Alexander Technique

In today’s very hectic and stressful daily activities, adults have found it common to experience neck tension, back pain, postural problems, recurring strain injuries, and headaches. Actually, these ailments have almost been considered as unavoidable and a “natural” part of today’s living and aging process, which everyone has to accept.

On the other hand, according to the advocates of Alexander Technique, this is not so. The Alexander Technique educates an individual on how to release unneeded tension, monitoring how one moves and coordinates the daily activities more efficiently to accomplish more through doing less.

Children have poise, lightness, and grace in movement that’s often lost as one grows up. Deskbound lifestyles, daily stress, and ergonomically difficult jobs are all contributors to the negative movement patterns that become routinely embedded in the neuromuscular systems.

With the Alexander Technique, students are taught to become conscious of their bodies excessive slouching, inefficient exertions, compression, and tightening. This way, they are able to learn how to self-manage the movement in more effective and holistic manner.
Learning the Alexander Technique is not as much as unlearning the poor habits that will enable one to return to the childlike lightness that the body was designed for.

ts History

Taken from the name of its developer, Fredrick Matthias Alexander -a “Shakespearean” orator -, the Alexander Technique was created when he experienced troubles with his voice. Doctors could not find any physical cause, and so he carefully examined himself in numerous mirrors. This showed that he was unnecessarily stiffening his entire body when preparing to speak or recite. It took Alexander eight years to victoriously apply the experimental observations on him to resolve the voice problems he had.

He regarded the experiential scientific method as the foundation of his work. Using reasoning and self-observation, he made the physical performance of any type of movement easier, including walking, standing, the use of the hands, sitting, and speaking. Alexander designed the methods to make training and experimentation intentionally repeatable, and in a way learning as well, which would allow continuous improvement from whatever starting point.



he Technique

Alexander Technique trains one’s ability to make new choices despite habitual patterns. This is done through the study of kinesthetic evidence that shows how one’s thinking is articulated in movement. Effortlessness and efficient values are the favored criteria that are used in evaluating frequently unfamiliar progress results obtained through the guided experimentation.

Among the taught methods are recognized types of structural anatomy, proprioception characteristics, practical self-observation, strategically using empirical reasoning, and how habits can be better formed and refined.

The major concepts of the Alexander Technique programs include primary control, awareness, inhibition, and direction. Primary control lets one focus on relationship between the head, neck, and spine. Awareness provides knowledge of one’s present movement patterns and its more efficient options. Inhibition stops the habits that cause compression and tension. Finally, direction harnesses the power of the mind to influence the body by way of visualization.

he Sessions And Its Benefits

The Alexander Technique sessions are best done in one-on-one settings with certified instructors. The sessions usually take place in a simple “mirrored room” that has a table, and can last from thirty to sixty minutes. The teacher uses some time simply observing the student and how he or she stands, sits, reaches, walks, and performs daily movements.

After the instructor has identified the issues, they will work with their student and let them know their inefficiencies. With the use of anatomical discussions, visualizations, guided activity, and breath control, the student will begin to “retrain” their bodies for greater motion range, optimum posture, and better coordination. Time is also spent on the table, wherein the teacher gently releases tension, stretches muscles, and assists students to move in streamlined and more coordinated manner. The physical improvements will enhance the emotional and mental state of a person as well.

The Alexander Technique teaches students to release needless tension, monitoring how they move and coordinate everyday activity so one accomplishes more in less effort.