The Alexander Technique
What exactly is the Alexander Technique? The Alexander Technique is a disciplined technique to aid in preventing tension from certain physical movements. This technique is most often taught by hands on coaches and can also help individuals become aware of bad habits which prevent them from their full potential.
The unwanted muscular tension usually begins by bad habits that were picked up as a child. If these bad habits aren’t correctly fixed, there is the possibility of risks which may rise in the near future such as arthritis, neck pain, back pain, migraines, and hypertension.
Frederick Matthias Alexander was the inventor of the Alexander Technique. It was invented because Alexander suffered from a voice related problem. This technique examines posture of the individual, breathing techniques, coordination and balance.
Try this example, let’s begin with breathing. Try to breathe from your upper chest or down into your abdomen. When breathing, try walking or moving the arms. Do you notice yourself walking different or moving your arms different while you breathe like this? Make a conscious effort to change the way you are walking now. Do any of these efforts affecting the breathing or affect your voice? What if these were daily habits? Continuous habits that you were unaware of? These are the sort of things the Alexander Techniques makes a person aware of and changes.
There are several books on the Alexander Technique, but usually this technique is taught by teachers that can tell which bad habits need to be changed. These techniques have been used for over 70 years and have proven dramatic results when the techniques are properly used. Some students have described a sort of “lightness” in the targeted body part, and have also resulted in less stress, tension, and permanent damage.