Begin Discovering Your Dynamically Integrated Body Right Now

 

 

Book Download

 

The Secret to Using Your Body E-book download presents a unique mind/body exercise that will change your perception of movement and posture. A journey through the exercise will guide you toward a comfort within your body you may not have felt since childhood.

Download the complete PDF.
122 pages with over 50 illustrations.
$19.95

Or click to bundle products & save $5.90.

Now also available in Paperback!
Click Here for the paperback version ($29.95).

Discover Your Intrinsic:

  • Posture
  • Agility
  • Strength
  • Stability
  • Ease of Movement
  • Comfort within Your Body

The Secret to Using Your Body Excerpt
Scroll through to look inside.

 

 

Reviews (Scroll to the bottom to read buyer reviews.)

“A significant addition to the body of self-guided explorations of the Alexander Technique.”
– AmSAT News,
official newsletter of the American Society for the Alexander Technique

The Secret to Using Your Body by Leland Vall is a remarkably clear and practical guide to some of the basic procedures of the Alexander Technique. If you are a student of the Technique then this book will serve as a valuable complement to your lessons. If you have yet to experience a lesson then the procedures described in these pages will point you in the right direction.”
Michael J. Gelb, author of Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique and How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci

“Clearly explained and meticulously illustrated with detailed images, The Secret to Using Your Body relates the wonders of the Alexander Technique with precisely defined vocabulary, concepts and examples. Leland Vall has written an enjoyable and enlightening book that will be beneficial for both the experienced user and the beginning student.”
Stephen Berenson, Chair of the MFA Programs, Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium

“Leland Vall has succeeded in unlocking the how and why of the Alexander Technique. From athletes to busy moms, violinists to construction workers, anyone can use this book to learn how to move with less joint stress.”
Michael Youssouf, MA, MES Recipient of the 2000 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year

Frequently Asked Questions

I hate ebooks, when will the regular book come out?
Can I print it on my printer?
What if I have trouble downloading the PDF?
How does the book teach the Alexander Technique?
What are the benefits?
How long will it take to benefit?
Can I ask for help?
Don’t you need a teacher to learn the Alexander Technique?
Isn’t posture about strong abs and core strength and just standing up straight?
Who should read The Secret to Using Your Body?
How can I find out about new books or additions to your website?

I hate ebooks, when will the regular book come out?

Finally the regular book is out! You can buy it here – The Secret to Using Your Body (paperback version)

Can I print it on my printer?

Yes, you can print it. Remember, you usually only need two pages at a time.

What if I have trouble downloading?

Contact me and I will help you or send you a copy by email.

What are the benefits?

The Secret to Using Your Body will help you put into practice the idea that movement and posture are not a series of different positions or activities (sitting, standing, walking, bending, playing sports), but actually a continuum of one thing that remains remarkably similar no matter what you are doing. This knowledge will help you stand taller, improve the way you move, feel more space within your body and less excess tension, and allow you greater access to your intrinsic strength, agility and stability.

How does the book teach the Alexander Technique?

The Secret to Using Your Body presents a unique experiential exercise for learning the basic concepts of the Alexander Technique. The exercise is cumulative and designed to be learned over a period of weeks or months. Even though the exercise gets longer as you learn it, the time needed for each practice session can remain the same. Once you learn the exercise and understand how it (the exercise) works, you may decide that simply thinking about it is enough or you can choose to continue practicing it however you choose for reinforcement or greater insight.

How long will it take to benefit?

You can benefit on the first day. From the beginning to the end, the exercise asks you to take a few minutes to think about your body in a new way. Many people find that even just taking that time is beneficial. But every day you approach the exercise will also give you an opportunity to change how you experience your body. Everyone is different, but if you take your time and use the exercise as a chance to experience something new, and follow the instructions, your opportunity for gaining lasting benefits will grow with each practice session.

Can I ask for help?

Yes, you can contact me if you have any questions and I would also look forward to hearing about your experience.

Don’t you need a teacher to learn the Alexander Technique?

Private lessons are the traditional route for learning the Alexander Technique, but still many students wish they had something more tangible like a book with an exercise. Even with a teacher, learning the Alexander Technique is ultimately about what the student does on their own. The Secret to Using Your Body doesn’t replace Alexander lessons, it is simply another option that you can use with or without lessons or classes.

Isn’t posture about strong abs and core strength and just standing up straight?

I am a big of fan fitness exercising and lifting weights, but everyone knows people with good posture who never exercise and others who exercise but still have poor posture. There are also more pleasurable and more effective ways to improving posture and movement than pulling your shoulders back and your tummy in as many fitness trainers recommend. These methods make you more stiff, impede breathing, increase internal tension, and feel uncomfortable. The Secret to Using Your Body can actually help you get more out of your fitness exercises.

Who should read The Secret to Using Your Body?

Ultimately, the Alexander Technique, and this book, is a tool for self-discovery and breaking habits. Habits of posture and movement are part of the fabric of your life, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be changed. Indeed, habits are one of the few things in our lives that we can change. But it will take some patience, willingness and desire. Maybe the relief of your posture-related pain, the desire to improve your golf game, or even your appearance, will encourage you to keep at it.

How can I find out about new books or additions to your website?

I send out free tips and information about articles and events every week. Sign up for my Weekly Alexander Technique Tips.