Alexander Technique

(re)discover your innate ease of movement.

Observe these two children, both exploring a jack-o-lantern. What do you notice about the first child? Do you see how efficiently her whole body moves as she reaches for the object she’s curious about? What about the next baby? He’s also incredibly poised! ..Yes, those are both my children. But I did not give them any special coaching. They move like this all on their own. In fact, I love to learn from THEM by watching how easy and free their movements are.

You see, great performers, world-class athletes, and young children move with beautiful grace, balance, and purpose. But, over a lifetime, many of us add interference, departing from our innate ability to move well. This can result in compensations, stiffness, and even physical or emotional pain.

Integrative Alexander Technique is a way to call yourself into coordination so you can do anything with greater clarity, efficiency, and joy. It is a way to take the pressure off of your system. When you do this, you can consciously choose new, better coordinated movements to replace old patterns that no longer serve you. A fancier way to say it is that you can tap into your neuroplasticity and create new neural pathways. Performing artists study the Alexander Technique to improve their craft, athletes use it to move better, and it can be a powerful educational tool for those recovering from chronic pain and injury.

So, what is it, exactly? I describe the Alexander Technique in various ways, including:
1. a way to call yourself into coordination so you can do anything better.
2. a way to become more neuroplastic and deliberately create new patterns
3. a wish you carry into any activity
4. a way to consciously direct yourself and have more freedom of choice in your work, play, and life.
5. an educational method that teaches you to take unnecessary pressure off of your system so that you can move in a more fluid, coordinated way.
..you’ll notice that these all include words like “wish,” “way,” or “method.” That’s important. The AT is a process-oriented educational method. It isn’t a therapy or medical treatment. However, because it creates optimal conditions for change and renewal, it can aid in healing of all kinds.

…Are you curious yet?