The Alexander Technique

March 31, 2018jilleng

Action Is Easy

Action is easy. When we are in it, it is just happening. It is our inner reaction to what we do that hurts, feeling arduous or painfully scary. If we come out of that, via releasing our fight or flight tension, we are just left with seeing (if even) what we are doing, our task […]

November 11, 2017March 13, 2018jilleng

No Effort

As an Alexander Technique teacher for 20 years, I have been in the business of illuminating how muscular effort is an extraneous phenomenon in our life. Generally, in an Alexander application, this pertains to walking, talking, sitting, standing, and moving through our everyday activities (for example, we don’t need to tense our neck or back […]

March 9, 2016March 21, 2018jilleng

Preface to “The Myth of Doing”

After completing my first book, Body Over Mind, I was propelled into research around the findings of neurophysiologist Benjamin Libet who in 1983 discovered that a volitional signal for action shows up in the brain before a person is conscious of the intention to act. This moved me into exploring the neuroscientific studies that have […]

December 22, 2015March 3, 2018jilleng

Audiobook announcement

Body Over Mind is now available in audiobook format read by me! You may purchase via the below links. There is also a free 5 minute sample. Enjoy! AUDIOBOOK on amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017WEDZEE… itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/body-over-mind/id720870312… audible http://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Body-Over-Mind-Audiobook/B017WEE0MA/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1447439642&sr=1-4

November 23, 2013March 3, 2018jilleng

Inner Doing vs. Real Doing

Inner doing is effort, which translates into mental and physical tension. It is an “idea” of doing, a mental state of worry and trying to make things happen. Real doing is physical activity, which can only occur in the present moment with our body, in coordination with the linear progression of time. In each moment […]

November 15, 2013March 3, 2018jilleng

The Dream of Constant Okayness (Pema Chödrön)

“It’s not impermanence per se, or even knowing we’re going to die, that is the cause of our suffering, the Buddha taught. Rather, it’s our resistance to the fundamental uncertainty of our situation. Our discomfort arises from all of our efforts to put ground under our feet, to realize our dream of constant okayness. When […]

November 15, 2013March 3, 2018jilleng

What Is Incorrect

“What is incorrect is any thought that suggests it is possible for our life to be going any other way than it is.” Jill Eng, Body Over Mind, a mindful reality check

November 13, 2013March 3, 2018jilleng

Not Thinking

“Not thinking is excellent. Everything will happen.” Robert Rabbin, The Sacred Hub

November 10, 2013March 3, 2018jilleng

Nothing to Figure Out

The only action that will ever be available to me in any given moment is that which I am already doing. Action, what we call doing, is physical, and can only be executed by the body through its momentary activity. Some examples are: I am sitting in a chair, talking to a friend, writing a […]

November 6, 2013March 3, 2018jilleng

Real Time

In my work I highlight the difference between what I call thought time and real time. Putting our attention on real time allows us to follow the progression of our body’s activity from one moment to the next. I find this useful in order to remind myself that I am always engaged in some activity, […]