What is the Alexander Technique?

The Alexander Technique is a way to stop and re-direct 

for healing, joy, and success.*

Tablework at Balance & Harmony Alexander Technique

What is it for?

• Stress and tension relief
• Improve posture, better breathing
• Learn to be in control of your own pain management, pain prevention and relief
• Better health, well-being, and overall functioning
• Skills improvement and coordination
• Personal growth, self-knowledge
• Self-confidence, presentation and performance skills
• Change habits

What is it?
A proven approach to pain relief, self-care, and skills improvement, the Alexander Technique (AT) is a method that people of all ages and abilities can learn to relieve the pain and stress caused by everyday misuse of the body.  The Technique has been used all over the world for more than a century, by people from all walks of life, from famous people to musicians with RSI or tendinitis, to computer users and athletes with chronic back problems.

F.M. Alexander (1869-1955)

With AT, you learn how to strip away the movement habits and tension patterns at the root of your discomfort.  You learn how to balance your own body and take charge of your own health.  You learn how to sit, stand and move--with safety, efficiency and ease.  AT teaches you how to successfully get from where you are (A) to where you want to go (B) with the least amount of effort possible, and greatest amount of joy.

Practicing and teaching the Alexander Technique gives me a constant source of healthy well-being, freedom, clear direction, strength, graceful poise, lightheartedness, confidence, self-control, better technical skills, energy, curiosity, and happiness!  I began taking lessons for chronic neck pain, and I continue to explore the Technique by myself and with others because I love how it makes me feel.  I love to teach because I love to bring this sense of happiness and freedom to others!

Here's a nice, simple page with short questions and answers on the Technique:
http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Alexander-Technique-FAQ

Another short definition: AT is Embodied Thinking put to Good Use http://balanceandharmonyat.blogspot.com/2012/09/alexander-technique-embodied-thinking.html

How?

Releasing excess tension

AT is taught by teachers in private or group settings, using words and ideas and/or gentle hands-on guidance. With a clear intention, you can achieve your goals with whole-person integrity and incredible efficiency by simply eliminating the obstacles along the way, using the universal principles outlined by F.M. Alexander in his technique.

Here's a blogpost that distills the Technique into three simple steps:
http://balanceandharmonyat.blogspot.com/2011/06/three-simple-steps.html

Who is it for?

Anyone with a body and a mind!

Why should I try it?

Because you want to.  If you don't want to, don't try it!  Curiosity is a great motivator.  Read more about it here, and you might just get curious enough to try it out!  You will never really understand what the color blue is until you see it; you will never really understand what the Alexander Technique is until you try it.

For more specific information about the Alexander Technique, see the AT Resource Links on the bottom of this page, or visit my website: www.BalanceandHarmonyAT.com

*(see blogpost: What is the Alexander Technique? for a bit more on this definition)