I had to go teach right after that but I was very happy with it. My Alexander Technique teacher (haven't had a lesson in a while but plan to soon) would get me to do this by helping me release my neck. The problem was I didn't know WHAT needed to move and IN WHAT DIRECTION particular muscles moved when slowing down the exhale. This CVT book really changed all that, now I know I need to allow the pelvis to slowly move under my body the entire time, that the movement never stops, and if it doesn't feel AMAZING then more experimentation is needed until it does. It's surprising how almost zero effort (relative to the tremendous effort I was adding when I first started working with the support exercises) is required for at least the first 30seconds. Really cool!
Of course, I'll need to re-find this level of coordination and ease a bunch more times before it's habit...but WOW! cool!
A lot of classical singers/teachers are really against "manipulating things" like pulling the abdomen in around the navel, tightening the muscles of the back, etc. The problem I have with ONLY approaching vocal technique with the attitude of "don't consciously control anything" is that you won't be aware of when you ARE consciously controlling things! In my opinion purposely and quite clumsily controlling your breathing muscles on purpose is a very practical starting point for getting to know them and know when you're locking them! That gives you something to work with rather than "think it so" attitude which only works for some people some of the time. Allowing use of both approaches can work for most people most of the time. Natural-to-active..."think it so"-to-"deliberately-make-it-so" over the course of 60sec. I like this. I will keep doing this as a result.
