Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is a gentle and effective technique that has been practiced in the UK for over a hundred years.
It has withstood substantial research by the NHS (such as the 2008 research into solutions for back pain - see the British Medical Journal.)
The Alexander Technique is perhaps most widely known for its ability in assisting ailments such as:
* Back and neck pain,
* Tension, Repetitive strain
* Mobiltiy issues
* Stress and more, (for full list see below).
What is the Alexander Technique? 
Who can Benefit?
The Alexander Technique helps you develop optimal ways of looking after yourself, using principles that are effective in relieving any unnecessary effort or strain.
The person as a whole must be taken into account - so any mental/emotional patterns may need to be addressed to encourage change and development.
The Technique can be likened to a 'tool for living' and can be used for the purpose of developing yourself, improving confidence, well-being and quality of life.
The other major field where it is used is for enhancing performance and is widely used in the fields of drama, music and sport.
Some conditions it can help:
- Back and neck pain
- Breathing issues
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- General stress including sleeplessness, worrying and lack of confidence
- Speech difficulties
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Tension
- Reduced mobility
- Recovery from injury / illness
-
Postural issues
What is involved?
Over time, the repeated stress and tension of everyday life can leave the muscles ‘fixed’ and unresponsive. By opening the vertebrae of your spine you will benefit the funtioning of your body organs as all the organs are linked via nerves to the spine.
As well as the obvious advantages of improved cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive functions, increased blood and cerebro-spinal fluid circulation, there are many other beneficial effects from supporting yourself in optimum posture.
The aim in an Alexander session the aim is to take into account any underlying issues that may be contributing to the problem, as well as how we can increase our awareness to take best care of ourselves.
Changing our awareness can mean that we are no longer at the mercy of unhelpful habits. Low self esteem can often go hand in hand with poor posture, and negative thoughts can quite literally pull you down. By reversing the effect through postural self-adjustment, you also reverse the psycho-emotional cause and it is harder to feel other than confident and positive when you are standing tall and supported by a broad back and a free and open spine.
After lessons in the Alexander Technique, clients report a range of benefits - not only the relief of unpleasant symptoms. Here are some of them: Improved balance & coordination, better posture increased confidence, ease of breathing, improved vision.
For more on these benefits, visit the 'testimonials' page.
Most music and drama colleges include lessons in the Alexander Technique as part of their curriculum. Because the Alexander Technique improves balance, co-ordination and flexibility; applying it to the things that you enjoy like swimming, dancing, art, sports of all kinds or computers is a great way to improve your skill.
Many famous people use the Technique to improve their performance; John Cleese, Joanna Lumley, Sting, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ruby Wax to name but a few.
A 'Well-being Lifestyle'
The Alexander Technique can help you to:
* Recognise and release patterns of tension
* Achieve a calm and balanced outlook
* Regain appropriate balance of tone in your body
* Develop greater focus and awareness
* Free yourself from unwanted habits
* Increase Personal choice in activity
The Alexander Technique offers you a means to increase awareness in activity - to raise your general standard of health, body balance and co-ordination and then maintain it during day to day life. In this way the Technique is a 'Way of Being or Living' not just exercises which are done say once a day.
As you learn to change the way you move and hold yourself, you can prevent strenuous mis-use that can in the long term be harmful. Its a great way to improve your levels of functioning, mobility, as well as your vitality and well being. What is more, the idea is that there will come a point when you will no longer need the assistance of your teacher and you will be able to take your health into your own hands and take good care of yourself to maintain good health.
A testimonial:
Where did the Technique Come From?
F M Alexander (1869-1954), an Australian actor brought the Technique to the Uk just over 100 years ago. As a young actor with a promising career, Alexander came across a stumbling block. He found that he frequently lost his voice during performances. 
When doctors could not help him, he embarked on a process of self-discovery to determine the cause. His problems arose from bad postural habits that were difficult to change. He created a way of saying no to habit, allowing other possibilities to become available. He also realized that his discovery was universal - anyone could use it and apply it to all situations. Alexander moved to England and taught his technique widely during the first half of the twentieth century, later training others to teach it.