Resources

Books:

Constructive Awareness: Alexander Technique and the Spiritual Quest
by Daniel McGowan

Going Mental (includes graphic anatomical effects)
by Daniel McGowan

Quotes from Danny’s forthcoming book:

(1) The educative process of constructive awareness can dovetail smoothly with the various attitudes of people to life. It does not intrude upon, nor is it opposed to, the person’s knowledge, faith, disposition, nature, and capacities. This applies to any aspect: the most practical, physical, technical and spiritual. The pupil is not asked to lose anything, but to consider the possibility of gaining a great deal.

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(2) This conscious process of training the mind-body complex, with inhibition and direction as its foundation, is indispensable to true self-knowledge.

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(3) The first requirement of learning constructive conscious control is to recognise the vital importance of gaining control of attention – the first function of the conscious mind.

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(4) Constructive conscious control is not a therapy for getting rid of diseases. It may or may not do that for a particular individual. Those who expound it in this way do not understand its most important offering, which is a conscious holistic way of being that brings equanimity to the mind, and grace, poise and dynamic co-ordinated action to the body.

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(5) Throughout the day’s activities this attention to the balanced use of the self, particularly in relation to the integrity of the head-neck-back relationship, must become the principal one. To have it there in the background is not enough: it must remain at the forefront of the kinesthetic-intellectual merger.

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(6) He cannot use the intellect alone to understand constructive awareness. The ability to feel the kinesthetic sense-reports from the body must be cultivated and become established in personal experience. The goal is to match the intellectual idea with the kinesthetic feeling.

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(7) If she tries to teach herself from the written or spoken word only, she will be unable to acquire a mastery of it. She must seek the guidance of the teacher’s hands.

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(8) Constructive awareness must be practised with patience. There are no quick fixes.

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(9) For the vast majority of people constructive conscious control is an unknown and, therefore, untapped source of power and knowledge.

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(10) Improved health and vitality are usually, but not always, beneficial bonuses that the practiser of constructive awareness experiences. It allows body, nerves and vital organs to function more effectively, thus maintaining a good state of health. It is important to note that I wrote, “but not always”, because success in working with it depends on individual ability, not only to learn it, but sustain it. This is not a therapy, but a re-education.

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(11) There is an atmosphere of veritable dignity that surrounds a man or woman moving around co-ordinately, with the grace and poise of a body thoroughly re-educated by the constructive conscious control of a sharpened and expanded mind.

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(12) The discipline of constantly giving directions to the head-neck-back relationship will allow her to see that she really does possess the power to positively transform herself; the power to use constructive conscious control of the individual by the individual.

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(13) In using constructive awareness he can achieve a harmonious way of being where physical acts, mental ruminations, emotional states and spiritual aspirations are equilibrated.

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