Alexander Technique Lessons in Seattle, WA

The Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is a system of physical re-education that helps us recognize and understand poor habits that interfere with our ability to move healthily and live happily. It is based on the idea that we are born with good use, but learn bad habits through a lifetime of sitting in chairs, hunching over computers, stressing over bills, etc. Rather than teach a better way of moving, the Technique teaches us to recognize and unlearn these bad habits to return to a more natural way of functioning.

A teacher is necessary to learn the Alexander Technique because our habits, even if they are bad ones, feel natural. What feels natural feels right, even though our bad habits are responsible for much of the discomfort and pain we experience when we sit, exercise, or play a musical instrument. Teachers of the Technique can show us healthier ways of moving and help free us from the constraints of habit. After a student has had enough lessons to gain a permanent benefit from them, they can easily apply the principles to all aspects of their life.

The Alexander Technique is a holistic practice, and its benefits are much more far ranging than basic movement. It can be applied to complex activities such as dancing, sports, musicianship, and many others. As we learn to inhibit bad habits and choose to act consciously and healthily, these skills are also transferred to our abilities to reason, plan, and make decisions.

F.M. Alexander

A brief history: F.M. Alexander lived from 1869 to 1955. He was born on a remote farm in Tasmania, and as he grew up developed a love of horses, theatre, and Shakespere. At sixteen he moved to the nearby mining town of Mount Bischoff, and three years later to Melbourne, Australia, to continue his dramatic training. By his early twenties he devoted himself entirely to drama and recitation, working as an elocutionist. He quickly gained an excellent reputation for performances that were popular at the time: long recitations and monologues, in which he focused heavily on Shakespere.

In the late 1890's F.M. began to lose his voice, which was problematic for his career as a professional speaker. He visited a variety of doctors and specialists, all of whom concluded he was in excellent health and needed only to rest his voice. After repeated efforts to protect his voice prior to performance (and always suffering a relapse of hoarseness) he decided to set about solving the problem himself.

Presuming that if he was in good health his problems must be caused by something he was doing, F.M. set up mirrors and observed himself as he was speaking. He determined that he had a habit of tensing his neck and pulling down his head as he performed, and this put pressure on his larynx which resulted in his hoarseness. Over the course of ten years, he developed the beginnings of his technique, which allowed him to inhibit his habits of tension and speak freely and clearly.

Realizing that his discovery had much farther reaching implications that simply helping him speak, he moved to Sydney and then later to London to teach his technique. He continued teaching (and started the first Alexander Technique training course) until his death in 1955.

Medical Benefits

The Alexander Technique addresses a persons entire use and functioning, rather than specific symptons. As teachers, we do not claim to cure any particular ailment. However, many people who come to the Technique because of pain or problems, find that as their overall health improves, these problems go away by themselves. The Technique helps us with problems relating to weakness of the back and core muscles, excess tension stored in the body, and movements that damage joints or interfere with the optimal function of the body. As such, many people getting lessons find relief from lower back pain, joint pain, long-term recovery from accidents, tension headaches, and many others.

Left: poor use, bad posture
Right: good use, good poise

Medical/Scientific Studies

A British Medical Journal study, researching the Alexander Technique and back pain, as compared to massage therapy, exercise, and movement counseling from a doctor.

A study indicating increased comfort, ease, and volume in breathing following a course of Alexander Technique lessons.

The STAT page for Recent Research about the technique, and the Overall Research page.

Who can benefit

Nearly everyone will benefit from lessons in the Alexander Technique, though there are certain populations that will experience a greater benefit than others. Here is a short list of some of the people who find the most benefit:

· Actors, dancers, musicians, and other performers
· Those who experience back, hip, or knee pain
· People who suffer from repetitive motion strain or injury
· People recovering from automobile accidents or other physical trauma
· Anyone who spends much of their day in a chair or at a computer
· People with asthma or other chronic breathing troubles
· People who suffer from depression or anxiety
· Those who speak publically and would like a greater sense of ease