The Alexander Technique

Rebecca Nettl-Fiol and Luc Vanier utilize their ten years of research on developmental movement and dance training to explore the relationship between a specific movement technique and the basic principles of support and coordination.

The Alexander Technique is a simple method of improving posture and body movement in order to reduce the physical and mental tensions that we all accumulate throughout our lives. Developed at the turn of the nineteenth century by F.M. Alexander, this practical system has been used by millions of people to help relieve common ailments such as backache, headache, arthritis, depression, insomnia and stress, and to enhance general health and well-being.

To live is to face problems and to find solutions for them. We do so consciously or unconsciously, using intuition, reason, imagination and many other faculties. We notice a situation, we draw conclusions from what we see, hear and feel, and we act on our conclusions in a constant process of observation, analysis and remedy. 'My shoulders are tight, because I am under a lot of stress, I need a good massage.' We observe a problem (tight shoulders), analyse the cause (stress) and seek a remedy for it (the massage). But what if we have misunderstood the problem? What if our description of the problem is based on false perceptions, or our analysis on false assumptions? What if the solution aggravates the problem? This book is about our suppositions, habits and behaviours. It is about posture and attitude, tension and relaxation, movement and rest. It is about interpersonal relationships, sports and performing arts. Above all, it is about embodied emotions and the body that thinks and feels. In this fully revised new edition, Pedro de Alcantara invites you to redefine the meaning of health and wellbeing, using the insights and tools developed by a man of genius: F.M Alexander.

The Alexander Technique is a proven process of mind and body reeducation that reduces stress and muscle tension, and revitalization those who practice it. Used by many actors, athletes, and dancers, the technique can help anyone increase his or her energy and achieve a more dynamic presence. Written by a veteran instructor of the Alexander Technique, this authentic and easy-to-follow guide allows everyone to learn the increasingly popular program, with clear instructions for each exercise, and dozens of helpful photographs that show correct and incorrect positions to use for the exercises and throughout the day.

Working from home has taken a strain on all of us in many ways; our social life, our mental health and also our postures. Our bodies have had to adapt to 'the new normal'; makeshift desks at kitchen tables and skipping the commute means many of us don't meet GOV.uk's recommended 10,000 steps per day. More than ever, there is an increased demand for easy exercises that can be completed at home. The Alexander Technique is a simple method, developed at the turn of the century, to improve body movement in order to reduce physical and mental tension. The practical value of learning to use muscles efficiently has helped millions of people to relieve common ailments, grow their confidence and improve their general well-being. This reissue brings this 100-year-old discipline completely up-to-date. The Alexander Technique Workbook is a step-by-step guide that has sold over 100,000 copies. An accessible guide; this book instructs then explains the theory behind a series of simple but effective exercises that will produce real results.

"An educational method used to improve performance, the Alexander Technique teaches people to replace unnecessary muscular and mental effort with consciously coordinated responses, maximizing effectiveness while also relieving, if necessary, any chronic stiffness or stress ... [The book] addresses common concerns, such as concentration, relaxation, discipline-specific techniques, warm-ups, performer/audience relationships, stage fright and critical responses ... in the application of the techniques."--Provided by publisher.

The Alexander Technique was developed by an Australian actor, F. Matthias Alexander, to improve the way the body is used by treating mind and body as a whole. Long popular with actors and dancers because of the stamina, flexibility and relaxation it offers, physiotherapists and doctors are now recommending it to help stress-related movement and posture disorders. Providing a complete programme of procedures to follow for daily activities and sports, this groundbreaking book brings the Alexander Technique within reach of us all. Perfectly safe to use a part of your daily life, this book will help you in all you do. You will learn: how to walk, stand, sit, lift, bend and reach; how to move your body when driving, cycling, doing housework or gardening; how to get the most out of any sport, from golf and tennis to swimming and skiing; and how to devise your own self-help programme to suit your particular life-style. The Alexander Technique is not just another exercise regime but a way of life, a subtle method of changing habits and attitudes to achieve greater body awareness, improved functioning and better co-ordination. You will feel healthier and happier than perhaps ever before.

Presents a variety of exercises and training methods based on the Alexander technique to improve performance and lessen injuries while running.