About the Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is a 100-year-old method for helping you learn how to use your body properly. I use gentle hands-on guidance and verbal instruction to help you prevent movement patterns that wear you down by the end of the day or cause pain. There are no exercises, machines or special clothing. Instead, you apply the principles to your normal activities. It takes from 5-30 lessons to learn the Alexander Technique and all lessons are either private or shared and are taken once or twice per week.

The theory behind the Alexander Technique is that habits of excess tension cause people to unnecessarily shorten and narrow their bodies. These habits degrade posture, inhibit free movement, and can cause pain. Excess tension also reduces the internal capacity for internal organs, and makes breathing more difficult. Through Alexander Technique lessons, you can learn how to reduce habits of excess tension as you gain a renewed feeling of ease and lightness to improve the way you look and feel every day of your life.

F.M. Alexander (1869-1954) was a successful Shakespearian actor from Australia. Early in his career he developed chronic laryngitis and actually lost his voice during a performance. His doctor prescribed rest, which restored his voice. But when he resumed performing, the laryngitis returned. Since there was nothing physically wrong with his throat, Alexander determined that his problem derived from something he was doing when speaking loudly. His doctor agreed but could not tell him what it could be.

To solve the problem, Alexander set up three tailor’s mirrors and observed himself as he spoke. After lengthy observation, he discovered that every time he spoke, he subtly tightened his neck and pulled his head back and down, toward his back. When he spoke loudly, as if on stage, the tension and movement were more pronounced. Alexander concluded the tightening and shortening in his neck was interfering with his voice. But the habit was so ingrained that he could not feel the tightening and, at first, he could not stop himself from doing it. Over time he learned how to sense and prevent this habitual tension, and as he did, his vocal problems disappeared.

At the same time he was solving his own problem, Alexander became aware that many people suffered from similar unconscious habits of tension. He surmised that much chronic pain, poor posture and also breathing difficulties are caused by such habits. He began teaching his method of preventing excess tension and moved from Australia to England in 1904. Over the years he had many famous students including the writers Aldous Huxley, George Bernard Shaw and John Dewey. Dewey also wrote the introductions to Alexander’s four books. Alexander taught people and trained teachers in his technique until the last days of his life.