Benefits of the Alexander Technique

* IMPROVES MOVEMENT EFFICIENCY AND COORDINATION: The Technique helps the student to discover the easiest and most balanced way to do basic fundamental movements like sitting, standing, and walking. By improving actions that we do often throughout the day, the core of one's movement behavior changes. A better habitual movement pattern then permeates one's entire movement repertoire. Lessons focus on specific tasks that the student finds difficult or stressful.

* HELPS TO ELIMINATE BODY PAIN AND STRESS: Cultivating a refined sense of balance and the natural integrity of the body will help to reduce and in many cases eliminate aches and pains. The Alexander Technique teaches better breathing and alignment of body parts, especially the head, neck and back. By discovering the best relationship of these parts, the downward pressure we often put on our bodies is relieved. Backaches, headaches, eye strain, circulation issues and vocal problems are a few of the conditions that have been helped by the Alexander Technique.

* RETURNS THE BODY TO ITS NATURAL BALANCE: After an injury or trauma to the body, ineffective habits and unnecessary compensations often make their way into one's movement vocabulary. For instance, it may be that a broken ankle or leg may cause someone to unconsciously swing their hip forward while walking with the broken limb.. And once the leg has healed they "forget" to let go of that habit which gets in the way of their best walking.

* ALLOWS ONE'S PERCEPTIONS OF OVERALL ENVIRONMENT TO CHANGE: This is an outcome of an increased ability to maintain one's balance and body integrity. Staying centered and flexible in situations helps one literally to "see" and respond to situations differently.

* GENERAL AND SPECIFIC MOVEMENT EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: "Oh, I forgot I had knees" is not a uncommon response in an Alexander Technique lesson. Students learn what body parts are where and how to efficiently move the body to accomplishing an action. The refined kinesthetic sense leads to a better overall direction of the body. Students are reminded and coached to focus on their whole body in a refined manner. It is an education many people have never had.

* ADDRESSES REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS: Repetitive movements are one of the biggest hazards in modern life. With movement training and awareness, however, actions like typing or playing a musical instrument can be done with ease. One can learn to make the most of any physical environment.

* ADDS THE HUMAN FACTOR TO ERGONOMIC DESIGN: The Alexander Technique addresses how one can enhance an already ergonomically sound environment. It looks at the movement behaviors of the student and offers instruction in how to interact with the environment in the easiest, most balanced and least stressful way.

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