Alexander Technique in Pennsylvania

Why try the Alexander Technique?

Imagine being able to monitor and catch unhelpful habits in the act, such as slumping. If you’ve ever found yourself hunched over, technically you’re doing this to yourself. Our bodies don’t like to be shortened and compressed. Through the Alexander Technique you can learn to simply not let this happen by finding and becoming reacquainted with your body’s natural co-ordination and postural support.

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How does the Alexander Technique work?

Habits of movement and posture work go together and start in our brains. Simply fixing the body, or what’s on the outside, won’t do much good if the thoughts and ideas, or what’s going on on the inside, aren’t addressed first. On a scientific level the Alexander Technique is reworking psycho-physical habits of movement and posture by rewiring the nervous system. It’s been proven that there are lasting long-term benefits in addressing not only the physical but also the mental ideas about our movement.

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How do you classify the Alexander Technique?

This Technique is not a therapy. Nor does it deal with diet or exercise. It’s not strictly Ergonomics either. There’s no “fixing” or “cracking” here. The Alexander Technique is an educational model that allows you more say in how you use your body by learning to do less. These are lessons. It’s proactive and preventative based medicine!

What happens in an Alexander Technique lesson?

CHAIR WORK

This isn’t about sitting and standing or learning the “right” way to move. Rather, you’re learning where you like to go wrong. How do you make things harder for yourself when sitting and standing?

What habits do you have? For example, do you like to use your arms to help you get up? Or maybe you find yourself pulling your knees together?

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TABLE WORK

Following chair is table work. Here one is fully clothed, in a come as you are, comfortable manner, on a standard massage table. The teacher makes their way around the body gently encouraging lengthening and widening. During table work you’re learning to let go of habits of postural holding. Think of it as a time to decompress!

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ACTIVITY WORK

This is the application portion. Throughout the lesson, habits are found and avoided. Here we bring in an activity such as texting, tying your shoes, playing an instrument or whatever you’d like to look at to see how well you can stay with freedom and ease in your body.

This all sounds easy, but habits come back quickly! Because this type of bodywork deals with re-education, it leads to lasting long-term change.

Alexander Technique Benefits

• Lessening of Daily Aches and Pains

• Improved Posture and Alignment

• Better Performance and Ease of Movement

• Lowering of Physical and Mental Stress

• Better Balance and Body Awareness

• Integrated and Expansive Breathing

• Increased Confidence and Well-Being

• Unleashed Creativity and Flexibility