Here and Now

In his final novel, Island, Aldous Huxley wrote about thework with the Alexander Technique. Alexander
adventures of a shipwrecked Englishman on Pala, anteachers help people recognize and change harmful
imaginary island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Thetension habits. This requires being present - not
society on this island had evolved to the point wherementally wandering off into the past or the future. For
there was universal economic and social well-beingan Alexander Teacher, helping students be consciously
and a high level of respect for individual rights andaware of themselves in the moment is a crucially
freedoms. Moreover, individuals were given everyimportant first step in their learning process.
opportunity to develop emotionally and spiritually.And not always an easy one. We are bombarded
One of the many unusual features of Pala arewith external tasks and distractions that draw our
specially trained birds - mynah birds - whose soleattention away from our own mental and physical
function is to loudly screech out "Here and now! Herestate. More often than not, our work requires an
and now!" at random intervals.outward focusing of attention on specific tasks,
Huxley had studied many systems of personalprojects and co-workers. Our leisure time, too, is
development during his life, including the Alexanderfrequently spent on activities like driving, shopping, and
Technique. He met F. Matthias Alexander, thewatching TV - all of which tend to pull our attention
developer of the Technique in London in the mid-1930's.away from ourselves.
He was already an established author, best known forAs Nicholas Brockbank, a British Alexander Technique
his 1930 novel, Brave New World. But his poor physicalteacher, puts it: "Most peoples' attention most of the
state threatened to end his writing career.time is anywhere but on what they're doing. Or if it is
Huxley was very tall and awkward and subject toon what they're doing, they tend to overdo it. In an
fatigue, insomnia and a weak stomach. He wasaverage day, filled with average tasks, there is only a
deathly afraid to speak in public. By the time he metsmall portion that requires the mind to be fully engaged;
Alexander, he was virtually bed-ridden, reduced tothe rest of the time we are free to think about the
writing lying down with his typewriter resting on hispast or the future - anything but the present! When we
chest.are "present", it's usually in an obsessive, almost trance
The lessons he had from Alexander enabled him tolike way."
resume his normal activities and live in good health forOn Pala, the mynah birds are whimsical devices to help
another quarter century. He was so impressed withbring people back to the present moment - which is
Alexander's work that he referred to it several times inreally the only place we can make constructive
his later writings and even made Alexander achanges in our lives.
character in one of his novels.Many spiritual teachers have stressed the importance
After having lessons with Alexander, Huxley wrote:of self-awareness - Ram Dass even titled one of his
"The Alexander Technique gives us all things we havebooks Be Here Now! The Alexander Technique is a
been looking for in a system of physical education:very powerful and practical method to learn to be
relief from strain due to maladjustment, and constantpresent in yourself, even while engaged in your daily
improvement in physical and mental health. We cannotactivities. Indeed, the primary focus of the Technique is
ask for more from any system; nor, if we seriouslythe way one carries out the ordinary activities of life.
desire to alter human beings in a desirable direction,In a sense, Alexander Technique teaching supplies you
can we ask any less."with your own personal "mynah bird", bringing you
I believe the mynah birds of Island were inspired by hisgently back in touch with yourself.