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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago

This clip of Christopher Reeve transforming from Clark Kent into Superman is an amazing example of Alexander Technique and non-doing. Seriously, watch it. He doesn't haul himself up, he floats up to his full height effortlessly. How? https://t.co/zyWcITJnzg 1/

472 68
2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

It's not just his voice. It's not just his posture. He changes his entire energy, his awareness, embodying Clark and then embodying Superman. It's an absolute masterclass. This is Alexander Technique (which Reeve studied). 2/

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2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

Notice how Reeve adds 'doing' to create Clark. He shrinks his awareness and makes his entire self, not just his body, smaller. To become Superman he doesn't make any effort to improve his posture, he just stops doing all the things that define Clark. His awareness expands. 3/

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2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

He makes it look effortless, because that's exactly what it is. We see Superman defined as the absence of effort. All that's left is a natural, elegant and confident poise. Want some Jedi stuff? As he switches on Superman, notice how your own body and awareness respond. 4/

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2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

I notice an expansion, a lightness, a kind of relief in myself as I watch him transform. It's like him 'non-doing' invites non-doing in me. And that's exactly right. Whatever this thing is, it's highly social, communicable and sharable. Cool, no? 5/

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2/4/2020
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Guy HAS FINISHED WRITING THE BOOK (BETA)@nosilverv• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

@m_ashcroft Drop Doings is my new coinage for this. Let go of volitional movings, you don't need them

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2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @nosilverv

@nosilverv But then what is it that remains once they're all stripped away. Then we get to interesting stuff that I haven't started talking about yet. Not sure how to yet.

2 0
2/4/2020
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Guy HAS FINISHED WRITING THE BOOK (BETA)@nosilverv• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

@m_ashcroft oh nice. imma bet this is the same as i vs me and that this is the same (or at least isomorphic) to enlightenment

3 0
2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @nosilverv

@nosilverv Yes I think you've got it. Doing = ego. I describe the experience of increasing non-doing in similar words to Zen and have experienced kensho through AT. So this is another path to enlightenment?

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2/4/2020
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Guy HAS FINISHED WRITING THE BOOK (BETA)@nosilverv• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

@m_ashcroft i need @meditationstuff on this as the local expert but i really strongly feel there's a there there here

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2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @nosilverv

@nosilverv @meditationstuff I think there is. What's 100% crazy, then, is that enlightenment can be conveyed through touch. What's 1000% crazy is that I have the magic touch 😅. Didn't quite expect to be here when I started down this path.

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2/4/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

For anyone into this stuff you can find more here. https://t.co/NfBwlIrtit

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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• over 5 years ago

1/ This is a thread on things I've written about Alexander Technique. I will expand it as I write more things. https://t.co/hq7gk6EBmB

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2 0
2/5/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• about 5 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

I also ended up writing an article about this video and how it relates to Alexander Technique, since it was so resonant. https://t.co/1KvB9lHmGA

64 6
7/2/2020
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Michael Ashcroft@m_ashcroft• about 4 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

Meta] Also, if you want to dive much deeper into this stuff, I have built what I believe is the only asynchronous online course that explores Alexander Technique from a first principles perspective. You can find out more and stay up to date by going here: https://t.co/GHzsyr4ILq

25 3
7/13/2021
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Malcolm Ocean 🏴‍☠️@Malcolm_Ocean• over 3 years ago
Replying to @m_ashcroft

@m_ashcroft put another way https://t.co/VfVTx5ZX27

4 0
2/10/2022