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General Benefits

All things considered, it makes sense that the way we walk, stand, sit, bend and move all affect how we feel, and how our body functions - well or poorly.

The Alexander Technique reorganises the actions of your musculature, balancing and stimulating the reflex support of your posture and movement, and freeing your muscles for action.

The technique achieves this by establishing a good foundation for movement, what Alexander called the "Primary Control". Once this is functioning well, specific changes and choices can be made about how you carry out any action.

You will find your activities become smoother, lighter and easier, as you become more "integrated". Rather than one part pulling on another, everything begins to work harmoniously together, resulting in a significant reduction in effort.

Rather than being the slave of habit, you become the master of your own body in action.

General • The Experience • Skilled Activities • Dance • Top of Page

The Experience

It is well documented that the benefits of the Alexander work need to be experienced in order to be understood. Like attempting to describe a colour to someone blind from birth (a comment originally attributed to Aldous Huxley).

Alexander said: "The experience is the meat upon which it feeds". The more you have it, the more you want.

The technique gives a particular feeling (kinaesthetic or proprioceptive) often descibed as "lightness" or "ease". It can be difficult to describe to someone who has not had that experience.

The best way to understand the benefits is to feel them yourself. It is recommended that you attend an introductory session with a local teacher, or attend a workshop run by qualified teachers.

General • The Experience • Skilled Activities • Dance • Top of Page

Skilled Activities

While all skilled activities improve with lessons in the technique, the benefits to performing artists of all kinds; dancers, actors and musicians are particularly well known.

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