‘If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor man’s cottages princes palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions: I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of twenty to follow mine own teaching.’
The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare

The Alexander Technique is an effective, simple and practical method for self-improvement and self-help. By encouraging constructive conscious thoughts about our daily life and bodily movements, we will be able to be more aware of our wrong-doing which inevitably leads to postural related problems and ill health.

FM ALEXANDER – THE MAN:
In the early 1890s, an Australian actor, Frederick Mathias Alexander was giving one-man shows in Australia. Reading from Shakespeare was his speciality. He began to have trouble with his throat and vocal chords, and rest and meditation which his doctor prescribed were effective only until he went back to perform --- when the hoarseness returned.

He reasoned that it must be something he did while reciting that caused the trouble and decided to find out for himself. Standing in front of a set of mirrors he watched himself both in ordinary speaking and reciting postures. He noticed that he was lifting his chest, hollowing his back and changing the axis of his head by lifting his chin and rotating the head `backward and down’. By doing so, he was inevitably depressing his larynx and audibly sucking in breath. FM Alexander went on developing his techniques by observations in front of mirrors for many years.

ABOUT ALEXANDER DISCOVERY:
Alexander believed that if you stop doing the wrong, the right posture will take care of itself and he often used the expression: `Give Nature Her Opportunity.’ I often observe peoples’ faces smiling in my private sessions or group work, when I mention that it is the only technique I know that teaches us what not to do!

Alexander’s fundamental discovery was that there exists in Man, as in all other vertebrates, a primary control conditioning the proper use of the total organism. When the head is in a certain relation to the trunk, then the entire `psych-physical’ organism is functioning to the best of its natural capacity. When, for any reason whatsoever, the proper relationship between head, neck and trunk is disturbed, the ‘psych-physical’ organism is used improperly.

ABOUT RELAXATION AND MUSCULAR TENSION

• Relaxation can be compared to a particularly effective shield against aggression resulting from an exhausting way of life.

• Relaxation makes it possible, through the control of mind and body, to avoid inner tension, that famous stress that wears out the nerves.

• Relaxation is a way of achieving countless physical and psychological benefits.

• Most of the time we use far too much muscular tension over simple movements like standing, sitting, bending and walking.

If you learn not to over-tense your body when you are doing everyday movements, you have a lot more energy left for the rest of the day, so you are more likely to use it in a productive way. You might think you are relaxed right now as you read this article but it is worth noticing exactly what your body is doing. Are you hunching your shoulders or perhaps using too much force in holding this magazine, and how about your legs? Do you need to tense them when reading and so on?…

Biochemical research suggests that with every movement we make, we tend to use 30 to 40 per cent more energy than is necessary. The Alexander Technique is a means whereby we may change these bad habits.

HOW IS IT TAUGHT?
You learn the Alexander Technique through ‘one to one’ lessons with a qualified teacher. This setting provides the best opportunity for individual needs to be addressed.

The number of lessons taken will depend on your particular needs and goals. Learning the Alexander Technique involves changing long-standing habits, so improvement relies in part on your active participation. A course of 20 to 30 regular lessons can provide a good foundation for on-going self discovery for most people.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LESSONS?
Your teacher will use explanation and a guiding touch to help you rediscover balance and ease within yourself. You start by working with simple movements and positions – such as sitting, walking or bending – which are basic to all activity. Through experience and observation, you learn how your co-ordination works, how you create tension and how you can release it.

This awareness enables you to change long-standing habits and function more effectively. In time and with practice you will be able to use your new understanding and skill in more complex and demanding activities and situations in daily life.

You can bring awareness and poise to anything you do.

WHO CAN BENEFIT?
Athletes and Performers
Anyone can use the Alexander Technique to perform better. Performers can improve stamina, increase clarity of perception, free up spontaneity and manage stage fright.

Sports people can improve flexibility, timing and efficiency, to be on form more consistently.

With the Alexander Technique, you learn to understand the basis of co-ordination and how to put it into practice.
Performing artists and athletes of all standards apply the technique to their practice.

Health and Well-Being
Learning the Alexander Technique can help prevent or alleviate conditions associated with acute tension or poor posture. These include many difficulties with co-ordination and movements, joint and muscle problems, breathing disorders and stress related conditions.

It can enhance rehabilitation after operations, illness, pregnancy and preparation for childbirth. It can improve management of stress and pain and provide ‘coping’ skills for chronic illness and disability.

Self Development
The Alexander Technique offers a method for life-long learning. You can use it to develop self awareness and self reliance. The Technique can add a new dimension of creativity to your life and lead to on-going self discovery.

Michal Segal is a teacher of the Alexander Technique (cert. STAT, trained in London). Based in Partick, Glasgow Tel: 0141 334 7570 she also practises at Farringtons in Bridge of Weir as well as the Jan de Vries’ Glasgow & Edinburgh Clinics. She also teaches courses for both Strathclyde and Caledonian Universities.

Web address: www.michalsegal.tk