Bette Chamberlin

  • Home
  • What Is It?
  • Lessons
    • What Happens In A Lesson?
    • How Many Lessons Do I Need?
    • Getting Started
  • About Bette
    • For Performers
  • Blog
  • Links & Resources
  • Contact

Be Curious like a 2 year old

12/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

Why is it that we seem to equate curiosity with 2 year olds.  I mean, aren’t 4,  5  and 6 year olds curious?  Do we have to go all the way back to age 2 to remember that we were truly curious?

Hmm..think about it…..

Kids don’t set out to be curious. They don’t say I’m curious about those lights in the sky and which ones are planets, which ones are stars.  They are merely enthralled with the excitement of discovery.

One of the best reasons to be around a toddler is it reminds us of how pure our joy of discovery once was.   However, many adults are seeking the unknown, unfamiliar and uncommon inspiration for their work;  accessed through being in the moment, unfettered by rights, wrongs, shoulds,  expectations or obligations.  Just like a 2 year old.

And here’s another reason to re-examine our toddler self.  We had GREAT posture.  Just like the cultural interferences that may have dampened our curiosity in favor of ‘rightness‘, we often find ourselves out of whack and uncomfortable in our own bodies, divorced from the freedom and easy uprightness that we all knew very well as little kids.

But it is possible to regenerate the ease, coordination, and freedom in movement that we knew years ago. Since we once had it inside us, we can access it – but now we need to find that users manual that we didn’t need -UNTIL NOW.

I was grateful to have found my users manual 15 years ago in the midst of intense neck and shoulder pain.  Training in FM Alexander’s discovery was key to kicking me in the butt and teaching me that my ballet habits were firmly established, not useful anymore and not going away anytime soon.  Here are 3 things that I learned and continually pass on to my students:
  1. Be curious – as Moms Mabley said:  “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.” It’s impossible to change when using the same tools that have not worked before.  There was no aha! moment for me until  I got curious and questioned my habitual patterns of ‘fixing’ my posture.
  2. Replace “just do it” with “just do less” or the more commonly stated “less is more”.
  3. Question your assumptions about how to change your posture – ballroom or otherwise.  My students inevitably realize that it is infinitely more pleasurable to pause and be curious when change is desired.


And YES, we all have things that we want to change – better diet, consistent exercise, stop reacting with anger, gum chewing (I’m doing it now!), sitting at the computer too long (uh-huh) fill in yours here ______.
What’s the habit you want to change?  If you don’t have any, that’s great.  Let me know how you’ve managed to avoid them or how you have eliminated them.

If you are 'curious' about this, and you'd like to book a lesson with me either through Zoom.com or at my studio in Monclair, NJ, click on the contact form below.


Submit
0 Comments

Down the rabbit hole - how to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

12/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
.

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Bette Chamberlin

​
Rabbit Hole: the definition from ‘the free dictionary.’
To enter into a situation or begin a process or journey that is particularly strange, problematic, difficult, complex, or chaotic, especially one that becomes increasingly so as it develops or unfolds.

I’m not thinking about the political meaning, used nowadays to describe the current conditions which are some or all of the above.

I’m thinking lately about the parallels between Alice’s adventures (down the rabbit hole) and the process of continual change that we are faced with, including the positive changes we want to make in our dancing.

Change is inevitable even when that change is avoided, yet unavoidable.

Change #1 – Inconvenient, unwanted, yet unquestionably necessary

Lately, I’ve been particularly annoyed by the many traffic detours I’v been forced to endure.  If I wanted to get to where I was going, I had to go along with the detour (change).  I’m almost positive that, if you drive, you have them too.  (Even if you don’t drive yourself, you’ve been effected by them).  Alice too was confronted by the sudden upheaval of her fall down the well.
This is an example of unavoidable change.  After many days of frustration, I remembered to leave 10 minutes earlier than usual to account for the darned annoyance.

Change #2 – Exploring the benefits of unnecessary change

But what about change that is not essential, avoided  because of a certain comfort with the familiar, regardless of whether or not that familiar is working for you anymore.  We don’t have to make changes just because we or in many cases, others, have an inkling that we should.
I wrote in my last blog about how I was in my own rabbit hole while learning cuban hip action.  Yes, strange,problematic, difficult, complex, resulting in a chaotic brain.  And for awhile, the chaos did increase. 

The discomfort I experienced, trying to get comfortable with this new movement pattern was discombobulating and frustrating.
My body and mind insisted on figuring it out based on my habitual known cues.

Oh dear. That was not working.

It wasn’t until I stopped seeking a familiar feeling and basically trusted that I’d best let myself be uncomfortable as part of the process, that my whole body started to cooperate.

For the past 15 years,  F. M. Alexander’s discovery has enlightened my own kinesthetic discovery and has enabled me to help my students discover their own.
Here are 3 things that you can do right now to help make the changes you want whether it is to feel  comfortable in a new ballroom style or movement challenge, adopt healthier eating habits,  or stop negative thinking in its tracks.

1.  Believe that change is not possible without giving up that familiar comfortable feeling.  It is your habit and it’s not going away by keeping it front and center.  It will always be there, but give yourself a chance to feel foolish or just plain dumbfounded.
2.  Get support from others.  Verbalize what you are trying to change and ask for feedback and patience.
3.  Be aware of the moment that you are stimulated to react habitually and stop consciously.  Give it a moment to flounder.  Then act by responding with a different, more efficient (yet wrong feeling!) result.

​This is what I can help you with.  Making changes for the better can be daunting, but  I have been down the rabbit hole and can tell you that it is a fruitful trip if you can open yourself up to curiosity and the unfamiliarity that can come with it.

If you find this intriguing, book a lesson with me, either on zoom.com or if you are in the NY/NJ area at my studio in Montclair, NJ.  Please use my contact form below, tell me about yourself and leave your availability.  I will respond within 24 hours.

Submit
0 Comments

Posture and animals- they've got it!

12/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture


 Watch this short video to learn how to improve your posture via animal instinct!


Click here

0 Comments

    Author

    Bette Chamberlin.

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All
    Biking
    Exercise
    Pain
    Yoga

    RSS Feed

Student Reflections



 I had no idea how profound this work would be! Of course most of it has to do with Bette’s expertise and innate sense of what I need. It was like magic – my head no longer felt heavy and my jaw, shoulders and neck were free of tension. Through common sense and subtle reminding without actually DOING, I have been able to address my unconscious habits which have freed my body and thus my emotional state considerably. I highly recommend this work for everyone who moves!
Susan Borofsky
Singer

 I
 had struggled with pain for a few years - rotator cuff disease, carpal tunnel in both hands, and pain in one of my legs that was sometimes so bad that I could barely walk. A friend whose daughter is an Alexander teacher had been urging me to go for a couple of years, but I resisted the idea until last December when physical therapy wasn't working and I thought I might need back surgery. I sent out some inquiries and Bette responded and even fit me in for a session just before the holidays. The results are way beyond expectations. My pain is so much better, I've been able to decrease the medication by over half, and I never have trouble walking. The sessions are enjoyable, and I always learn something. Bette is professional, kind, and has a great sense of humor. I'm only sorry it took me so long to get there!
​Phyllis Zoon, Pastor


It is really important to choose the right instruction tailored to your needs. Bette’s extensive movement background coupled with her acute sensitivity and gentle style put me at ease immediately. Starting off on that note allowed me to be the most receptive in getting a lot out of each session.
Terri Gelenian-Wood
Artist/Silversmith

 “I believe this work helps the nervous system to unload habitual patterns of movement and provides opportunities to discover new ones.” I leave sessions feeling significantly more relaxed. Sitting, standing and moving with less tension has great implications. Bette brings her knowledge, experience and insight to each session while making it a fun experience.
Rebekah Frome
Structural Integrationist

I’m a yoga teacher and I really thought I knew my body. But Bette was able to reveal more of me to myself. Alexander Technique is a great way to get to know your habits and your blindspots; I use the new awareness I learned from Bette every day!
Emma Magenta
Yoga Instructor/Acupuncturist

I finally learned what “stand up straight” and “sit up straight” means. Until I worked with Bette, I was completely confused about my posture – I didn’t know what to do with my neck, my shoulders, anything! And most importantly – I learned what I was doing that was the root cause of my excruciating neck pain — and I licked it. Before I met Bette, I was considering neck surgery – I just couldn’t take the constant pain from my herniated disks. After working with her for a few months the pain went away, and never came back.!
Judy Hoffstein
Consultant

 “I have become aware of how I “organize” my body through stillness and movement. I have begun to see that “organization” as something thru which I can move into towards greater support, freedom and less tension. Alexander work – a gentle and profound process has illuminated for me how we tend to rely upon habitual ways of bracing our bodies through life. I have come to see those patterns as a box. Alexander work presents a way out of the box.”
Jeanne Heinzer
Founder and President of Heinzer Consulting

 “Studying AT with Bette, I am no longer suffering from a repetitive strain injury (I can play the saxophone pain free again) and, wonder of wonders, the chronic pain that I’ve had for a number of years in my right hip has disappeared.”
Steven Hartman
Attorney/Saxophonist 


Lessons in the Alexander Technique made me conscious of how I was using my body.  It helped me understand how to do things in a more efficient way without hurting or exerting unnecessary muscles.
Carol Meiseles
Violinist/Teacher

My work with Bette began many weeks before my first lesson with her. I was suffering from back pain and was making some choices about my care, not sure which direction to turn.  I wanted to re-connect with Alexander Technique because I had studied it in my 20s and found it transformative.  

Knowing no one in the area (my teacher had been in New York City and moved away many years ago), I found her practice on the internet and phoned her. She was leaving her house, but arranged to call me back. She did so and her generosity was evident immediately as her thoughtful questions and conversation made me feel listened to and respected. She even emailed me pointers for “Constructive Rest” so that I could begin to get some of the AT benefits even before my first session. I thought, “Wow! She is helping me before any money has been paid. And she doesn’t know me!” If you’ve grown up in New York and New Jersey, you know how rare that is.  

She spoke with me a second time as well and she again gave me the benefit of her experience with some advice about movement/exercise. We also discussed some logistics about travel and cost (I do not have a car and was in a stressful place financially). Again, her thoughtfulness was so evident, that I made up my mind that she was the right teacher for me. I called to schedule an appointment within a few weeks.  

Bette’s studio is a light-filled, lovely space that makes one feel better just by being there. Her manner is respectful, warm and intelligent. I have a personal history that makes a sense of safety of key importance. I felt within one session that Bette was not only very skilled, but very safe as well. She also has a great sense of humor!  

I cannot say enough about Bette’s excellent work, her kindness and professionalism. I recommend her whole-heartedly as a teacher and as an individual.  
Douglas Oxenhorn,
Teacher

"Paying attention to how I hold my body and how I move helped me with my long hours of sitting in front of a computer.  The attention to form and alignment that I learned in my lessons also improved my yoga practice.  Practicing awareness of how I hold tension in my body and breath helped me manage my stress and anxiety better.

Bette is a wonderful teacher with great energy.  Alexander Technique is a subtle practice, and she does an excellent job tailoring the lesson to each student’s abilities and understanding.  She’s very positive and encouraging.  I always leave a session feeling better than when I got there."
Grace Dadoyan
IT Professional/Yoga Practitioner

What I love most in working with Bette is how she is able to show me through completely nonjudgmental observation, words, gentle and informed touch, where the strain is in my doing and what it feels like to enjoy the ease of doing.  For example, as she guided my walking, I learned immediately how I tighten and strain my neck muscles and what it feels like to just allow my head to rest easily on top of my spine, inviting delicious ease and alignment.   When Bette gets me on her table and rearranges my head, neck and limbs, it’s as if she has triggered a resetting of my muscle memory back to the carefree, limber, physically integrated child (or even baby) that I once was.
Wendy Dolber

Option Method Practitioner


What Health Professionals Say About The Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique remains the best of the self care strategies to prevent the sequel of poor posture and poor breathing.
Harold Wise, MD, PC New York, NY

The Alexander Technique stresses unification in an era of greater and greater medical specialization. Its educational system teaches people how to best use their bodies in ordinary action to avoid or reduce unnecessary stress and pain. It enables clients to get better faster and stay better longer. This is undoubtedly the best way to take care of the back and alleviate back pain.
Jack Stern, MD, PhD
Neurosurgical Group of Westchester White Plains, NY

I found the Technique to be so beneficial in my condition that I have been referring patients in certain situations for Alexander lessons over the last several years.
Howard L. Rosner, MD Director, Pain Management Service The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center New York, NY

Lessons in the Alexander Technique taught me how to sit in a state of lumbosacral poise, and my chronic low back pain gradually became cured. The Technique is true education. Compared to surgery (e.g., for low back pain or for chronic obstructive lung disease) a course of instruction is inexpensive.
John H.M. Austin, MD
Professor of Radiology; Chief, Division of Radiology Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center New York, NY

I think I have given my patients something almost as good as magic. I have taught them what to do and not do when their backs give them trouble, and how to reduce unnecessary stress and pain. As a result, they no longer have to feel afraid and helpless when back pain occurs. Many consider themselves cured because they have been able to return to an active, normal lifestyle.
Deborah Caplan, PT
certified Alexander Technique teacher
author of Back Trouble

Not only do I see the therapeutic benefits of this work with various patient problems, but it has helped me deal effectively with my own adverse muscular tension. I continue to experience a newfound freedom of movement in my own body that I believe is making me a more effective therapist.
Howard W. Makofsky, MS, OCS
Mastic Beach, NY

In addition to its physiologic and musculoskeletal benefits, the Alexander Technique is extremely helpful in relieving the psychological states of depression and anxiety that so often accompany chronic pain and disease. It is my belief, based on professional experience, that the Alexander Technique should be part of all preventative health and education programs. It is as basic as good nutrition.
Jill Sanders, DO
New York, NY

The Alexander Technique makes sense in that appropriate use of the body will lead to reduction of various musculoskeletal disorders and remediate others which are established. No equipment is needed, just the skill and training of the teacher. This technique is very worthwhile as a primary preventative therapy. It is especially useful when posture is a key factor in back injuries while lifting and for workers who perform repetitive tasks while sitting.
Robert D. Greene, MD
Emergency Department, Norwalk Hospital Norwalk, CT

I recommend people to the Alexander Technique who have not improved with traditional rehabilitative therapies. Part of their pain may be due to posture and the improper use of their bodies. Many people who have neck or back pain and have gone through heat, ultrasound and massage with no relief can be helped by learning the Alexander Technique. It definitely works. Nothing works for everyone, as one well-versed in using physical therapy and biofeedback, I know how valuable this technique is. I highly recommend it.
Barry M. Scheinfeld, MD
Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine and Pain Management Community General Hospital, Harris, NY

The Alexander Technique has been very helpful in identifying the postural and breathing habits that contribute to my fatigue and muscle soreness. I found it a good value: cost effective, making me less dependent on chiropractors and more comfortable at work.
Douglas J. Bush, DMD
Chester, NJ

When, in spite of my instruction, a patient is having difficulty understanding how to make changes in habitual movement patterns or has a profession with particular physical demands, I typically suggest the Alexander Technique. I have found it very helpful for patients who have low body awareness or who have trouble relaxing. Improvement in these areas facilitates many physical therapy modalities, especially cervical spine joint mobilization.
Gail King, PT, MS
Backtec Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy New York, NY






The Complete Guide To The Alexander Technique: Medical And Scientific Endorsements and Research

This site contains case studies related to the Alexander Technique and Parkinson’s Disease, physical therapy and respiratory functioning.