My Blog
Here I share tips on reducing pain, strain and anxiety and improving balance, ease of movement and well-being.
When the pain comes
When the pain comes it grabs my attention. It keeps me from thinking, from interacting with people. It’s invisible except for the grimace or the sadness or fear on my face. I am afraid it will last anywhere from 2 to 10 days like it does when this happens randomly...
Walking in my body
I am walking. I am walking over the beautiful desert through breathtakingly beautiful rock formations, I am walking under a wide sky with intriguing clouds. I am walking inside the house. I am walking with my whole body. I am walking on the outside and the inside....
Discovering beauty
Artwork by Rosemary Meza-Despias As part of my retreat, today we have come to Santa Fe, out of the wide open countryside to the picturesque city. I am practicing a couple things. One is paying attention to myself and what I am doing amid the greater stimuli in an...
Writing from New Mexico: blog 1
You may know that I am away at a retreat with a theme of walking with a teacher of mine, way out in the New Mexican countryside. The landscape is gorgeous. I love the colorful rock formations that are eons old. We have free time every day and I’m writing down some of...
Alexander Technique on All Things Vagus podcast
Listen to Mari talk about Alexander Technique on All Things Vagus podcast
Lily Gladstone
Native American actress Lily Gladstone describes how she uses Alexander Technique to feel balanced, centered and grounded and with a home for her psyche in her body. Here's a link to her PBS interview on Youtube.
Video on how Alexander Technique works
The Alexander Technique is an educational method for changing long-standing habits of tension. Research suggests it results in improved movement, balance and overall wellbeing, and that it has significant benefits for people with back pain, neck pain and those living...
How Alexander Technique and pain science are helping me with a broken elbow
As many of you know, I am a pain science nerd in addition to my fascination with Alexander Technique. As you may also know, I like to use my own pain experiences as a learning experience for us all! Every person and every pain experience is unique, but my reflections...
Posture … or presence?
Hello all! This month I decided to write about posture. What's "correct" posture? Well, the short answer is that there isn't one. Appropriate posture is very unique to each individual and to what you want to do. The end. Just kidding. There's more to the story. First,...
Cultivating curiosity
Hello all! Curiosity is defined as "an eager desire to know or learn about something." According to the United Nations, children are born naturally curious and curiosity fosters empathy, personal growth and happiness. In Alexander Technique practice, we actively...
Modern pain science and how the Alexander Technique may help reduce pain
I'm very excited to share with you an article that I wrote together with colleague and neuroscientist Tim Cacciatore. The explanation about pain is very accessible and some things may surprise you! We also explore in the article how the Alexander Technique helps...
Foundations of Togetherness Tango Event
Schedule (Register below) Wednesday, August 9 @ Amy Ragsdale Studio 6:00 - 8:00 Practica - includes roughly 1-hour class with Andrea introducing Mechanics of the Embrace and togetherness ($5 suggested contribution) 8:00 Snactica Friday, August 11 @ Shelter...
Keep your cool this summer with DiscoverEase in Movement
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather! This is a time of emerging out of our cozy homes, maybe with more physical activity and engagement with people. Here are some tips for engaging your whole self in a beneficial way while reducing stress and strain....
Your body is like an electric vehicle!
Hello all, Lately I’m driving an electric car and it’s super fun! I love the way it shows me how much battery power it’s using depending on how I drive. I can coast or maintain my speed without even using any battery power, and I can charge the battery by braking and...
Starting by stopping – stopping, observing and directing with Alexander Technique
As we come to the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, it’s an excellent time to stop. In DiscoverEase in Movement classes we practice starting by stopping, to figure out where we’re at, let go of what we don’t need and free ourselves up for something new. We give ourselves time to observe what we might be doing without being aware of it so that we can have more choice in what we do and how we do it.
Subscribe for More Great Articles!
Get more great tips and class information by email.