Despite its existence for over 100 years, the Alexander Technique is still relatively unknown.
Frederick Matthias Alexander, after whom the Technique is named, was an Australian actor who kept losing his voice. He spent many years resolving his problem, after which he began teaching others what he had discovered; to help them as much as it had him.
He found that the relationship between the head, neck and spine is fundamental to efficient functioning.
Are you aware that your head weighs around 4.5 to 6kg? If you are constantly looking down at your phone or computer, this puts great strain on your neck and back which will restrict movement, leading to pain and discomfort. This not only feels bad, it is also visually aging!
However, being told to ‘sit up straight’ or ‘pull your shoulders back’ isn’t very helpful. Firstly, it won’t last. After a matter of minutes, you will slump habitually back into what feels comfortable, without being conscious of it. That’s the power of habit and is what we need to be able to be aware of and then change in order to maintain a balanced alignment of your head, neck and spine.
If you lift your eyes, you will be bringing your head back into a better alignment and there will be less pressure on your neck and back. Practise this when you are walking. If you look down, you will start putting more downward pressure through your spine, hips and knees. Raising your eyes can help lift your ribcage, which helps your breathing and your digestion because you are giving these areas more space to function well.
One thing I constantly see is people locking their knees when standing. This throws the pelvis forwards and puts tension into the lower back, resulting in discomfort and pain. Shoulders will also get unnecessarily involved: either by being pulled back and the chest thrust out or collapsed forwards, with corresponding stiff or forward hanging arms. Again, not comfortable and not a good look.
Try locking and unlocking your knees to be aware of how this feels and what effect this has on your back and shoulders. Doing this in front of a mirror can help because, as strange as it may sound, you may not be doing what you feel you are doing: sensory awareness can be unreliable when poor postural habits are very ingrained.
Unreliable sensory awareness and poor habits are exhibited when we are sitting at a desk or reading a book. So, when we are more active; in work and in hobbies, these habits are exacerbated and become increasingly problematic.
By learning the Alexander Technique, you will be able to use your body appropriately and efficiently to get the most enjoyment and satisfaction out of everything you choose to do.
ABOUT JACKIE:
Thirty-three years ago, Jackie took lessons in the Alexander Technique for relief from a frozen shoulder, which was impacting her life and within 6 months she was completely pain free. During this time, she experienced other results from having lessons: fewer asthma attacks and reduced use of medication, improved performance in sport and playing a musical instrument. This piqued her interest to the point that she enrolled on a 3 year training course, qualifying as a teacher in 1996. Since this time, she has helped hundreds of people, from the age of 7 to 90 years old and in all areas of life, how to improve their health, well-being and posture.
