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The Alexander Technique provides a conscious
re-education of the body and mind that improves coordination,
balance and energy. For over a century the Alexander
Technique has helped people learn to release muscular
tension accumulated over years of stressful living. Excess
tension often starts in childhood. If left unchecked, in
later life it can give rise to common ailments such as
arthritis, neck and back pain, migraines, hypertension,
sciatica, insomnia, repetitive stress syndrome, and even
depression. The technique can be applied to everyday activities
such as sitting, standing, walking, and lifting. Dancers,
actors, musicians, and singers have found the work deeply
beneficial. It helps them to perform with greater ease
and less injury.
Use Your Mind To Heal
Your Body
"Perhaps you’ve heard of the Alexander Technique,
which was developed by an Australian actor, F.M. Alexander (1869–1955). The
technique dates from over a hundred years ago, when Alexander lost his voice.
Unable to get help from medical doctors, he set out to cure himself. By studying
his movements in a three-way mirror -- while reciting Shakespeare -- he discovered
that the loss of his voice was related to certain head and neck gestures that
were right for the role but wrong for his voice muscles. With this discovery,
Alexander retrained his muscles, worked out a new way of breathing and speaking,
and regained control of his voice. That was the origin of his famous technique,
which uses teacher-guided movement training to increase conscious control of
body and mind. Injury, illness, and mental, physical, or emotional bad habits
can disrupt the appropriate flow of information between mind and muscles. I
refer patients to Certified Alexander Teachers for a wide range of musculo-skeletal
problems. Just be aware that it's not a quick fix. After all, it took years
for your posture to start causing problems, so it may take time to undo the
damage."
--Dr. Andrew Weil, Polaris
Health, LLC
February 13, 2003
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