About the technique

Alexander described his technique as a system of re-education for the mind & body.
The challenges & demands of modern life are many. As our minds concentrate on the tasks we are tackling, very few of us have any awareness of what is happening to our bodies at the time. Often it is only later that we discover that we are stiff, tense, or pulled out of shape etc. Such habitual poor use of our bodies & minds gradually erodes our balance, alignment & posture. A poorer standard of physical functioning results, leading to aches, pains, back problems, joint or muscular problems, or even digestive, heart or breathing problems.
The mind is also affected. Physical states of tension or collapse have their counterparts in stress states: trying too hard & for too long, boredom, frustration, feelings of inadequacy etc. These can lead to habitual states of anxiety, panic, shyness, irritability, inadequacy or depression etc.
The Alexander technique teaches us to become aware of the harmful patterns of use we have built up. Once we are aware of these, we can begin to learn to let them go, & allow new, better patterns of use to emerge.
As this happens, physical problems & mental/emotional strain can drop away. We can rediscover: how to be:

*poised without stiffness,
*to move gracefully with less effort,
*to be alert & focussed with less strain.

It is a simple & practical method that can be used by anyone, to learn to help themselves & take back control over their own lives & problems. People find that their co-ordination & energy levels improve, breathing becomes easier, & movement becomes lighter, freer & more enjoyable. They also find increased confidence, effectiveness, & a greater ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Who was Alexander?

Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869. He embarked on an acting career but was hampered by voice problems, which the doctors of the day could not help. Concluding that he must be doing something himself to cause the problem, he set about observing himself. The resulting observations & experiments formed the basis for his technique.
Initially he continued acting, travelling around Tasmania & then also Australia, giving performances followed by breathing instruction lessons. Gradually as he evolved his technique, he realised how much more far reaching it was, & now focussed solely upon it. He came to London in 1904, where he was an instant success, & others began to work alongside him. In the 1930`s he opened his first training school. He died in 1956, & since then his technique has continued to develop & expand, & now there are teachers & training courses around the world.

Learning the technique

It is best to learn the technique through one to one lessons with a qualified teacher. This way, individual needs can best be met. Because you are undoing & re-educating the habits of a lifetime, a course of lessons is required. The aim is not to take away your problems, although this can often happen. Rather, it is to give you sufficient working knowledge of the technique that you can control your backache, stress levels etc. in any situation, & stay poised & free. 20 to 30 lessons is usually sufficient to give such a working foundation, although often pupils choose to continue for longer, maybe at less frequent intervals, to continue learning to apply the technique. Whether you continue with lessons or not at this point, it is hoped that you will continue to work at & apply the technique yourself, for your own greater benefit & self discovery, throughout your life.

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