Jann McMichael is a Pro member of ATSuccess.

She does not identify her Self as a writer, yet she recently wrote a captivating email. I was impressed enough to take the time to let her know. Here's her reply…

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"Thanks Jeremy.....it was like it came from somewhere else! I wrote it in an hour; no planning. Just started, and it flowed. It doesn’t often work like that though!"

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But it will Jann; and it will work for anyone who takes the time to practice INCLUDING YOU.

I am no neuroscientist, just an avid reader of the latest pop-book on how the brain works. Working through Override by Caroline Willams this week.

I love these brain books; I adore them because they reflect me to me.

My latest fascination is with the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or BNST for short. I am partnering with that little beauty every day now.

Have you ever noticed - just when a student is starting to do best - they decide to leave?

Saying things like:

“Got so much to work on now, so grateful.”

Or

“I am feeling overwhelmed; I need time to digest.”

Or

“It’s getting hard to find time – I think I need a little break. I’ll be back.”

It’s crap. It’s the conscious mind being duped by the mammal inside.

In a session - just yesterday - an ATSuccess member asked an innocent question:

“Do I need to be an expert of a student’s activity, to be able to help them?”

Intellectually it’s obvious – Tiger Woods’ coach doesn’t play golf like Tiger! Does that stop him seeing areas for development? Older, beer-gutted men are often coaching baseball teams in America – would these old guys survive on the field?

No.

Suddenly my phone is screaming at me…

(Who is calling at this late hour!?)

"Hallo, BodyChance Studio.

I'm sorry, but now we are close—"

"Please can you help me!?"

(I think: shouldn't we at least do names first?)

"Who is this speaking?"

"Oh I'm sorry, my name is Harry."

(I guess he needs to have this conversation now…)

"What's the problem Harry?"

"I am in a lot of pain. I can't stand it."

Years ago, a Journalist from a popular “alternative cool” magazine called “Kokoro” – which means “Heart” in Japanese – came along to BodyChance’s studio in Meguro to do a feature on our work.

I suggested she come and watch “the Chancer” - thanks to Carol Ervine for my new nickname! - running a Basic Course class. Basic Course is the program we offer in Japan to the Public.

***SIDE BAR ***

BTW: the name of your group is important, even critical.

Calling our public offering “Basic Course” immediately suggests a higher level…

We'd got complaints. It was not going well…

This is the final of 3 dispatches on BodyChance's escapades within the corporate corridors of power. I write the story of our triumphant return with a new, re-engineered BodyChance group experience.

I was the re-engineering.

Turns out, it was a bit of a ladies club.

BodyChance has a chequered career with corporate gigs.

Big learning curves for jc (ME).

(I need a nick name for my Self - any ideas?)

First big shock was with a famous bank here in Japan.

Years ago now, can't say which bank - they don't like it. One the big ones. We had a strong supporter who opened the door for us. I didn't do it because, well jc has no Japanese, he is often in Australia, and bringing a translator in toe is clumsy/difficult to price/organise and follow through etc. etc. etc.

Do you start planning your teaching day by thinking:

"How could I best undermine my students today? How could I make sure they lose confidence, motivation and the desire to study Alexander's discovery with me?"

No, of course not.

Would it shock to know that you could be doing exactly that?

Not intentionally, but does it matter?

Teaching groups involves giving affirmation to students - but often teachers, in their desire to celebrate an achievement, affirm the wrong thing.

On an ATSuccess call at 5am this morning, it popped out that one teacher had spent a year resisting the idea of sending emails to her audience.

Blogging yes, emails no.

Now, I don't know why that is the case.

However, I do know why I once felt this way.

I worried that people would be annoyed, that they would unsubscribe; that instead of serving them, I would be disturbing them. And that disturbed me.

This morning, I had an epiphany about this.