What is The Alexander Technique?

Many of us are only aware of the effects of our use of ourselves - back pain, shoulder pain, anxiety, breathlessness, or failing to achieve the perfect golf shot or performance. What if you could identify, change and consciously prevent the causes of these symptoms? The Alexander Technique can help!

The Alexander Technique (named after F.M.Alexander) is a set of skills which can be learnt, allowing you to re-learn that ease of movement, balance and coordination many of us experienced as young children. Watch a child playing, running, talking and you will often see the natural ease of movement which we could all re-find, once we've learnt to release the unnecessary muscular interference that we allow to get in the way.

These skills include:

• Recognising patterns of muscular tension.
• Choosing not to react to a stimulus (for example, deciding to speak/hearing the phone ring/taking a golf shot) according to our habits.
• Accepting that how we “feel” might not be 100% reliable. (for example, we might feel that our feet are parallel and be surprised to learn, when we look, that they're not).
• Choosing to prioritise the conscious “use” of ourselves (how we choose to move) during a task, rather than the task itself.
• Learning that it is impossible to separate how we move, from how we think and feel – we are, in Alexander's words, a “psycho-physical unity”.

 

…and many more.

 

Whilst the skills may sound daunting, acquiring them with the help of a teacher is not. Lessons can be fun, practical and enjoyable!

Words are inadequate to describe the Alexander Technique. The way in which a teacher can work with you is unique, and a primary way to experience the principles of the technique. Treat yourself to a lesson and decide for yourself the benefits that you might enjoy.

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