Most people begin their lives moving with ease and grace. Yet as we get older, we tend to override our inherent freedom of movement with habits that confine and compress us. We become so accustomed to carrying excess tension with us throughout our day that, unless we are in pain, we rarely notice it. This causes our innate monitoring system, or kinesthetic sense, to be unreliable, making it practically impossible for us to make changes in ourselves without causing new problems. Harmful habits often result in common problems such as neck or back pain, or unnecessary stress to the body, mind, emotions and spirit.
The Alexander Technique works through re-establishing the natural relationship between the head, the neck and the back - the " core" of the body that supports the strength and freedom of the limbs. This in turn provides a healthy structural environment for breathing and for the internal organs. While the effortless poise of small children is in sharp contrast to that of most adults, practically anyone can rediscover freedom and ease in movement. Learn to become aware of, and gradually to strip away, habits of movement, tension and reaction that interfere with, distort or obscure natural and healthy patterns of coordination.
The Alexander Technique is based on two central principles:
- A dynamic relationship between the head and spine governs our coordination in everything we do, either in a way that improves our overall condition or diminishes it.
- We inherently are designed to function as a unity of mind and body. When we attempt to change anything either primarily physically or primarily mentally we're doomed to failure.
“It is what man does that brings the wrong thing about, first with himself and then in his activities in the outside world; it is only by preventing this ‘doing’ that he can ever begin to make any real change.”
- F.M. Alexander