an A-Z of alternative therapies
Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is an alternative medicine and educational discipline focusing on bodily coordination, including psychological principles of awareness. It is applied for purposes of recovering freedom of movement, in the mastery of performing arts, and for general self-improvement affecting poise, impulse control and attention.
Many conditions may respond to this, particularly:
- Asthma
- Headaches
- Eczema
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Circulatory problems
- Breathing disorders
- Muscular conditions
- Skeletal conditions
How does it work?
Overall, the Alexander Technique is aimed at encouraging awareness of the body, so that you have an increased sense of confidence, greater vitality, and an improved, positive mental outlook. Improved physical health will also result.
The directions of Fredrick Alexander are "Free the neck; let the neck go forward and upward; let the back lengthen and widen".
Following the training, movement becomes more natural and poised, and so harmful pressures on organs and body are released, enabling improvement to breathing, circulatory and digestion and release of tension.
Experiences
Training sessions, usually on a one-to-one basis, focus on training you to work out the distortions in your body and encourage natural reflexes to work once again.
Your teacher may begin by asking you to lie flat with your knees bent and your head resting on two or three books. He or she will make a series of adjustments to your position before helping you to your feet. The rest of the lesson will be spent sitting or standing, while the teacher adjusts your posture and re-educates you to use muscles with minimum effort and maximum efficiency.
Side effects
Other than slight stiffness after the first lesson or two, none reported.
Duration and number of sessions
One lesson lasts 30-45 minutes.
A course consists of 15 - 30 classes as the technique is quite complex, but depends on how quickly you learn, but some carry on indefinitely, as the session can be very therapeutic.
Attendance twice a week is ideal.
Safety issues
- Safe for every age group.
- Safe for every level of health.
- Beneficial to the elderly and to pregnant women.
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