yellow insert which features news and views from around the world. Regular features in this section include -
Mis Direction - a comic look at the oh-so-serious issues of the electronic era.
FreeMail Internet Roundup - A review of the more interesting posts on the AlexTech mailist that is sponsored by DIRECTION. Click here to join the list.
ATI News Roundup - Teacher / student relationships, an intro to AT for the elderly and a 1999 keynote address from Richard "Buzz" Gummere, as reviewed by Jeremy Chance.
Epiphanies - "Good god, if our civilisation were to sober up for a couple of days it'd die of remorse on the third." Malcolm Lowry. Now there's a sobering thought. Five other quotes from Lawrie Bruce.
STATNews Roundup - More of the goings on from the largest of the Alexander Societies.
Fresh Voices
From the Netherlands, Amstelveen to be precise. Marieke van den Oort sums up the day to day events at her training school via a FAQ format. Do people ask the same questions in Holland too?
AUSTAT News Roundup - Thoughts from down under. News and ideas from the Newsletter of the Australian Society.
Walter Carrington Recalls FM - Alexander never hesitated to bring "somebody up short". The story of FM's "technique" with English actor Matheson Laing.
WWW Web Reviews - David Billingham comments on teacher Lucy Grant's web site - Lucy Grant and talks about the ups and downs of directories on the web.
Book Reviews - In this issue "The Act of Living" by Walter Carrington - reviewed by Louis Gauld; "Not To Do" by Fiona Robb - reviewed by Guida Lawrence.
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DIRECTION Journal is now distributed to thousands of readers spanning 40 countries. Every issue produced is commissioned and contains exclusive articles by teachers expert in their Alexander-related field. It is also provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and new discoveries from research findings for and by the global Alexander Technique community. DIRECTION is the leading global periodical on the Alexander Technique.
In All Directions
16 pages of humour, gossip and politics, including coverage of four major Alexander
newsletters.
Walter Carrington recalls FM
In anecdotes full of meaning, Walter recalls some revealing and amusing incidents
of Alexander's life.
Book Reviews (edited by Lawrence Bruce)
Every year it seems there are even more books on the Alexander Technique. Now
we cover every one of them.
The Garlick Report
Dr David Garlick, a medical research scientist at the University of NSW, writes
of his Alexander research. Click here to
read a Garlick Report.
FreeMail: the e-volution of the Technique
Kay S. Hooper reviews AlexTech, the Alexander Technique Internet sites.
Friends of Alexander
Margaret Long, resident of Alexander's birthplace Tasmania, presents a fascinating
history of F.M.'s friends.
Mis Direction
Every issue, Mis Direction takes the mickey out of those who have forgotten
how to laugh at our work.
ViewPoint
A provocative column that regularly generates many thoughtful reader responses
- featuring a new writer every issue.,
Upcoming Issues
The Future - edited by Catherine Kettrick
Where are we heading? Do we have a vision of the future?
Yoga - edited by Ken Thompson
East meets West in this exploration of parasite and principle.
Rehabilitation - edited by Glenna Bateson
Can we really continue to say we are just educational?
Running - edited by Andrew Woodward
How to keep fit and move well while we do it?
Healing - edited by Mika Hardar-Borthwick
Is healing educational and part of Alexander work?
Communication - edited by Lawrence Bruce
Do words have more power for transformation that we recognise?
Scientific Method - edited by Peter Grunwald
What does state-of-the-art research say about Alexander today?
Marketing - edited by Marsha Palaudan
What do pupils expect? How does the web affect Alexander Technique?
Learning Methods - Edited by Kay Hooper
Learning how to learn is more important than learning itself