The Alexander Technique

What is the Alexander Technique?

The Alexander Technique is an educational approach to a sensible 'use' of the body. It can help reduce the incidence of a wide range of problems, such as back and postural complaints, neck and shoulder pain, breathing difficulties, stress-related conditions, general fatigue and others.

F.M. Alexander

As well as that, through showing you how to release unwanted tension, learning the Alexander Technique will enhance your overall sense of balance and well-being, and allow you to find a better way of coping with everyday living.
Learn how to work with the design of the body instead of against it.
When you discover what you do to prevent balance and harmony you can learn how to stop your habitual reaction to a stimulus and become aware that you have a choice.

In learning the Alexander Technique you will:

• Become aware of habitual patterns that interfere with ease and poise
• Learn how you can stop your habitual reaction to a stimulus
• Realise that you can consciously choose how you respond.

Alexander's Story

Although the Alexander Technique may be new to most of us, F.M. Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869 and his Technique has been around since the beginning of this century, when he came to London. The story of how he developed his Technique gives some idea of what it is about.

From a very early age Alexander had a strong desire to become an actor, and when he was in his late teens he began to give performances reciting Shakespeare. He was quite successful but had to stop his budding career because of trouble with his voice. Nobody quite knew what was wrong with him, and he decided to find out for himself what it was that caused his hoarseness whilst reciting. His reasoning was that it must have something to do with what he was doing during his performances, as the problem always disappeared when he stopped reciting for a while. Therefore, he decided to carefully observe exactly what he was doing with himself while he was performing.

The first thing he then discovered was that he did something quite peculiar with his head in relation to his neck and back. This seemed to restrain his throat and restrict his voice. Although he found that he did the same thing when he was talking, it was in reciting that it took on extreme proportions, which led to the voice problems he had been having. He thought that he had found the answer he had been looking for. It was quite obvious: the next time he would be on stage, he simply would not do this movement with his head and neck.

To his surprise Alexander found that he could not do the 'simple' task of leaving his neck and head alone, at the same time as reciting. He realised that he would have to go back to working on himself but this time he would have to go deeper, and look at the 'programming' that produced the harmful and unruly habit of pulling the head back and down into his spine.

By breaking down the old way of speaking into smaller units of movement he managed to teach himself another way of voice production. With this new way he used less effort because he now managed to 'leave himself alone' while he was speaking. He now only did what was required for that particular activity, instead of lots of other, superfluous movements. In addition he found that not only did this sort out his voice problems, it also had a positive effect on his general well-being.

His research took place over many years and the above is only a condensed version of the story to illustrate some of the important concepts in the Technique.

In taking lessons in the Alexander Technique you will learn the following:

• To become aware of what it is you are doing that is harmful (as Alexander did when he became aware of how he was pulling his head back)
• To find out how strong the force of habit is that prevents you from doing what you have decided you want to do (as Alexander found out that he was unable to leave his neck alone at the same time as reciting)
• To break down activities by observing how you are doing them (as Alexander did when he decided to break down the activity of speaking) and to deal effectively with long-standing habits of tension and strain
• To do daily activities in a totally different way that allows more freedom and ease, and that is likely to improve general health and well-being.

Although working with a teacher is a lot easier than discovering all this by yourself (as Alexander did), the process of changing habits of a lifetime is obviously not something that happens overnight, and learning the Technique requires commitment, motivation and a willingness to get to know yourself better. The Alexander Technique is not a treatment, but a tool that you learn to use for yourself-for the rest of your life!

What Pupils Say

"Having suffered with back pain for many years I was recommended to Maartje de Wolff as an experienced teacher of Alexander Technique. The lessons have proved to be the high point of my week. I now know how to avoid back pain and on the rare occasions I do have a 'twinge' I know how to manage my body to minimise pain and inconvenience. I also believe that the Alexander Technique has had a calming effect on me generally and helps me enormously in dealing with the stresses of 21st century living. Besides being an effective teacher Maartje has a gentle and empathetic nature and the time spent with her makes the lessons a very pleasurable experience."

"Having been to Maartje for Alexander Technique sessions, on and off, for the last 12 years, I can honestly say that she is a life saver."

"Studying the Alexander Technique with Maartje was a real eye-opener. Under her relaxed guidance I was free to begin to listen to my body at my own pace, sometimes making huge strides in progress and sometimes turning up simply to enjoy the table work!"

"I used to get lower back pain regularly and once every six months have an episode of pain so bad I would have to stay at home for a few days. With Maartje's help, the episodes are practically non-existent. When there is pain my understanding of what I'm doing badly helps the recovery process immensely. Maartje also helped me understand that I have the ability to work more efficiently and calmly, using the simple breathing procedure that I learnt in the lessons."

Lessons

The Alexander Technique is taught in individual sessions ('lessons'). To find a teacher in your area, look at the STAT website (at this moment, my Alexander practice is closed to new pupils).

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