| What
is the Alexander Technique?
|
 |
The
Alexander technique improves posture and teaches a healthy way
of moving. As a result, you learn how to recognise and get rid
of harmful tension in your body.
People
who learn the Alexander technique find it easier to handle daily
stress and develop a long term solution to chronic pain, back
injury and muscular tension. They also learn how to rid themselves
of tensions as they arise, and restore their own balance.
You can see how our natural support system is supposed to work
if you watch young children. They don't stiffen to maintain upright
posture. They look comfortable and free. Each of us has the capacity
to access that natural support and restore our original poise.
With the Alexander Technique, you learn how to fulfil your full
potential to function - pain- free, with ease and grace.
•
Do you have a backache or stiff neck and shoulders?
• Do you carry excess tension in your body?
• Do you suffer from Repetitive Strain Injury or carpal tunnel
syndrome?
• Do you become uncomfortable when sitting at your computer
for long periods of time?
• Are you a singer, musician, actor, dancer or athlete and
feel you are not performing at your full potential?
If
you have answered yes to any of the questions above, the Alexander
technique could help you.
| How
does it work? |
|
It works by
changing "movement" habits in your everyday
life. Simple and practical, it can be applied to nearly all of
your daily activities. Though you may not realise it, the way
you move through your daily activities can cause muscle spasms
and repetitive strain injury. Under the expert guidance of an
Alexander Technique teacher, you can learn how to change your
movement habits while learning effective stress management skills
and relaxation techniques.
| What
happens during an Alexander Technique lesson or group class?
|
|
Lessons
are not painful. You don't remove your clothes and no special
clothing is required. The process is all about allowing the pupil
to release tension and the harmful habits responsible for this
tension at a pace that suits him or her.
During the lesson the teacher observes your posture and movement
patterns. She will also use her hands, gently placing them on
your neck, shoulders and back. This is done to enable the teacher
to get more information about your breathing and moving.
| Who
uses the Alexander Technique and What are the benefits?
|
|
People who
learn the Alexander Technique find it easier to handle daily stress
and develop a long term solution to chronic pain, back injury
and muscular tension. They also learn how to rid themselves of
tensions as they arise and restore their own balance.
Personal
care - The Alexander Technique helps people prevent injury
and also recover from chronic back pain, hip, neck and knee pain,
traumatic or repetitive strain injuries, arthritis and muscle
spasms, balance and co-ordination disorders. It can also be helpful
for people with asthma and stress related disorders such as migraine
headaches, sleep disorders and panic attacks
Skill enhancement - Athletes
use the Alexander Technique to help them improve strength, endurance,
flexibility and responsiveness. Performing artists use it to lessen
performance anxiety while improving concentration and stage presence.
Public speakers use it to improve vocal projection and voice quality.
Those in business find it enhances presentation skills and increases
confidence.
Mental health - As your
posture and movement style improve, you look and feel better.
As your breathing capacity expands, you have a greater resource
of energy. Physicians recommend the Alexander Technique to lessen
the depression and anxiety associated with chronic conditions.
| How
the Alexander Technique can help musicians
|
|
The Alexander
Technique has a long history of helping musicians and singers
to perform with less stress and likelihood of injury. Repetitive
strain injury is something that has only recently been accepted
but musicians have always had to face the challenge of performing
the same complex muscular actions over and over again. By helping
with the physical movements involved in playing an instrument
or singing improves the performance and the quality of the music
itself. A violinist's stiff shoulders and arms will get in the
way of a pleasing sound; a singer's tight neck or jaw causes the
voice to be less resonant. Helping musicians release undue tension
makes it possible for them to give a performance which is more
fluid and lively and less tense and rigid.
| How
the Alexander Technique can help computer users
|
|
Many computer
users suffer from: repetitive strain injury, chronic back pain,
headaches and stress related disorders. Although ergonomically
designed chairs, desks, keyboards etc. can help, the Alexander
Technique enables you to use your body's own design. As a result
you can avoid many of the injuries associated with computer work.
The Alexander Technique teacher shows you how to
•
sit upright without strain
• prevent spinal compression and muscular tension in the
neck shoulders and upper back
• encourage more fluid motion in the joints and muscles
• teach our body to identify early signals of stress and
stop pain before it starts
• breathe properly to prevent fatigue and soothe the nerves
• restore the balance in your back - during and at the end
of each day
| How
the Alexander technique can help improve posture
|
|
•
Do you look in the mirror and don't like what you see?
• Do you have round shoulders?
• Does your bottom stick out?
• Do you like the way you walk?
• Do you suffer from aches and chronic pain?
If you have
any of the above problems you are not alone. Maybe you try to
fix the problem by pulling up your shoulders, pulling in your
backside or standing straighter. Although it does look better
it can feel like hard work and before long you are back to your
old posture again.You probably think there is nothing you can
do - well you're wrong
By changing
the way you perform ordinary activities, the Alexander Technique
improves your posture naturally with ease and comfort. You start
to recognise when your body's alignment is out of balance and
learn to restore it.
As you restore
your natural poise you find greater stability, balance and fluidity
of movement. Your stance looks better because your body feels
good and works well. With increased stature you learn how to handle
stress better have greater confidence, look better, suffer less
pain.
| How
the Alexander Technique can help Back Pain
|
|
Back pain
can be the result of inactivity, injury, emotional stress, bad
body mechanics or compressed posture. Although other therapies
such as osteopathy and acupuncture can help with the problem and
the pain the Alexander technique helps get to the root of the
problem by helping you change the way your body moves.
The Alexander
tech is a proven method of self care that reduces pain, increase
mobility and provides long term relief. It gives you a better
understanding of how your body moves and a way to move that will
make you feel better. Using the Alexander tech you will learn
how to perform everyday activities such as - Walking, sitting,
reaching, climbing stairs, getting out of bed or into a car -
pain -free.
How
the Alexander Technique can help Singers, Dancers and Actors
Alexander
technique can help performance artists by -
• lessening
performance anxiety
• enhancing stage presence
• Increasing focus and developing highly refined sensory
awareness
• Teaching better balance, & co-ordination
• Providing an inner sense of calm
Some of the
well known performers who have used the Alexander technique include:
Julie Andrews, Jeremy Irons, Paul McCarrtney, Paul Newman, Sting,
Robin Williams.
| How
the Alexander Technique can help Pregnant Women
|
|
When you become
pregnant you learn to expect the problems that come with it such
as; lower back pain; sciatica; insomnia; shortness of breath;
headaches. Medication may not always be the best or preferred
option.
The body changes
rapidly through pregnancy , by learning how to adjust and stay
balanced during these changes can create a more comfortable and
rewarding pregnancy. Taking a series of session with a certified
Alexander technique teacher can be beneficial during each phase
of pregnancy.
Pregnancy
• Help with the Back Pain and sciatica associated with pregnancy.
• Help reduce digestion problems and shortness of breath
• Teach you how to make simple tasks more comfortable such
bending; sleeping
Labour
& Delivery
• Prepares you for labour by teaching you how to sit and
squat comfortably
• Helps you counter the urge to tense your body during painful
contractions
• Help with breathing and nerves
Parenthood
• Teaches the best way to hold your baby for different activities.
• Helps give you a better understanding of how to promote
healthy progression in your child through the development stages
of movement. |
