The Alexander Technique is a simple and practical method for recognizing and overcoming habitual limitations in movement and thinking. The technique teaches us to expand our awareness and increase our sensitivity to movement. With increased awareness of what our habitual patterns are, we are able to make new choices. These new choices allow us to redirect ourselves with improved ease, balance, flexibility and coordination.
How is it taught?
An Alexander Technique Teacher uses specialized hand contact and verbal instructions to help increase a students kinesthetic awareness to enable them to make new choices in the use of themselves. It can be learned from individual and group lessons.
Who is it helpful for?
Everyone can benefit from the Alexander Technique. It is a practical method for coordinating ourselves around any activity whether it be in performance, sports or daily activities such as walking and sitting. It can help us access more grace and poise whatever the activity may be.
Alexander Technique and Dance
The Alexander Technique is a technique about “doing less”. It’s about finding a better sense of your whole body, and self by increasing our kinesthetic awareness. It helps us become more aware of where we are holding tension and gives us a way of letting go of that tension. For example, when we apply it to Belly dance, a dance that is about fluidity, it allows us to shine a flashlight on those limiting patterns that may be holding us back. By doing a little less instead of more, we can find more mobility, ease and flow in not only our dance but also our daily life.
