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Benefits of the Alexander Technique

Learning to use the Alexander Technique will improve your posture, poise and flexibility of movement. It improves breathing, clarity of thought, and your ability to handle life’s stresses, so that you can be more relaxed, confident and maintain your health.

The Alexander Technique helps to relieve or prevent many health conditions such as:

Chronic pain conditions Back pain and sciatica Headaches and neck strain Posture problems Breathing problems Osteoarthritis Discomfort in pregnancy Parkinson's Disease symptoms

Reactions to stress Performance anxiety High blood pressure Repetitive Strain Injury (non-specific pain syndrome) Anxiety disorders Rehabilitation after operations, injury or illness

(Anecdotal evidence shows that people with these conditions benefit from learning and applying the Technique to the extent that the way that they 'use' themselves (their cerebral and neuro-muscular systems) is a factor in the causation and/or continuance of the particular disorder.)

”The challenge for me as a dancer is to do the simplest movement with the right amount of tension. The surprise was the idea that you can reduce your tensions and pain by using your thoughts, not by trying harder - which really gives you a lot of control over yourself.”
Dancer with back pain

Improved Performance

Traditionally the Technique has been most widely used in the performing arts. Today most professionally trained actors, musicians, dancers and presenters have come across the Alexander Technique during their training. Most of the major drama and music schools in this country have an Alexander teacher on the staff, and a new drama school cannot get accreditation without one. In these fields the Technique has long been recognised as an invaluable tool to improve the quality
of movement, vocalisation, breathing and performance anxiety.

Pregnancy

The Technique can be of enormous help in coping with pregnancy and labour pain. Learning how to improve poise and muscle tone can assist in adapting to the body’s changes during pregnancy, using conscious control in labour helps with habitual reactions to pain.

Personal growth and stress reduction

When you apply the Technique your responses to situations are calmer and more considered. You notice your reactions to stress and have a healthier way of coping, so that you can enjoy life’s challenges while looking after yourself. Developing your awareness in this way helps to enhance self knowledge and self reliance which improves confidence and enjoyment of life.

Sport and exercise

The Alexander Technique helps you learn to improve your natural balance, poise and coordination, which when applied to any kind of sporting activity improves performance and reduces the risk of injury. It is a basic skill that can be applied to improve your enjoyment and ability in whatever exercise you do.

”Over a few months of lessons I gradually realised that my pain had reduced by 90%, and some days I don't even have any pain.”
Counsellor with Osteoporosis

Pain

Chronic or recurrent pain conditions such as back and neck pain can be made worse by too much tension. Anticipation of pain can also increase tension which adds to the intensity of pain. Sufferers can learn to release tension and manage pain more effectively.

Desk and computer work

The modern sedentary lifestyle, with prolonged periods sitting at a desk and using a computer can be very demanding of the human being. As well as having a good workstation, we need to pay attention to how we use it. The most common reasons for ill health at the workplace are back pain and ‘RSI’ conditions. Home use of computers is on the increase. The Alexander Technique offers a particularly helpful approach to these problems, improving awareness and the ability to modify harmful habits of tension.

For more information

The links page has background information and research findings on these and many other subjects.