How does the Alexander Technique work?
With the help of a teacher, you’ll learn to move with less effort while doing everyday activities. This process teaches you to observe and release unnecessary and unwanted tension, physically and mentally. You learn how to retrain unconscious habits that hinder or harm you, allowing you to choose in the moment how much effort you actually need to use.
What are the benefits of lessons?
It’s simple — by reducing unnecessary effort you reduce physical and mental stress, tension, and pain. This results in greater relaxation and coordination, more energy, a sense of well being and lightness, and improved posture, eyesight, digestion, breathing.
Can you help me with my back, neck, or other chronic pain?
Yes! Most chronic pain comes from daily misuse of the body. These physical habits can result from an injury or repeated, long-term stress on the affected area (such as low back pain caused by sitting in a chair all day.) Using the Alexander Technique, I can help you recognize any misuse in your daily life that causes pain and teach you to stop it permanently.
What’s a lesson like?
The Alexander Technique is not exercises or treatments (like yoga, chiropractic, or massage). Using gentle, hands-on and verbal guidance, I’ll guide you through the basic building blocks of movement: standing, sitting, lying down, and walking. Working on these simple, familiar movements allows you to notice and change undesirable habits more easily in everyday life, whatever the activity.
Who can benefit from lessons?
Everybody and anybody. I’ve worked with office workers, yoga teachers, migraine sufferers, public speakers, dancers, people recovering from injuries, and more.
Traditionally, the Alexander Technique has been taught to actors, musicians, singers, and dancers, and is a key part of training at Juilliard, NYU, the University of Washington, and other top performing art schools, including elite schools in England, such as LAMDA and RADA.
How is the Alexander Technique different from massage, yoga, pilates, chiropractic, etc.?
The Alexander Technique is an active, learning process, rather than passive treatment, like massage and chiropractic adjustments. Unlike pilates, yoga, and general physical therapy, you aren’t learning a series of exercises during AT lessons. Further, while pilates and yoga focus on building muscle, AT teaches you to use minimal muscular effort, letting your skeleton do the work for you, as the body was designed.
How many lessons will I need?
Each person is different, as are their goals or symptoms. Typically, you’ll need a minimum of 6 lessons to start feeling the change in your everyday life. Some people become fascinated by the process and what they’re learning about themselves, and continue studying for years.
Do you take medical insurance?
Unfortunately, Alexander Technique teachers are not able to take insurance at this time.
Where can I find out more?
The best way to learn about the work I do, including exclusive tips, workshops, and discounts, is to sign up for my newsletter. We only email 2-3 times per month and will never share your personal information.
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To read more about the Alexander Technique, I recommend you visit the official national and international websites for the technique. Or come visit me at my office in Seattle by booking a lesson!
