Login or Create an Account About Need Support?
Have Feedback?
Wellness Articles Articles in Alexander Technique
Search Articles
Search for
In the modality:
Search

Alexander Technique Articles

Search filters:
  • Modality: Alexander Technique

Training As an Alexander Technique Teacher
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
So, you want to become a teacher of the Alexander Technique? The first thing to do is to talk to your regular Alexander teacher, and ideally at least one other teacher, and of course your family and friends. The training usually takes about three years, so it's a serious commitment in terms of time and money. You need to become absolutely clear in your mind if, first, you are sufficiently interested in the Alexander Technique and, second, if you actually want to do teaching rather than just practise it and apply it in your own life. Regarding the first point: in the past most Alexander ...Read More
What is Alexander Technique?
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
As we grow up and get older, we tend to end up with more and more habits and physical and mental armouring which cause mostly unnecessary and harmful tension. The Alexander Technique can be used as a tool for trying to return to a more balanced state. While many people become involved with the technique because they have a back problem, suffer from frequent headaches or have some other physical ailment, there is no need to have any such problems; some people wish to improve a skill like playing a musical instrument or just want to learn more about themselves. Alexander Technique won't solve ...Read More
Side Effects of Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
It is sometimes said that the Alexander Technique has no side effects, but there are several things that can go wrong. Still, it is good to remember that Alexander Technique is clearly an exceptionally safe activity. Some of the potential problem areas are analysed below: Spasms and Tremors Some people who practise the technique experience involuntary movements (muscle spasms and tremors). These can be anything from simple movements, for example arm suddenly rising up, to shakes that involve the whole body. These movements can have a lot of force; sometimes the whole body may even jump up if ...Read More
Fitness and Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
Alexander Technique won't make you fit, but perhaps surprisingly it often does have a small positive effect in all the three main areas people usually aim to improve when they start a fitness regime: Muscle strength: Posture often changes as an indirect consequence of learning the technique. This then improves the tone in postural muscles that have become more engaged. It has to be said that the opposite may happen to some other muscles... Flexibility: As the habitual muscle tension decreases, people may find that their flexibility has improved. Cardiovascular fitness: This one is really an ...Read More
Alexander Technique in Business
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
The technique has many applications in the office. Some of these are simple and straightforward: how to sit at your desk for long periods without backache, how to use a computer without suffering from stiff shoulders or wrist pain, and of course general stress relief and improved self-confidence. Even simple advice on posture will help with some of these things. Alexander Technique in its advanced stages has some interesting applications in areas like communication, negotiation and leadership, but unfortunately getting to that stage requires a fair amount of dedication and practice. Any ...Read More
Breathing and Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
This article will first focus on those general features of the physiology and anatomy of the respiratory system that help in understanding how to breathe well, and then goes on to explain how the Alexander Technique deals with the issue of breathing. First of all it's necessary to point out that breathing happens purely by using the respiratory muscles to change the volume of lungs, as many people seem to think that they can force air in and out by constricting the nasal passageway... Inhalation is the more active phase of breathing. The main muscle used is the diaphragm. Tensing the ...Read More
Directing in Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
It is so telling that although directing is the active part of the Alexander Technique, it isn't actually very active at all. In most styles of Alexander Technique inhibition and directing go hand in hand; inhibition creates the space where directions operate. What is directing? When you direct, you use directions, i.e. certain kind of thoughts, to change the state of your muscles. This is a more indirect process than, say, deciding to tense your biceps and then contracting them. A reason for adopting this indirect approach is that the desired aim of directing often involves a net reduction ...Read More
Inhibition in Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
'Inhibition' as discussed here is a special term and tool of the Alexander Technique, not to be confused with many other meanings of the same word. For example: In neurology inhibition happens when a neurotransmitter causes a postsynaptic neuron membrane to hyperpolarise. If the Alexander Technique inhibition was described in neurological terms, it would include many instances of both inhibition and excitation. In psychoanalysis inhibition is an unconscious restraining of an instinctual process. Casual observation indicates that such an inhibition tends to be accompanied with increased muscle  ...Read More
Primary Control in Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
Primary Control in Alexander Technique This is almost certainly the most difficult concept in Alexander Technique to understand or explain, and in fact there is a lot of disagreement and uncertainty about what it is or isn't. It is common practice to resort to Alexander's statement that primary control "depends upon a certain use of the head and neck in relation to the use of the rest of the body", and then refuse to explain what is meant by "certain use". Moreover, Alexander claimed that primary control is made up of processes which control the use of the head and neck in relation to the ...Read More
Science and Alexander Technique
By: VitalityLink Finder    Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012
Scientific study into effects of AT and its underlying principles is the most important challenge facing the Alexander Technique community. So far few studies have been undertaken, and the results have usually been preliminary and/or inconclusive. Research into the Alexander Technique is difficult for several reasons, including: 1. The quality of teachers varies greatly. 2. Conducting double blind studies seems to be impossible. 3. To benefit from AT the test subjects have to spend a lot of effort. 4. Currently there are few reliable ways to measure the possible benefits. One could divide a ...Read More