#012 - Michael Ashcroft on Cultivating Awareness, Unlearning, & Direct Experience

Michael Ashcroft is a climate and energy consultant turned Alexander technique teacher. Michael talks and teaches about awareness through his blog and course, “Expanding Awareness”.

We talk about what Alexander Technique is and isn't, how to cultivate awareness, effortless effort, the importance of direct experience, and much more.

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(00:33) Michael's background (02:25) Why he was drawn to Alexander Technique (04:36) What is Alexander Technique? (07:05) The challenges of repurposing the technique for broader use & teaching it online (09:01) Metaphors for getting people "there" (11:57) Why we aren’t normally in a state of expanded awareness (14:58) Can awareness be permanent? (19:20) Common blockers to cultivating awareness (21:27) Non-doing & effortless effort (24:12) (un)consciousness & (un)naturalness (27:34) Can we pre-empt the need for “unlearning”? (30:40) Do we lose anything by being over-aware? (37:31) The relationship between awareness and flow (41:29) What Alexander Technique isn't & what it could be (45:13) Where Alexander Technique fits with traditions like Buddhism and Taoism? (48:43) Being emotional vs. rational (52:58) Going from consultant to teacher-solopreneur (58:09) Archeologists vs. architects (01:04:38) Michael's final question

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Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/m_ashcroft

Expanding Awareness: https://expandingawareness.org/

Spencer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/sp1ns1r

Spencer’s blog: https://spencerkier.substack.com