FAQ
1. What is the Alexander Technique?
2. Where did the Alexander Technique come from?
3. What kind of training does an AmSAT-certified Alexander Technique teacher have?
4. What is AmSAT?
5. What brings people to the Technique?
6. What are some benefits of lessons in the Alexander Technique?
7. Can I learn the Alexander Technique from a book or on my own?
8. How is the Alexander Technique taught?
9. Is the Alexander Technique a manipulative technique or therapy like massage?
10. Where can I find more information about the Alexander Technique?
What is the Alexander Technique? After many years of slouching, hunching over desks, and over-tensing our muscles, we all have habits of misuse of our bodies that feel “normal” to us. These habits, however, cause us to do work and move inefficiently, often leading to or exacerbating problems with tension and pain, and making our daily or extraordinary activities more difficult than necessary. A habit of misuse of the body is like any other habit – it is difficult to change if you don’t know how. The Alexander Technique is an educational method for identifying and eliminating habits of misuse and therefore regaining a greater ease of movement, and greater comfort during activities. back to top
Where did the Alexander Technique come from? Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869 – 1955) was an actor whose career was threatened when he began consistently to lose his voice during performances. After ten years of observing his own movements and habits, he discovered that when he began to speak, he interfered with the natural relationship between his head, neck, and back. He learned how to prevent this habitual pattern of misuse from occurring and how to develop a better condition of coordination. With these changes in his coordination he was able to continue his performing career. His discoveries became the foundation of the Alexander Technique when he began to teach what he had learned to other people. Alexander chose after a few years to change his career focus solely to teaching his technique to others. back to top
What kind of training does an AmSAT-certified Alexander Technique teacher have? One must complete a 1600-hour program over a minimum of three years at an AmSAT-approved teacher-training course to become a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique through AmSAT (American Society for the Alexander Technique). During this time, the future Alexander teacher learns to use him or her self in the best way possible, to visually observe tension patterns in others, and to develop a gentle, unique use of the hands in order to feel habitual tension patterns in a student and thus to guide the student to new movement possibilities. back to top
What is AmSAT? AmSAT is the largest board-certified organization of professional Alexander Technique teachers in the United States. AmSAT’s mission is to establish the Alexander Technique as a basic and recognized resource for health, productivity, and well-being. AmSAT maintains the nation’s highest standards for teacher training, certification, and membership and maintains affiliation with similar credentialing bodies worldwide. Since its formation in 1987, over 1000 teachers have completed the rigorous training process to earn AmSAT certification. In addition to providing educational support services for its members, AmSAT is a resource for information about the Alexander Technique and provides assistance to the public in locating qualified teachers. back to top
What brings people to the Technique? Those people that suffer from chronic pain and stress or other physical challenges that have not been satisfactorily addressed through traditional methods alone frequently benefit from the Technique. This group of people includes computer users, those who stand all day at work, pregnant women, back and neck pain sufferers, people with headaches or migraines, and people with arthritis. Performers and presenters of all kinds often come to the Technique to help eliminate the habits of misuse that are preventing them from achieving their full potential in their particular field. This group of people includes musicians, conductors, dancers, actors, business men and women, athletes, speakers, and others. Lastly, those interested in increasing self-awareness and self-understanding find the Alexander Technique a fascinating and unique way to do so. back to top
What are some benefits of lessons in the Alexander Technique? • Reduced or eliminated pain if the pain is at all caused by or exacerbated by habits of misuse (eg. Migraines, back pain, neck pain, joint pain, RSI pain, overuse pain) • More comfort at work • Reduced tension and increased endurance • Improved performance in music, dance, acting, and athletics as tension is reduced and confidence is increased • Improved poise, posture, balance, coordination, and range of motion • Greater ease of movement and more comfort while sitting or standing • Freer breathing • Better stress management • Improved presentation skills • Increased self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-confidence • Injury prevention • Improved recovery from injury back to top
Can I learn the Alexander Technique from a book or on my own? We are so used to our habits of misuse that they are unconscious, and furthermore, they feel “right” and “normal” to us. You can get an illustration of this by doing the following little exercise. Cross your arms across your torso. Notice which arm is on top and then cross your arms again putting the other arm on top. For most people, this will feel totally wrong. Some people are unable even to do it at first. Most people would never cross their arms this way without someone asking them to, because we don’t usually do what is not habitual. Becoming aware of our habits of misuse and then changing them for the better requires the trained hands and eyes of a certified Alexander teacher. back to top
How is the Alexander Technique taught? Though group classes are useful for the purpose of introducing the Technique, this hands-on method is ideally taught in a series of one-on-one lessons with a certified instructor (an instructor who has completed a required three-year, 1600-hour training program that has been approved by the American Society for the Alexander Technique). During the lesson, the Alexander student is guided through various simple movements, learns to observe his or her habits and to change unwanted ones. There is also a part of the lesson during which the student lies on a table. During this part of the lesson the teacher helps the student to release muscular tensions. back to top
Is the Alexander Technique a manipulative technique or therapy like massage? No. Through words and gentle, hands-on guidance, the Alexander Technique teacher leads the student through an educative process of re-establishing the poise and ease of movement that was once present. back to top
Where can I find more information about the Alexander Technique? Please visit the Resources & Links page of this site, call me at 713-817-9100, or email me at [email protected] with your question. back to top