What is the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is a subtle yet powerful hands-on method for improving posture, reducing chronic back and neck pain, and bringing free movement back to the body. The Alexander Technique is a unique kinesthetic learning that enhances awareness in activity, and so affecting virtually everything that you do. It engages the mind and body for more ease, support and flexibility. The technique helps to reduce and eliminate excess tension in daily activities by teaching a new skill, and so executing any activity with less strain. The Alexander Technique brings back the optimal mobility you once enjoyed as a child and can be used in daily life. Benefits are: postural improvement,neck and back pain relief, ease of movement, better balance, improved breathing coordination, and also less reactivity to life's stress. The Alexander Technique restores a level of freedom in all that you do.
The Alexander Technique was developed more than a century ago by F.M.Alexander (1869-1955), an Australian actor who lost his voice while reciting. The technique he discovered while correcting his own vocal problems focused on correcting the misuse of the neuromuscular relationships between the head, neck, and spine. He observed this misuse as the core of the dysfunctions which followed.
Alexander's principles are solidly based on the anatomy of the body, and of the precise interrelationships between bones, muscles and nerves, but he also understood that as conscious human beings we have the ability to experience and coordinate the body as a whole, and in fact our freedom and poise is based upon this coordination.
The Alexander Technique produces substantial benefits as a method of self-care. Over a course of lessons the student acquires a new experience of postural control and awareness. The student can effectively modify his/her muscular responses to stress, initiating new behavior at will. As the student develops, there is more independence, functional strength, and overall flexibility. There is less efforting in the musculature and consistently more uprightness within the carriage. This improved coordination in daily activities results in greater balance, ease, and safety, as well as energy conservation.
Specialized movement problems of the athlete, musician,artist, or technician are addressed; pain syndromes are decreased or eliminated while skill level improves. Also, the technique assists the benefits of most exercise courses and can be applied to enhance performance skill. More is accomplished more efficiently and with less discomfort. Applied to dance, music, lifting weights, running a race, or the more ordinary tasks of life, the value of learning this unique and profound method of self-care has global benefits to enhancing one's quality of life.
Diane was recently interviewed by HealthRoots (article #20) as an expert on the Alexander Technique.
Benefits:
- Feeling more poised, more graceful
- Having more energy
- Application to the performing arts
- Managing chronic pain and repetitive strain patterns
- Managing back and neck disorders by focusing on spinal balance and alignment
- Improves breathing and mobility
- Teaches freedom in the joints of the body, which improves balance and the fear of moving
- Improves posture
- Brings about calm mentally and less reactivity to life's stresses
- Improves performance of all activities requiring skill mastery
Please e-mail to: dianeyoung@bodymindbalance.net
for upcoming lectures and workshops, or call (732) 342-9764 to set up a free
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