Why study Alexander Technique?

Alexander Technique was developed by an Australian actor, F.M. Alexander, about one hundred years ago.

It is widely studied by performing artists: actors, musicians, singers, dancers. These are highly motivated people who are constantly seeking to expand their physical capabilities while extending the duration of their career. Alexander Technique provides them with the skills needed to meet these goals. Simply stated: Alexander Technique teaches balance on a mega and micro scale.

You may say: ‘I am not an actor or a dancer or a singer. What is the relevance of Alexander Technique to my life?’

BALANCE is the relevance. In terms of expanding physical capability and reducing wear and tear on your body, BALANCE IS EVERYTHING. In terms having beautiful posture, BALANCE IS EVERYTHING. In terms of being comfortable at work, driving in your car, doing yard work, golfing, playing tennis, sitting at your computer: BALANCE IS EVERYTHING.

Nothing teaches the art of balancing more effectively than Alexander Technique. It is a general technique and can be applied to any activity, even leaning over the sink and brushing your teeth!

A balanced body is an efficient, comfortable body. Knowing how to bring balance into any movement makes it easier to learn new coordinations and to refine techniques that are already familiar. A balanced body is a graceful, responsive body.

Alexander Technique lessons are usually one-on-one sessions with an Alexander Technique teacher because every body, every person is different and unique in his/her abilities and difficulties. The study of Alexander Technique requires patience and attentiveness from the student but there is nothing like the feeling of lightness and relaxation that results from an Alexander Technique lesson. Many students describe the experience as feeling as if the weight of the world was magically lifted from their shoulders. Actually, what these students are experiencing is not magic but the difference in effort between moving a balanced body and a body held up with compensatory tensions.