“A method which helps you incorporate good psychophysical habits through motor re-education”
The Alexander Technique helps you incorporate healthy habits and live with less effort.
It improves your well-being with a pleasant method which frees you from unnecessary strain.
Learn to “give up doing” what generates strains.
Strain is one of the main factors of pain, energy wear, tiredness, misuse of the body, injuries, compensation and dissatisfaction.
The Alexander Technique helps to discover harmful habits of use of our psychophysical level, teaching how to “stop doing” what “is not” to go in the desired direction.
The goal is to redirect functional strength to achieve effective muscle use with less effort.
Applying it in a specific activity such as practising yoga, singing, dancing, playing an instrument, running, swimming, horseback riding; work on the computer or drive a car; the student learns to improve the use of her/his own body and to turn a difficulty into a possibility, as well as enhancing her/ his virtues.
The daily practice of the Alexander Technique helps to eliminate muscle strain and pain and works to prevent them, contributing to good quality life and general psychophysical health.
The improvement begins from the first session, injuries can be treated and there are no contraindications.
The Alexander Technique has been practised for more than 100 years in countries all over the world, especially in England and the USA, as part of Universities of Arts and Health programmes.
A single session of the Alexander Technique is a step forward towards improving psychophysical habits, since the brain learns and does not go back. Regular practice plays an important role in the acquisition of favourable use of the “self” habits, which lead to lasting improvement.
The Alexander Technique can help you:
In everyday life
You feel muscle strain, headache, backache, joint pain, you have limited movement, stiffness, low breathing capacity, voice problems.
Music, voice and acting
You need to improve to project your voice and your body expression to sing or speak in public. Your posture suffers when holding the musical instrument, or any other aspects which prevent you from developing your technical level.
Telecommuting
You spend a lot of time sitting at the computer or doing very repetitive actions which cause muscle strain excess or recurring headaches.
Dance and sport
You feel difficulty in keeping certain postures, recurrent pain, movement limitations in movement, excess effort or strain excess.Schedule your turn
Take part in a constructive practice:
- The Alexander Technique practice educates through constructive thinking
allowing the body itself to build the healthy habit by itself. The teacher’s hands serve as a stimulus for the brain to detect what it is not being able to perceive, compensations for excessive muscle strain, spinal deviation, spinal pathologies, neurological problems, injuries or any other interferences. - The class requires individual work between the teacher and the student and it takes between 20 and 45 minutes.
You can also work in small groups with an interactive dynamic among the students and the teacher. - It can be practised by people of any age and condition.
Even children and pregnant women can take part, and there are no contraindications of any kind. Previous experience is not necessary.
The Alexander Technique methodology:
- The methodology consists of specialised work where the teacher observes the student doing daily activities such as talking, walking, sitting down and standing up from a chair.
- Then he uses his hands to gently guide and direct the student to release strains, encouraging the use of the body’s natural reflexes.
- Little by little, conditions are created in the student to respond to everyday problems with less stress and greater freedom to choose how to do it.
How many classes are required?
It is recommended to have sessions once or twice a week and there is not a set number of classes.
Considering that the muscles and tendons require a minimum of three months to change a habit of use, the STAT (The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique) recommends 20 to 30 classes so that the body can internalise the new patterns of use and to work properly on a daily basis. It is necessary for a minimum of six months to give up the bad habits and start applying the new ones. In an investigation carried out in England and published by The British Medical Journal, in August 2008, it was proved that 6 Alexander Technique classes promote a significant and important long-term benefit for chronic back pain sufferers.
Dr Paul Little, who conducted the research at Southampton University, said:
“The Alexander Technique is a significant step forward in the long-term treatment of back pain.”
Frequently asked questions:
Is there an age limit to improve body habits?
It doesn’t
What is the difference between physical therapy and the Alexander Technique?
They approach the body in different ways. The Alexander Technique considers the body as an integrated unit between the psyche and the physical, while physiotherapy focuses only on the physical part.
Does the Alexander Technique really work?
It is such an effective technique that you will improve even if you don’t want to. From the first session the body gradually incorporates the learning and does not go back.
Is it beneficial to combine the Alexander Technique with any sport?
It can be or not. It is important that you talk to your teacher so that he can advise you on the best practice for your particular case.
Are there any contraindications for the practice of the Alexander Technique?
There is no contraindication. It can be practised with any body condition without risk of injury.