The Importance of the Alexander Technique
This site is about the wonderful benefits of the Alexander Technique and how you can enjoy them for yourself.
The Alexander Technique has an enviable reputation for
- Clearing up neck and back pain,
- Shoulder and other joint problems and for
- Improving posture or ‘poise’ and coordination.
In fact the remarkable effectiveness of the technique in reducing back pain has at last been shown in research by the NHS and published in the British Medical Journal just this last Summer.
It brings about all these improvements without any form of direct intervention:
No drugs,
No surgery,
No manipulation (no clicking or crunching) and
No exercises (unless you count lying down or thinking as exercise).
Even the postural changes come about naturally as a result of relaxing (un-doing) and allowing your body to automatically realign itself.
Returning to our Natural State
What very few people realise is that the Alexander Technique is a way of returning to our natural healthy state:
- A way of regaining your natural poise,
- Returning to your natural freedom, ease and efficiency of movement,
- A way of releasing and directing your natural energy and enthusiasm
- And also a way to relax far below the plateau level that most of us thought was relaxation.
Among other things, the Alexander Technique is a way to release the tensions that have pulled us out of shape and that have pulled us down, and to re stimulate those reflexes that naturally give us poise and make us rise up.
In other words, the Alexander Technique is a way for us to literally
“Loosen - Up!”
Other Surprising Benefits
Not only does it restore our natural poise and movement, the Alexander Technique also helps us to:
- Think more clearly,
- Make better decisions,
- Learn more easily
- And perform better in any area of life.
It is a way to retrain our minds, so that instead of having knee-jerk reactions and looking for short-cuts and quick fixes, we can take those few extra split seconds that it takes to allow ourselves to come up with better ways of dealing with things. So that we go for true Win-Win situations and so that we can get what we truly want in the most efficient way while eliminating unwanted side effects.
A universal technique
Despite the fact that until now, most people have used it to improve their posture, or back pain, or to be better actors, musicians, or sports people, it is something that Everyone can use to improve their lives in Many different ways.
You can use it to:
- Stay calm, mentally and emotionally
- Stay relaxed physically
- Have better poise and posture
and therefore look more confident and attractive... - Actually feel, become and be more confident!
- Move more freely and efficiently and with less effort
- Have better coordination
- Relieve strain and tension on muscles
- Reduce pressure and wear and tear on joints
- Reduce pain
- Frequently reduce blood pressure
- Think more clearly
- Make better decisions
- Learn more efficiently
- Achieve more of what you want in life,
with less effort and fewer problems.
It is not some form of postural training or exercise as many people think. Nor is it some sort of an optional add-on or for people to just ‘do’ from time to time. It is a fundamental and very beneficial approach to life for All of us to very easily use All of the time.
Choice: The Core of the Technique
One of the hidden benefits of the technique, which is one of the things that excites me most about it, is that it contains the fundamental principles of how to have true choice.
My observation is that few of us exercise true choice, instead of just reacting habitually. When we are asked if we want 'raspberry or vanilla' we rarely realise that it has been presupposed we will have ice-cream. Similarly, when given the choice of 'tea or coffee' we rarely stop to consider whether we wanted a stimulant drink in the first place.
In the Alexander Technique as in all areas of life, we cannot effectively change until we are able to 'not do' what we would normally have done- only then is there the possibility for something new. I believe this is extremely valuable and I believe it could have far reaching benefits for the World.
Time for a Change
For far too long, the Alexander Technique has been enjoyed almost exclusively by the rich and famous, who in the past could more easily afford the time and the considerable expense that it once took. Actors, singers, musicians and a few sports people also knew its immense value.
Until now only a tiny minority of the rest of us have known about it or used it. It is time to make it easier, quicker, cheaper and available for all of us.
During my 26 years involvement with the technique, I have taken it back to its most basic principles and rebuilt it in a way that makes it much quicker and easier to learn and in a way that you can get far more value out of it.
- Gone is the need for going back to a teacher for years and years and years.
- Gone is the need for two lessons a week for two and a half years (which is what I originally had.)
- Gone is the old benchmark of "Oh, you need at least 30 lessons, just to get started..." !
- I can now get most people to the point where they are independent of me in just 10 to 15 sessions.
So it takes a lot less time, you get the results you want so much sooner - and of course, it costs far less in the long run.
So now we know some of its benefits and how you can learn it so much more quickly and easily, we can ask
What actually Is the Alexander Technique?
Booking
If you have any questions or want to book an appointment, then please call me
David Owen on 01752 361576 or local rate 0845 2068 705
(Landline is +44 1752 361 576 from abroad, or see my Contact and Find Me page.)
Please, if possible, call during normal working hours or early evening.
Be prepared to leave a message if I cannot answer in person.
I normally work during normal office hours from Monday to Friday, although evening and weekend appointments are occasionally available. Home visits are possible under the right circumstances.
My Practice
Weston Mill Practice & Mailing Address:-
64 Bridwell Road, Western Mill, Plymouth, Devon PL5 1AB UK
The practice is within easy reach of all parts of Plymouth (England UK), Plympton, Plymstock, Devon and Cornwall, including Caradon, Torpoint, Looe, Liskeard, Calstock, Callington, Saltash, Tavistock, South Hams, Ivybridge, South Brent, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, Totnes, Salcombe and Kingsbridge.
I am also sometimes available in London and the South East for talks, demonstrations or personal work, or if there is sufficient demand, I can be available throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the rest of the World on an expenses paid basis, or for consultation by Skype.
www.excel-yourself.com My Main Counselling, Coaching,
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Next: What actually Is the Alexander Technique?
British Medical Journal - Back Pain clinical trial
Newspaper articles
The BMJ research paper itself
Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. (BMJ 2008;337:a884 - 19 August 2008)