Primary Control
The Primary Control (described in Alexander Technique) is the relationship between the head, neck and spine. The quality of that relationship - compressed or free - determines the quality of our overall movement and functioning. When the neck is not overworking, the head balances lightly atop the spine, the torso expands and breath comes more easily. We restore the efficacy of the postural reflex - a natural, dynamic force that counters gravity and easily guides the torso upward.
You elicit your body's primary control by developing three interlocking skills:
Awareness - Many people don't realize the source of their limitation, aches or chronic pain. You acquire a powerful tool when you refine awareness of your habitual tendencies, observe how you operate moment to moment and understand how your body works best.
Inhibition - Though we often tend to think we're not doing enough, Alexander found that our habits of tension and compression interfere with our body's ingenious design. By catching ourselves as we move with compression and reducing excess muscular effort, we can inhibit (or stop) compressive habits and stress responses. We can actually accomplish more by doing less.
Direction - Each of us has the capacity to visualize movement and mentally guide the flow of force through the body. Rather than gunning the motor and muscling our way through an activity, we can use the mind to direct - or envision - dynamic expansion while moving. By doing so, the body's reflexive coordination seems to handle the action by itself, gracefully and effortlessly.
-- definition by Joan Arnold & Hope Gillerman Certified Teachers of the Alexander Technique with Terry Zimmerer