The Alexander Technique is a method of retraining the body in everyday movements such as standing, walking, sitting, bending etc. to help regain the quality of movement we once had as young children. In simple terms, beneath our birthday suit is a further interior suit made up primarily of muscle and the connective tissue that adheres this suit to our skeleton. When we are young children, this suit is well balanced and co-ordinated as we are moving in our natural, instinctive way, as programmed by our human genetic code. In general terms the problem is that, as we get older and the pressures of life hits us, as our brains and conscious awareness expands, we can both consciously and unconsciously interfere, with the balance of the interior suit leading to chronic pain and unpleasantness.
We are hard-wired as creatures of habit mostly to keep ourselves safe. Some of these habitual tendencies such as slouching, one shoulder higher than the other, favouring one leg whilst standing can create tension patterns in the interior suit which becomes under repetitive strain so, eventually, things start to hurt. Add to this, injuries that we inevitably get during life, then you can start to understand how our interior suit can become distorted. Because, these patterns are habitual, you may not even realise that you’ve got them until somebody points out that you are slouching, one shoulder higher than another, etc. What the Alexander Technique teacher does is to help the person become aware of these habitual patterns of excess tension so that change can be implemented to help the person move out of unnecessary discomfort. There are certain principles of being and movement that apply to all humans, so that the person is re-educated in these to help keep the old habitual tendencies at bay. The outcome is that the person helps himself move out of pain and discomfort by increasing his awareness of what his body is doing at any given time. This can be the most fascinating journey you could ever embark upon as you get to know yourself a lot better which makes life more interesting and enjoyable. When I started the technique in 1999, I never realised how much joy that I could get by simply walking.
Therefore, if you have chronic musculoskeletal pain, the Alexander Technique is worthy of consideration. Because the technique can help you understand the root cause of the problem, the outcome tends to be long-term healing as you have been trained in attending to it on a daily basis. Having said this, on many occasions, people notice a difference even after one lesson which provides hope for a route out of chronic pain. By only seeing health professionals who deal with a specific symptom, short term relief may be gained but only until the habitual tension patterns put strain on the interior body suit once again, and then frustration can really set in.
There are many other benefits of the technique as well which include:
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Improved mental well-being, (chronic pain can gradually wear us down)
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Becoming more mindful as the technique encourages you to live in the present moment
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Effective pain management without drugs
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Improved muscular co-ordination with better balance (fall prevention)
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Improved sports performance, whatever the sport is e.g., golf, gym, equestrian activities, swimming etc.
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Improved performance in the dramatic arts e.g., singing, acting, dancing etc.
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More confidence in yourself as your posture and self-image improves
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Learning the technique now makes ageing much more tolerable as you are relearning essential movement patterns for longevity of activity
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Learning to heal yourself is far more powerful than having to rely on some-one else all the time
