Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is a method used for overcoming conditions caused by tension, habitual movements, and postures. It is used for conditions including back pain, neck pain, repetitive strain injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, fatigue, stuttering, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

The Alexander Technique was developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander, an Australian who was a Shakespearean orator. Practitioners of this technique are certified by the American Society for the Alexander Technique and must complete 1600 hours of training.

The Alexander Technique is often used to address conditions such as back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome, which can result from repetitive movements or postures. The goal of the technique is to identify those movements or postures that are harmful and correct them through certain thought processes.

The basic principles of the Alexander Technique include the following:

Primary control: This is the relationship between the head, neck, and spine. The relationship can be either free or compressed. When the relationship is free, the body moves optimally. When it is compressed, it doesn't.

Awareness: This is the process of identifying the habits that result in the physical problem, such as pain or tension.

Inhibition: This is the process of noticing when the body is moving in a compressed way that can result in a problem. By noticing this, the problematic movement can be changed or stopped.

Direction: This is the process of visualizing movement and allowing the body to move reflexively and effortlessly rather than forcing compressed movement.

The Alexander Technique is LIKELY SAFE when used appropriately. There are no known serious safety concerns from clinical research.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Patients typically attend a series of one-on-one lessons with an Alexander Technique instructor in order to learn to identify unwanted habits. Alexander Technique lessons can involve bodywork on a table and/or observation and guidance during specific activities.

Alexander Proprioception, AT, F.M. Alexander Technique, Technique Alexander, Técnica Alexander.

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