What is it?

The Alexander Technique (AT) was developed by F.M. Alexander over a hundred years ago, and has been practiced ever since by musicians, actors, vocalists and everyday people seeking non-invasive pain relief and improved posture, balance, and well-being. It is an educational discipline based on Alexander’s idea that the relationship between your head and your spine directly affects your overall health. AT teaches self awareness skills so you can recognize where you hold too much tension and how this tension translates into habits that you may think are just part of who you are. AT students come to realize that they are not sentenced to inherit their Dad’s bad back, or destined to live forever with slumped shoulders, a stiff walk or recurring neck pain. Through light hands-on work and verbal instruction, an AT teacher guides your thinking away from the idea that good posture demands forceful holding of uncomfortable positions. You learn instead, that by undoing overworked muscles of the neck and other tense areas, you can experience freer, more mindful movement that leads to better posture and less pain. With AT tools in hand, students can respond to the stresses of daily life with more flexibility and find more balance and joy in everyday life. To understand how this can look in real life, read Becky’s story, How I Came to the Alexander Technique.