The Alexander Technique (A.T.), created by F.M. Alexander, has been around for over 100 years. It's an educational tool that teaches the unlearning of harmful habits associated with movement and posture. This is not strictly ergonomics but a whole body approach to natural co-ordination. Scientifically, the nervous system is rewiring itself by reworking the psycho-physical habits of how we operate. There is lasting, long term, benefit in addressing not only physical but mental ideas about our movement. A.T. is most commonly taught in lessons which are 30 or 60 minutes in length. Students are often performers (actors, dancers, musicians, etc), desk and office workers, and those with pain or posture concerns. Come in and discover what freer and easier movement feels like!
It's widely used by actors, musicians, dancers and athletes but anyone can use and directly benefit as we all have our own instrument to master, our body. The awareness that the Technique brings enhances and extends careers by looking at beneficial use of the body on a daily basis.
What happens in an Alexander Technique lesson?
Lessons are typically made up of 3 parts. Chair work, table work, and work in "activity."
- First, there's hands-on work that deals with getting in and out of a chair because this is something we all do and do habitually.
- Following chair is table work. Here one is fully-clothed, in a come-as-you-are manner on a standard massage table. The teacher makes their way around the body gently encouraging opening, undoing, length and width. During this time you're learning to let go of habits of postural holding. Think of it as decompression time!
- Lastly, there is work in "activity." This is the application part and can explore walking, driving, swimming, knitting or really any movement you'd like to explore.
Within 5-10 lessons you will learn and be able to apply the principles of the Alexander Technique to your everyday life and movements.
What kind of hands-on experience comes with the Alexander Technique?
Hands-on are used only to guide and encourage a new ease of movement. This is a time of rethinking and reshaping your ideas about movement and so much more.