The Clothes We Wear

[sraj]

Dear Friends,
I have in my possession four books which relate to the Alexander Technique.

1) The Alexander Principle
Author: Dr. Wilfred Barlow
Published 1973

2) The Alexander Technique
Author: Dr. Wilfred Barlow
Published 1990 (Apart from the change in
title this book is a repeat of the earlier book)

3) Body Learning
Author: Michael J. Gelb
Published 1981

4) The Alexander Technique Manual
 Author: Richard Brennan
Published 1996
 
1) In the first book, published in 1973 by Dr. Wilfred Barlow, a medical doctor, the illustrations are of two kinds; Plates (actual photographs) and drawings. There are 28 plates, showing unclothed men, women, and children in various poses (their eyes are covered); there is no contact shown between the subject and any Alexander Teacher. The subjects quite clearly are not wearing shoes or sandals; neither do they have any kind of belt or elastic around their waist

2) The second book, also by Dr. Wilfred Barlow, published in 1981 is same as the first book, except that the title has been changed from The Alexander Principle to The Alexander Technique; a preface has been added and an introduction provided by "Nicholas Tinbergen", a nobel prize winning scientist. There are no photographic plates.

3. The third book, 'Body Learning', published in 1981, is authored by Nicholas J. Gelb. This book shows three children without clothes, without showing their genitals. There is a topless photograph of a tribal woman. There are photographs showing Alexander Teachers touching their subjects. In many photographs it is difficult to make out whether subjects are wearing shoes. In some photographs the subjects are wearing open sandals.

4.The fourth book is 'The Alexander Technique Manual'. Author, Richard Brennan. Published 1996. This book has high quality printing. All subjects, young and old, are  clothed. Children wear elastic-band shorts, popular world wide today.

Can the clothes we wear affect our USE? Especially the USE of children? If we see a child without clothes should we make haste to clothe her? Or is it better to keep the smart phone in its case?

Regards,

Selvaraj