Applications
Applying the Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique provides core principles of moving and thinking that can be applied to any activity. F. M. Alexander used getting in and out of the chair as the main activity during lessons. Through this activity, students learn the concepts of inhibition, primary control, direction, and so on. Focusing on getting in and out of the chair can be a very effective way to teach the Alexander Technique.
It is also very effective to teach the principles of the Technique while engaged in a different activity. The principles and concepts are the same. It is still the Alexander Technique. Essentially, the Alexander Technique can be applied to any activity we are humanly capable of practicing.
Ideally, the process learned through studying of the Alexander Technique permeates all of one’s actions and becomes a way of approaching any activity. The golfer can learn to perfect his swing through sitting and standing. The student working with the golf swing can improve his sitting and standing.
There are infinite ways to approach and apply the Alexander Technique. Sometimes it is useful for students to apply the principles of the Alexander Technique through an activity they are studying (like singing, playing a musical instrument, or a sport) or doing frequently (like writing, typing, climbing stairs). This way, the student can more easily relate to the concepts, and the Technique can have an immediate impact on their profession, health, and wellbeing.
It is in this spirit of application that the Balance Arts Center offers lessons and classes in specific activities. We intend to give direct guidance to students in activities of their choice. The Balance Arts Center faculty member will work to tailor the lessons so they address the student’s particular concerns. We are pleased to be able to offer private lessons with direct application to:
• Getting in and out of the chair
• Singing
• Speaking
• Playing an Instrument
• Yoga
• Dancing (Contemporary, Ballet, Partnering, Contact)
• Golf
• Handwriting
• Typing
• Recovery from Injury
• Balance Concerns
• TMJ: Temporal Mandibular Joint Syndrome
• Repetitive Stress Injury
• Sports
• Walking
• Running
• Etc. etc. etc.
More specific applications
Business and Office Environments
Addresses the human elements and factors of how one interfaces with the workplace. The Alexander Technique greatly enhances how one presents oneself, interacts with others, interfaces with the workstation and handles repetitive tasks.
Performers
Musicians, singers, actors, and dancers, who all count on their bodies to be consistent vehicles for their art form, understand the importance of being in optimum balance. The Alexander Technique teaches how to cultivate habits that lead to the best and most consistent performances. Performance issues such as stage fright and anxiety are greatly helped through this work.
Athletes
Athletes, like performers, depend on their bodies. It takes constant attention to keep the body in top shape and balance. The Alexander Technique provides a way for athletes to address specific sports activities while improving general coordination and body movement.
Recovery from Movement and Injury
Getting reacquainted (or acqainted for the first time!) with an optimum state of balance and use following an injury or surgery speeds up the recovery process. It also helps by focusing on refining core movement coordination so that the chance of re-injury is reduced.
General Coordination and Awareness
It is often said that doing the simplest task like picking up a pencil causes someone’s back to go into spasm. When everyday movements such as walking, sitting and standing are performed with excess stress and tension, an injury can develop through these accumulated tensions. The Alexander Technique teaches a way to observe movement so that moving in everyday settings remains free and easy.
Presentation Techniques
Cultivate your best and most effective communication habits at the podium and in one-on-one situations. Analyze your best traits and identify what you need to eliminate so you can present yourself in the best way.
