WHAT IS THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE?
Developed by F.M. Alexander (1869-1955), a self-taught expert on alignment principles in human movement, the Alexander Technique teaches dynamic posture, alignment, and psycho-physical balance. The process is a partnership between teacher and student to bring to light an awareness of habits, both mental and physical, that can interfere with the coordination we were born with, but have gradually lost due to injury, stress, tension, and emotional trauma. You will learn to recognize inefficient postural habits which can lead to pain, fatigue, imbalances, and poor coordination. The goal of the Technique is to enable you to apply the principles learned in the lesson to your daily activities.
WHO IS F.M. ALEXANDER?
F.M. Alexander was an Australian actor, who often became hoarse during performances and on one occasion lost his voice completely. When doctors couldn’t help him beyond telling him to rest his voice, he decided to find out what he was doing that caused his voice problems. After observing himself speaking using three-way mirrors, he discovered that when he spoke he tipped his head back causing his larynx to become compressed. He realized his habits impacted his performance in a profound way. Through years of study, he developed principles that stress self-awareness, thinking in activity, and the tools to help change harmful habits into more efficient ones.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THE AT IS RIGHT FOR ME?
- If you see physical changes in your body that indicate harmful postural habits.
- If you have back pain.
- If you notice that performing everyday activities are becoming more uncomfortable as time goes by.
- If you are contemplating back surgery and wish to explore an alternative.
- If your anxiety is preventing you from being in the moment and you want to learn a practical tool to help develop the mind/body connection.
- If you notice that the beneficial effects of other treatment options only last for a few days.
- If you are a singer, musician, actor, dancer and / or athlete and you feel you are not performing at your full potential.
IS IT RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGES?
Yes. Children and teens who have poor posture, scoliosis or other conditions have benefited from Alexander lessons. I tailor lessons based on the child’s personality along with a more playful approach. Elderly people (and people of all ages) can benefit by learning how to use their joints properly to reduce arthritic discomfort and decades of poor habits.
Here is a short video chronicling Alexander’s life and process of discovery.
