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We all learned to use
ourselves---to coordinate how we do what we do, physically and
mentally, when we were young. As adults we seldom think about
it. But unconscious habits learned in childhood or caused by
trauma or injury often lie at the source of many symptoms and
complaints such as chronic muscle pain; tension and stiffness;
joint pain and immobility; difficulty learning new movement
skills or improving technique; over-reacting emotionally;
feeling stressed; or being unable to change unwanted behavior.
 For
example, you may jog for miles each week yet suffer from
chronic knee pain. You may lift weights regularly at
the gym, yet find it difficult to sit through a long
meeting. You may practice an instrument or play a
sport for long hours yet still not perform as well as you
would like. You may find ourselves unable to overcome
feelings of anger, fear, or anxiety. You may find it hard to
relax at the end of the workday and simply get to sleep.
In short, mental and physical well being requires more than
eating well, exercising, and limiting stress.
It requires a conscious,
skilled coordination of yourself—mind and body—in all that
you do.
The Alexander Technique is an educational
method for
 studying your self to learn how to prevent
unconscious habits of poor posture, malcoordination, tension,
and emotional over-reaction. Different from exercise,
massage, or therapy, it opens the door to understanding
maladaptive habits, how they are triggered, and how to change
them. You can learn to sit comfortably without slouching, to
walk without feeling tired, to play an instrument or engage in
sports without injury. You can develop greater
self-awareness, think without strain, respond without anxiety,
and enhance your innate physical intelligence.
For people of all ages and from all types
of backgrounds, the Alexander Technique offers an invaluable
and timeless education in the use of your self.
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