Alexander Technique
What is Alexander Technique?
If you stop doing the wrong thing the right thing does itself.
F.M.Alexander
We all have unconscious movement habits and, without realising it, these habits put undue pressure on our bodies. We use more force than we need to lift a coffee pot. We slouch as we sit. We blame body problems on activities - carpal tunnel syndrome on computer work; tennis elbow on – well, tennis. What we don't understand is that it is not the activity which creates the problem but how we perform it.
The Alexander Technique is a practical method of self help which improves postural balance and co-ordination. It is a powerful tool for changing the way we habitually think, move and use ourselves, making everyday activities more efficient and enjoyable.
We see the causes of back pain, excess tension or lack of coordination as mystifying; problems in joints and muscles as structural and unchangeable. The Alexander Technique teaches us that we can make lasting changes in the way we walk and sit and in muscular tension and posture. We learn how dynamic and changeable the body is and, in doing so, achieve optimal health for both body and mind.
How Can The Alexander Technique Help You?
Release your body's self knowledge.
The Alexander Technique is not a manipulation. Nor is it a therapy or an exercise regime. It is a way of re-learning something your body deep down already knows. A course of lessons will help you realise how your movement style contributes to any recurring physical problems, be it back or neck and shoulder pain, restricted breathing, perpetual exhaustion or difficulties in performing a task or sport. An Alexander teacher analyses your whole movement pattern, alerting you to harmful habits of compression in your characteristic way of sitting, standing and walking and, with words and a gentle, encouraging touch, guides you to move in a freer, more integrated way. You will come to understand much more about how your body works, and how to make it work for you. You will tap into your internal resources, heightening your self-awareness and using your thought process to restore your original poise and begin on a path to comfort and pleasure in all your activities.