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What
is it?
Who
was Alexander?
How
do I learn it?
Recommended
Reading
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The
Alexander Technique is taught through a series of one-to-one sessions
over a period of some months, more frequently at the beginning and
then with less frequency as the principles and practice are
assimilated.
You
will remain clothed throughout; tightly fitting clothes are not
suitable, and women should wear trousers.
In
a typical lesson the teacher may ask you to make a simple movement -
to walk across the room or to sit and stand, for instance - while
watching how you "use" yourself. Then, using his/her hands
the teacher will bring about a subtle change in the way you are
holding yourself and guide you into the same movement. This is usually
experienced as a feeling of lightness, release of tension or
expansion. You may be asked to lie down and the teacher will show you
how to lie in such a way that you can allow your back to let go and
spread out.
Observed from the outside, it may seem that little is happening. A
trained eye may see some greater freedom of movement, increase in
height or improved "posture", but the significant changes
are the ones experienced internally: the sense of calm and well-being,
the feeling of integration, the decrease of tension.
These
sessions need to be repeated at frequent intervals at the beginning so
that something is sustained in between them. In time, the focus will
move towards other activities - including all our usual movements
(bending, carrying things, using hands and arms at a desk etc.) and
any specialist activity the pupil is interested in (Tai Chi, Yoga,
Voice, Sport, Music etc.) It can soon be seen that the principles are
ones which apply to all our activities.
However little or much you want to learn, it all starts with the first
lesson. Alexander work is essentially experiential. Until you try it
you will not know whether it really interests you or what value to
place on it.
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