What do we mean by Ease of Motion?

by Diana

When we introduce the ideas of Alexander’s work to new students, one of the things we ask them to consider is what we call The One Thought.

The poise of the head
in relation with the body
in movement
is the
key
to freedom
and
ease of motion.

Don Weed

We talk about poise. We talk about the head in relation to the body. We talk about movement, and freedom. And we talk about ease of motion. It is the last of these I wish to consider in this blog.

Don used to joke that in the ITM we have a three-word definition for ease of motion: Fred Astaire dancing. Why do we involve the great Mr. Astaire? Well, because he illustrates an important principle.

When we see people who move in a way that looks easy and natural, we are sometimes tempted to describe their movement as “effortless.” A moment’s thought should show that claim to be a falsehood. When we watch a dancer complete a demanding routine, no matter how easy they’ve made it look, can we really claim it has been effortless for them, even as we see the sheen of sweat on their brow, or the increased respiration following their athletic performance?

No voluntary movement is truly effortless. When we choose to move, we achieve it by contracting muscles in order to change the arrangement of our bodies around various joints. Muscular contraction takes energy, so we must expend energy to achieve movement.

What makes the quality of movement in an individual like Fred Astaire seem effortless is the fact that he is only using as much effort as is required, and no more. What we perceive as effortlessness is actually efficiency.

To illustrate this, here are some of my favourite examples of The Fred Astaire principle.

Fred Astaire dancing

Roger Federer covering a tennis court

Paya Lehane playing the recorder

Omara Durand running

Gwen Verdon dancing

Mark Rylance acting

A final word on the Fred Astaire principle: it is not restricted to those who are athletes or performers. Ease of motion is available to all of us in accordance with our own situation. It is available in everyday activities like washing the dishes, walking with a backpack, or putting socks on. It is available whatever our age or condition. Ease of motion will look different for different people. For those living with conditions that restrict their motion, either through the structure of their bodies, or through processes of injury or disease, ease of motion simply means (as it does for everyone) using just as much effort as you need, and no more. The aim is not to achieve a platonic ideal of movement. The aim is to analyse each situation – the individual, and the activity they’re engaged in – and to reason out a plan that uses just as much effort as is needed, and no more. What would your life be like if in everything you did you used just as much effort as you needed, and no more?