Walk Tall

Ever found yourself bending down and then getting stuck, unable to get up? If so, you aren't alone because, about 80 per cent of us will experience back pain over our lifetime. The most susceptible are people with sedentary jobs, such as office workers, drivers, cashiers and those who lift heavy weights. Even our children are suffering, with too many hours spent hunched over computer games and keyboards and carrying schoolbags on one shoulder.

But with a little care and attention much back pain can be prevented.

This week sees the beginning of International Alexander Awareness Week (IAAW) and the organisation is taking back care as its theme.

To help promote back care, next Friday, October 13, Bath-based Alexander teacher Hellie Mulvaney and her colleagues will be holding a half-day of free taster sessions.

Hellie will demonstrate how examining the way people carry themselves, move and hold tension can address the underlying cause of many back problems.

The event begins at 10am at the new wing of Oldfield Surgery in Junction Road, Oldfield Park. People are invited to book a free one-to-one Alexander taster session with one of the teachers throughout the morning. Places will be on a first come, first served basis and to book a place, call 01225 353397.

An introductory session, which usually costs £35, is available at half price as part of this week. Subsequent lessons are £28 each. Hellie advises that ten sessions can make a permanent difference.

"It's alarming how many people have back problems and think that there isn't anything they can do about it for themselves," says Hellie. "Taking lessons in the Alexander Technique can make a huge difference; you can learn to improve your awareness of what you're doing with your body, you can learn to reduce tension and often painful conditions and respond to things in a more relaxed way."

Robin Lowe, aged 56, went to see Hellie because of a back problem.
"I have ankylosing spondylitis, a back condition which means I have intermittent episodes of back pain. I generally enjoy an active life, including dancing, badminton and walking, but I wanted to learn to improve my posture and a way of moving to prevent a deterioration where possible.

"What I have brought away with me from the lessons is an understanding that I can choose how to sit and stand and walk."

Jenny Webb is an image consultant, who came to lessons simply to improve her posture and get help with her presentation skills. She says that, as an image consultant, improving her posture is important to her.

Jenny says: "The learning process seemed quite difficult at first; I thought 'oh my goodness, this is too odd, I can't possibly do this', but it becomes something else when you feel yourself doing things the right way, you realise you can't go back to doing it the wrong way.

"Right now I'm sitting and I can feel my 'sit bones' and there is no way I can go back to the old way of sitting."

Jenny had always had bad posture but hadn't known how to tackle the problem. "All those old ideas like 'pull your tummy in and shoulders back' didn't help, but some very simple and quite small adjustments made all the difference," she says.

"Having lessons is non-invasive, non-threatening and very relaxing, dispelling any tension you might have in your body. You leave the session feeling relaxed and light, as if you've had an hour's massage. I was twisting my spine and standing with my stomach and pelvis thrust out, my weight was thrown forward. Now I don't have to think about holding my tummy in any more, I just let my spine lengthen."