The Alexander Technique can relieve stress on your body, teach you to become aware of the body's signals and signs of distress so you can relieve that tension before it escalates to pain. It can help you to breathe properly enabling you to calm the nervous system and prevent fatigue allowing for more energy. Improve range of motion in joints and restore balance.
Frederick Matthias Alexander-The Alexander Technique Teacher's Source
Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) was a Shakespearean actor who suffered from voice problems. Chronic hoarseness interrupted his career where he frequently lost his voice during performances. The doctors found nothing wrong with his voice but he reasoned then that the cause might be related to how he was using his voice. After using experimentation and self observation he found what he was doing to cause the problem and figured how to speak without the habitual patterns of tension. He regained a full rich voice and returned to the stage.
Alexander continued to develop the technique where he explored the relationship between habit, thought and perception to human movement. He taught his discoveries to other actors then doctors would refer him to other patients with breathing and coordination problems. As interest grew he began to teach others a training program that he developed. Now there are thousands of certified teachers across the world who are trained in programs closely based on his.
Alexander Technique Teaches Exercise to Improve Posture & Relieve Chronic Neck & Back Pain
In an Alexander Technique lesson a student learns how to approach movement differently. They will instruct you how to recognize patterns of movement that are habitual for the student. These patterns obstruct the student from moving with ease and flexibility. After the student recognizes them he will learn to discontinue them.
People of all ages can use the Alexander Technique: people like performing artists, singers, dancers, actors and musicians are taught by breathing properly they can reduce stress and perform better, people with chronic back pain, posture correction issues, shoulder pain or older folks who have balance issues, athletes or teenagers who have noticeable posture issues, office personnel that use a computer all day who develop arm and wrist pain.
Each Alexander lesson can be used immediately and within 6- 10 lessons the student will start to notice a difference in her daily life. Alexander lessons will result gradually but are long lasting. Some well known students of the Alexander Technique are actors Hillary Swank, John Cleese, Lynn Redgrave and Julie Andrews, as well as musicians like James Galway, Madonna, Sting and Yehudi Menuhin.
The Alexander Technique can be Applied to Musician Performances & Repetitive Strain Injury
F. M. Alexander's Technique can help in Childbirth and pregnancy issues by teaching a mother-to-be how to carry themselves to help reduce or even eliminate back pain that is always an issue to pregnant women. People that exercise can benefit from the technique’s principals applying to tennis, golf, skiing or running. Any activity’s performance can be improved with the chances of injury lessened. The Alexander Technique is being used improve students' sexuality by reducing stressful tension.
An increasing number of physicians and health professional are recommending the Alexander Technique to their patients. The advantages are becoming increasingly numbered. When other traditional rehabilitative therapies show no improvement to patients the Alexander Technique has been a positive factor. Classes are now being offered in Wellness Centers and health education programs worldwide.
TLE 101
Jim Galloway - Professional Musician/Published Songwriter for 30 yrs. With over 200 Articles in Recording/Music Buisness/ Resources/Vintage Instruments
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