The Alexander Technique – Quotes and Resources

I had no idea of the Alexander Technique until two Alexander Technique teachers (H. and M.) described this to me a few years ago.  Thanks to them and their periodic comments on the Alexander Technique,

Quotes on Progressive Relaxation

Buds of the “Heart leaf” tree (Cercis canadensis or eastern redbud) in Mar 2021

Here are a set of quotes related to a relaxation technique referred to as Progressive Relaxation (and Progressive Muscle Relaxation) developed by Edmund Jacobson.  I found the technique not only effective for returning to calmness but also for better understanding the correlation of thoughts and tension (and ‘no thoughts’ and ‘no tension’).  The quotes are organized as follows:

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The Experience of ‘No Thought’ – Progressive Relaxation and Edmund Jacobson

From time to time, I read and hear about the experience of ‘No Thought’ in the context of meditation, martial arts and kendo [KendoNotes MushinResources] [KendoNotes MushinQuotes] [KendoNotes MushinEiga].  It is

“…ing” and Non-Duality – Quotes

A glorious sunset in Split.

The pointers to presence, awareness, peace, … :  What is the object of my attention?, Who is paying attention to that object of attention?” and “Who am I?” have been addressed in

Where is My Attention?

Jacarandas in bloom in San Diego, CA, May 2020.

Life and the mind seems to be in one of two states.  Being under water mostly for me and periodically coming up, out of the water, for air.  Or being asleep mostly and waking-up

Awareness and Who is this ‘I’? – Quotes and Resources

What you’re looking for is that which is looking. – St. Francis d’Assisi

Watercolor by Taylor, Jan. 2020.

Thanks to meditation and many teachers, this mind has come to a growing realization.  That meditation, zazen and aspects such as peace (平常心, heijoushin), freedom from

“Soft Eyes,” A Way of Seeing and Being – Quotes and Resources

I believe that “Soft Eyes” is an extremely important part of kendo and many areas of life.  It is a natural, tension-free way of seeing and being – which goes by many other names: Whole or Effortless Seeing, Soft or Open Focus, Wide-Angled, Peripheral or Panoramic Vision and “Enzan no Metsuke (a distant mountain gaze).”

Quotes on Mushin, Flow and Open-Focus – Part 1

Some Quotes from a Documentary on Eiga Sensei and Mushin-no-Waza (無心の技)

There is an inspirational documentary of Naoki Eiga sensei produced by NHK in 2003 [Eiga_Documentary].  In the video, he reflects on the reason behind his initial loss to