BALANCE

My earliest sensei (teacher), Richard Norris, instructs his students always to practice every movement, drill and stretch, on both sides of the body. We do not want to be like hermit crabs, with one large, strong claw, and the other weak. To be a great fighter, and to be a great athlete in almost any discipline, it is important to develop ambidextrous skill, the ability to use both sides. Michael Gelb, writer and expert on the Alexander Technique, suggests one learn to juggle as a means of enjoying and deepening the benefits of an Alexander Technique practice.

My own experience has taught me that the body always seeks equilibrium. Most of our human bodies are built along lines of symmetry, with our spine as the center point. If we injure one of our limbs, there is often a counterbalance made in the body that can induce secondary injuries and pain as the body tries to compensate for the initial injury. Such pains and injuries directly relate to a loss of balance within the body. Rather than wait for the injuries that will occur when the body is chronically out of balance, we can use our CobraBalance practice to bring the body back into equilibrium.

One may come into balance emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. By initiating balance in the physical body, other states of balance will follow.