Alexander Technique
What is the Alexander Technique and how can you benefit from it?
What is the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is a methodology to help unpick and correct bad posture and movement habits that have built up over the years, which you may not even have been aware of.
It teaches you how to improve the way you use your body in everything you do – opening up so many opportunities to live a fuller life.
The Alexander Technique is all about getting to the root cause of physical symptoms and breaking the cycle - adjusting thinking and changing how somebody communicates with their body’s neuromuscular system.
We can re-learn ways to stand, sit and move as nature intended, building a framework of conscious physical behaviours that will benefit you now and into your long-term future.
Although there is some crossover with the techniques used in Pilates, yoga, physiotherapy and osteopathy, the Alexander Technique is a stand-alone philosophy.
Rather than using exercises, it’s a practice that gently and profoundly changes your actions and how you use your body in day-to-day life, by bringing a deeper understanding of your whole self.
How does the Alexander Technique work?
Essentially, we build up a picture of the whole body - an interconnected organism where the parts work together better.
Through pausing and thinking, we’re going ‘mind to muscle’. We’re quietening the neuromuscular system where it is overworking and energising it where it is slackened.
By pausing and thinking, we can focus on the journey rather than the end result. That is, we really being consciously aware of how we’re using our body to get out of a chair, for instance, or to clean our teeth, noticing how we’re bending our body and gripping the toothbrush and thinking about what it would be like if we did it differently. These are some examples of the myriad of daily activities we carry out automatically, often putting stress and strain on our body.
The Alexander Technique also tackles ‘faulty sensory perception’. This is when what things feel like can often be incorrect. For example, someone is thinking they’re standing straight but they’re actually leaning forwards or backwards or to the side.
I can help to rewire your sensory system to read your body more accurately.
Ways I can help you
What are the benefits of the Alexander Technique?
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Reducing chronic back, neck and shoulder pain
Being stuck with chronic pain forever is not inevitable; you may be surprised about the changes you can make to alleviate your pain.
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Good posture
As well as physically presenting yourself confidently and creating a good impression, good posture helps balance, breathing and can prevent injuries during exercise.
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Ageing well
Getting older does not have to be a downhill process. It’s possible to continue – or even restart – doing things that you love for as long as possible, and to age with positivity and confidence.
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Better walking and balance
Gait analysis, looking from head to toe, makes a huge difference in being able to walk for longer, without discomfort.
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Learning to relax and breathe better
Relaxation is a skill. Your mind and body will feel freer, you will have different tools to manage stress and your breathing will be more open.
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Managing hypermobility
The Alexander Technique is also very useful for people with hypermobility problems, including Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD).
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Building confidence and using your voice
You can learn to use your voice in a more embodied way, being more assertive and building your confidence.
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Ergonomic desk set up
Making sure your working environment is set up correctly is incredibly important for alleviating and avoiding neck, shoulder and back pain.
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Exercising safely
Exercising should only be beneficial. If it’s uncomfortable or causing you pain, we need to find out why and address the issues which will hopefully mean you can carry on exercising without damaging your body.
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More comfortable sleeping positions
A good night’s sleep is fundamentally important to our health so let’s make sure you’re doing everything you can to get one.