What is The Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is the name given to a very gentle hands-on method of psychophysical re-education developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander and taught by him in Australia, England and the United States.
It is used by countless numbers of people all over the world to help deal with stress, back pain, respiratory and vocal problems, and by actors, musicians, dancers and sportspeople to enhance their performance. Under the guidance of a qualified teacher, the basic principles are easy to understand.
It is not a manipulative treatment and there are no strenuous exercises to carry out. It is based on understanding:
The Alexander Technique is the name given to a very gentle hands-on method of psychophysical re-education developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander and taught by him in Australia, England and the United States.
It is used by countless numbers of people all over the world to help deal with stress, back pain, respiratory and vocal problems, and by actors, musicians, dancers and sportspeople to enhance their performance. Under the guidance of a qualified teacher, the basic principles are easy to understand.
It is not a manipulative treatment and there are no strenuous exercises to carry out. It is based on understanding:
- how the body supports itself in a natural way against the force of gravity and
- how the mind can deal more effectively with habit patterns and the stimuli which trigger them
How do I learn it?
You learn the Alexander Technique through a series of one-to-one lessons over a period of a few months. During the lessons the teacher will, with verbal instructions and hands-on guidance, show you how to carry out day-to-day activities in a light, relaxed way, and teach you some simple, stress-free procedures to practise at home.
You learn the Alexander Technique through a series of one-to-one lessons over a period of a few months. During the lessons the teacher will, with verbal instructions and hands-on guidance, show you how to carry out day-to-day activities in a light, relaxed way, and teach you some simple, stress-free procedures to practise at home.
Back Pain
Many back pain sufferers turn to the Alexander Technique having already tried various treatments and exercise programmes. A trial run by Southampton and Bristol Universities, published in the British Medical Journal, demonstrated high levels of improvement.
Many back pain sufferers turn to the Alexander Technique having already tried various treatments and exercise programmes. A trial run by Southampton and Bristol Universities, published in the British Medical Journal, demonstrated high levels of improvement.
“...the most effective of |
"Research published...in the British Medical Journal revealed that the Alexander Technique - which works on releasing muscle tension to improve posture, alignment and movement - is significantly more effective at reducing chronic or recurrent back pain than typical GP-prescribed treatment." |
About John Hunter
John has over 40 years of experience teaching the Alexander Technique to musicians, actors and the general public. He is a past Chair of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, an assessor for trainee teachers and current Chair of the Charity for the F Matthias Alexander Technique.
John is a teaching member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT), has Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance, and an Enhanced DBS Certificate. He is also a teaching member of Alexander Technique International (ATI).