Alexander Technique is a re-educational, holistic approach to help you increase the sensitivity of kinaesthetic awareness towards the way you conduct yourself, and eliminate unwanted habitual responses to stimuli that cause discomfort or affect the smoothness of any performance, aiming to restore the natural and optimal function that we all have in us.

F. M. Alexander developed the Alexander Technique by discovering and experimenting with the way he used himself. He was a specialist in performing recitations on works by Shakespeare back in the 1890s. He gradually lost his voice and became hoarse when reciting on stage but not in ordinary speaking or conversation. He went on to seek medical help and the doctor instructed him to rest his vocal cords, so he did. His voice did come back but once he went on the stage reciting, he soon became hoarse again. Alexander thought perhaps it was what he did while reciting that was causing the issue, so he set up mirrors in front of him and started observing himself while he recited.

He found out that he had patterns of using himself that were different from his normal speaking, such as pulling his head backward and downwards, gasping for air before starting a sentence, or griping his toes while performing. To change any behavioural pattern, we need first to notice what we are doing so we have a chance to eliminate unwanted patterns.

Alexander also realised that there is a space and time between facing a stimulus and responding to it. He called stopping the usual way of responding to a stimulus “inhibition“. With inhibition, we train our nervous system to create new pathways to break away from the old ways of using ourselves. Then by implementing new ways of responding to stimuli and repeating, the new behavioural pattern can be established.

Overall, the Alexander Technique is a tool, with the support of certified teachers (1600 hours of training), that helps deal with issues caused by disadvantaged ways of reacting to stimuli that affect your optimal functioning or lead to chronic illness.

If you have any questions, please contact me or book a free consultation. Please note that we always advise people to check their illness with medical professionals first. Alexander Technique teachers work on people’s general functioning instead of giving a diagnosis.

To know more about the Alexander Technique, please refer to useful resources.

How does it work in a session?

The teachers will provide a safe learning/unlearning space and use their hands inviting pupils to notice the habitual patterns in moving and thinking on a conscious level.

Each lesson usually consists of two parts which are quietening down by lying on a table or yoga mat and then dynamic movements, introducing low stimulus from sitting and standing to a high level of stimulus such as playing an instrument, giving a speech, or working in front of the computer doing stressful work.

The teacher’s non-doing hands influence the quality of the psychophysical state, the level of mind-body integrity, and the quality of response to stimuli.