A method created by Frederick Matthias Alexander to re-educate the way we use our body, engaging our thoughts and sensory appreciation in order to achieve a freer and lighter quality of movement and posture.
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE LESSONS
An Alexander Technique lesson is private and lasts between 45-50 min.The main objective of a lesson is to release unnecessary muscle tension between the head and the neck and allow this to spread to the rest of the body.
We explore the quality and possibilities of movement in the body, and we do that by putting in practice simple acts of daily life such as sitting on a chair, standing up, walking and laying down.
The mere act of sitting down will reveal our whole patern of use, and by recognizing it, it is possible to make positive changes.
HOW IT WORKS
01 Observation
The teacher observes the student's posture and movement. This may involve the student performing simple everyday activities like sitting, standing, walking, or bending. The teacher pays close attention to the student's physical habits and any undue tension or misuse of their body.
02 Chair Work
Sitting in a chair is a fundamental activity in Alexander Technique lessons. The teacher and student work together to explore how they can sit with less tension and more support from the spine.
This moment is about becoming aware of how the activity of sitting down and standing up is build up in order to put together one whole and integrated movement.
03 Hands-on Work
One of the distinctive features of the Alexander Technique is the use of hands-on guidance from the teacher. The teacher gently uses their hands to provide tactile feedback to the student. They may guide the student into positions that encourage a more balanced and efficient use of their body.
04 Verbal Instruction
Throughout the lesson, the teacher provides verbal instructions and cues to help the student become more aware of their habitual patterns and learn to release unnecessary tension. This involves becomin aware of the head-neck-back relationship to avoid unnecessary muscular effort.
05 Table Work
The student lies down on the table, and the teacher , making use of the hands-on work, provides gentle guidance to release tension and encourage better alignment.
This is a moment for the student to let go of all the unnecessary muscle tension to recover the natural lenght of the spine and create more space in the joints. The expansion of the whole body is a very powerful tool to prevent and revearse body pain.