Posted on December 7, 2007 in Massage Techniques
The Alexander Technique is sort of a re-education in movement for both the client and the massage therapist. It teaches the client to do away with their body of damaging strain by relearning natural ways to sit, stand and move in order to decrease physical stress on the body. While it also teaches the massage therapist to make use of their body during therapy so that giving massage is less painful on them.
We all have unconscious habits that expose our bodies to unnecessary pain and tension when we perform regular movements without thinking about it. For example, we often use more strength then we need to when lifting or pushing objects which put us at risk for back, shoulder and neck strain.
The Alexander Technique is claimed to be an intelligent way of solving body problems, some directly associated with posture, others less so. We tend to blame body problems on the activities we do (such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and RSI on computer work) but quite often it is how we do the task that causes the problems, not the activity itself.
Alexander Technique can help us become aware of balance, posture and co-ordination whilst performing everyday jobs.
The basic idea of the technique is that when the neck muscles do not overwork, the head balances lightly on top of the spine. The relationship between the head and spine is of utmost importance and how we manage that relationship is significant for the rest of the body. Our neuromuscular system is designed to work in correspondence with gravity (rather than against it).
The Alexander Technique involves examining posture, breathing, balance and co-ordinationMany people who practice the Technique can experience a general feeling of lightness throughout their bodies and describe the feeling as ‘walking on air’.
The Alexander Technique has broad applications and is required to be studied in schools of acting, music, dance, etc. It’s remedially used for gaining full healing of balance and ease.
Benefits of the Technique
Alexander massage therapy heals the following diseases
Teaching of the Technique
An Alexander Technique teacher uses to a blend of verbal explanations and gentle touch to enable students to experience themselves free, connected, and supported. The teacher’s hands-on contact shared with verbal instruction helps students continue inhibiting their usual response to a stimulus. This allows students to willfully direct themselves in new ways.
The Technique can be taught privately, in groups, or in workshop formats. Private and group lessons vary in length. Workshops can be any combination of private or group lessons.
