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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

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.

"Lessons with Hellie have reduced the stress of long-distance running, the stiffness in my hips and lower back are gone."
Sarah

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.

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.

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.

Personal growth and stress reduction

"Over a few months of lessons I gradually realised that my pain had reduced by 90%, when previously I had been in constant pain."
Counsellor with Osteoporosis

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.

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.

For more information

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