Elizabeth Dodgson has been teaching the Alexander Technique (AT) in Chiswick for over five
years. Here she tries to answer some of the most commonly asked questions.
What is the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique (AT) is a unique form of education where you learn how to become more
aware of the way you are using your body in all your everyday activities. The way in which we
use our bodies in our daily lives can contribute to wear and tear and lead to aches and pains,
digestive disorders etc. It is a skill that anyone can learn and provides effective self-help
for both promoting good health and also for living with many painful conditions.
AT has been taught in the UK since 1904 and was developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander
(1869-1955). He was an Australian actor who had problems with his voice while performing
Shakespearean recitals. After unsuccessful treatment from doctors, Alexander embarked on a
course of self-observation leading him to discover that it was the way he used the whole of his
body that was responsible for the loss of his voice. Medical practitioners were so impressed
that they sent other people with breathing/voice disorders to him. The technique developed
following the success in treating these and other disorders.
How does it work?
AT is best learned by having a series of one to one lessons from a qualified teacher. Clients
are referred to as pupils and the biggest benefits are obtained by applying what is learned to
everyday life. The teacher will use both gentle hands-on work and verbal instructions to guide
the pupil into ways of moving, sitting and standing with more ease and less tension. After a
course of lessons the pupil is then able to apply AT to everything from brushing their teeth,
lifting, singing or running a marathon! It is not a "quick fix" but aims to get to the root cause
of posture related problems.
The technique is taught on a one-to-one basis. During a lesson the teacher works in partnership
with you to educate your responses to any stimulus. They may first start by analysing a simple
everyday action, such as getting in and out of a chair. You will learn to observe how you are
using your body and the teacher will use his or her hands to guide you and demonstrate how to
move without unnecessary stress on the body. Later on you work with other movements and actions
that may be causing you particular problems, e.g. using a computer, playing a musical instrument
or a golf swing.
Part of the session may be conducted with you lying down on a couch with the teacher working on
you, gently moving your limbs and encouraging you to release unwanted tension held in the body.
What ailments can the Alexander Technique help to relieve?
Applying the technique in one's daily life leads to less tension throughout the body. It makes
you feel light and poised. This can be beneficial for conditions like anxiety, high blood
pressure, some migraines, asthma, arthritis, back/neck aches, voice difficulties, repetitive
strain injury and joint problems. AT can help rehabilitation after surgery, injury or illness.
Reported benefits are:
- improved poise, vitality, balance and coordination;
- easier breathing and speaking
- freer, lighter and more enjoyable movement.
Pregnant women and those caring for young children can often exacerbate conditions such as back
pain when coping with these new demands on their body. Applying AT can help the pregnant woman
accommodate the bodily changes and maximise the room for the growing child. Your Alexander
Technique teacher will also help you to find comfortable ways of carrying and bending.
Am I too old to change my postural habits?
Never! More mature pupils - even those in their seventies and eighties - are particularly
appreciative of the AT as often improvements are very measurable and change their quality of
life. One lady (82) had a very pronounced stoop and stiff back and neck and had to wear slip-on
shoes because she found it difficult to reach her feet without losing her balance or feeling
dizzy. Now she happily ties her laces whilst turning her head to chat after her lesson ... so she
is breathing in activity too! Photos of her now show a slight stoop as it was in a photo taken
when she was sixteen!
How do I find a teacher?
Look for a teacher who is MSTAT certified. They will have successfully completed a tree year,
full time course approved by the Society for Teachers of the Alexander Technique, and are
required to adhere to the Society's published Code of Conduct and to hold professional indemnity
insurance. More details on www.stat.org.uk or via Elizabeth's website www.ATteacher.co.uk.
Finally
AT is also helpful to those striving for excellence and is used worldwide by performing artists
forming an integral part of all performing arts courses. Athletes of all standards, including
prominent members of the Great Britain Athens Olympic rowing team (Matthew Pinsent, Alex
Partridge) and equestrian (Joe Bowers), use the technique as part of their training. Elizabeth
has worked with rowers and has had particular success in working with runners, skiers and
swimmers. She holds Learn to Run with Ease courses in Chiswick twice a year and this will be the
second year that Elizabeth offered an Alexander Technique and skiing holiday in Tignes,
France.
With the Alexander Technique you can learn to help yourself and to develop a self-awareness that you will be able to use for the rest of your life.
Elizabeth can be contacted on 020 8994 9527.