The Alexander Technique: Freeing Ourselves From Harmful Habits Of Body And Mindby Cecile Raynor
AmSAT Certified Teacher and Founder of Alexander Technique Associates
In our effort to deal with everyday life and its challenges, we get caught up in our daily activities and we unconsciously interfere with our natural balance, thus developing harmful habitual habits of body and mind which over time lead to fatigue, discomfort or pain.
The Alexander Technique is a mind/body learning process based on the fact that the balance of the head, neck, and back has a fundamental influence upon the functioning of the whole person. The quality of this balance affects not only our body but also how we think, how we feel, how we digest, how we communicate and how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. The Alexander Technique teaches us to become aware of when and how we interfere with that innate postural balance. Thus, we can let go of the unnecessary habitual tension we create and eventually prevent it.
During a session, teachers guide their students verbally as well as physically using a delicate touch. Students spend some time lying down on a table; but they are also guided through simple activities such as getting in and out of a chair, bending, sitting, walking, squatting, reaching for things or getting up from a lying down position. Tailoring the session to the need of each individual, teachers also work with particular relevant activities like working on a computer or playing a musical instrument.
As we try to control our skeleton with our muscles alone, we generate excess tension which interferes with the best functioning of our postural reflexes. Learning to "think our movement" in order to activate our postural reflexes changes the way we move because the excess tension fades away. Moving becomes effortless, light and fluid! Over time, we are empowered to become our own Alexander Technique teacher!
While students of the Technique are integrating this work through weekly lessons, they come to understand where their problem came from. Most often, they are relieved to realize their body is not necessarily defective, weak or worn out. Rather, the body had been manifesting a problem in the way it was handled!
Even with a chronic condition or a medical problem, students can benefit from this work. Chronic neck or back pain often comes from moving the head, arms and torso in a way that demands the wrong set of muscles to perform a certain movement. The teacher gives the student the experience of moving with ease using the proper joints and appropriate muscles. This way, the skeletal structure can expand in its natural space and the neck and back can be free of tension. Space is created in the joints, thus reducing friction which arthritis sufferers especially appreciate greatly. In all cases, the students comfort level naturally increases.
People who can benefit include:
Additional benefits of this work includes:
The Alexander Technique was developed in Australia by F. M. Alexander (1869 - 1955), an actor with a voice problem that doctors and voice teachers were unable to cure. It took him years of extensive self-study and research to solve his problem, but he did, improving his general health at the same time. Misuse of the balance between his head, neck and back was in fact affecting the functioning of his voice and his breathing. He also found this misuse to be a common condition of modern times. Thus he stumbled unexpectedly onto an aspect of human behavior and physiology significant for the development and well-being of humans as bipeds.
This Technique is taught in countries all around the world by teachers who have successfully completed a 3 year full time training program. It is in the curriculum of the Julliard School of Music in New York, and in Boston at The American Repertory Theater, Lesley University, M.I.T. and Boston University. Moreover, scientific research on the Alexander Technique was conducted by Professor Frank Pierce Jones at Tufts University. Prominent physicians at Children's Hospital, Mass General and other Boston area hospitals refer patients to Alexander Technique teachers while it has also been recommended over the years by other health practitioners and performing arts teachers.
Cecile Raynor is a certified practitioner with a 3 year professional training in Paris, France. She has been practicing for about 20 years with students ranging in age from 7 to 77. Many with medical or chronic conditions find her work extremely helpful in reducing or eliminating discomfort or pain. Cécile complements her practice by drawing on her experience with exercise, nutrition, meditation and homeopathy. She has taught the Alexander Technique at Lesley University in 2007. She currently teaches in Brookline. For more information about Cecile or the Alexander Technique, please check alexandertec.com or call 617 359 7841.