F. M. Alexander - use of the self when sleeping

[sraj]

Hello LIst,

Was Alexander concerned about 'use of the self when sleeping'? I am surprised to discover that this concern is expressed in three places in the first chapter of his book THE UNIVERSAL CONSTANT IN LIVING published in 1941. Is there any reference to 'use of the self when sleeping' in any of his earlier books? F.M. Alexander published five books in the timeline 1910, 1912, 1923, 1932, 1941. The gaps in time are 2years, 11years,9years and 9years respectively. Should we conclude that reference to sleep, shows further sharpening of his knowledge? Would Alexander Supine summarize his ideas on sleep?

Looking at the subject of sleep independently, my own view is that we need to keep an open mind regarding sleep positions, firmness of beds. use of pillows etc., till we understand the subject in a better way

1. HEAD FORWARD POSITION:. 

If head forward posture held by most adults is a matter of concern, evidently any sleep position which aligns the spine in a better way with the head should be preferred. Stomach sleeping is generally not recommended by sleep specialists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or03pT-D8cQ&t=605s  (0:50 to 3:36)

however the fact remains that many young children naturally sleep this way; they have better head balance than adults. I have also found young adults with relatively good head alignment sleeping this way. (I do not sleep this way - unless it comes naturally no point in taking a risk :-(

2. YOGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi4MHrQrw2Y  (5:40)

 

3. ALEXANDER'S PRIMARY CONTROL:

An important theme of AT is balance of the head. My independent view on the subject based on observation of children balancing their bodies in an elegant way appears to confirm this:

https://headbalance.blogspot.com/

(The manner in which we sleep could be important. Cutting edge research is required on this subject.)

Regards,

Selvaraj

PS: 'SLEEP' REFERENCES IN THE BOOK 'THE UNIVERSAL CONSTANT IN LIVING' CHAPTER 1 - THE CONSTANT INFLUENCE OF MANNER OF USE FOR GOOD OR ILL

Page 10: FEW of us hitherto have given consideration to the question of the extent to which we are individually responsible for the ills that our flesh is heir to: this, because we have not come to a realization of the faulty and often harmful manner in which we use ourselves in our daily activities and even during sleep. 

Foot note: So far as investigation has been possible, it has been found that people often tend to exaggerate in sleep the harmful manner of use they employ during their waking hours. It is not generally appreciated that although the need for activating the mechanisms responsible for the process of living may perhaps not be so great during sleep as during the waking hours (because of the generally lowered tone and tempo of the function), it is nevertheless present,   and may be inferred with by the same harmful habits of use as prevail in wakeful activity. 

Page 17: When, on the other hand, a person's manner of use is such that there is no interference with the correct employment of the primary control, it means that an influence is constantly operating in his favour, tending always to raise the standard of functioning within the self, both in outside activity and during sleep.

Page 18: It is only during the last forty years that this fact has begun to be appreciated, so that comparatively few of us to-day recognize that our manner of use has anything to do with the nature of our functioning or of our reaction to stimuli, nor the extent to which our physical-mental well-being depends on the manner in which we use ourselves during our sleeping and waking hours.

[sraj]

Hello LIst,

Interesting to note that though F.M. Alexander expressed  concern regarding the way we sleep - in three places in his final book - he never prescribed any method of sleeping; wisely concluding that we exaggerate in sleep our faulty use during waking hours.

..... With covid19, sleeping face down has become a subject of interest, as it is being recommended for patients having severe breathing difficulties. It is interesting to note that in the U Tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or03pT-D8cQ&t=605s  (0:50 to 3:36), the subject looks perfectly comfortable, even as the face down method of sleeping is being criticized. Note the flexibility of the subject's ankle in Plantar Flexion. (This should not be interpreted as support by me to this method of sleeping)

Regards,

Selvaraj