What is the Alexander Technique?

The Alexander Technique generates greater ease, flow, and connection through the whole body and has been practiced for over 100 years. Often sought out by musicians, dancers, singers, actors, and people with back pain, the technique is truly for EVERYbody wanting more ease of movement, less tension, and dynamic, healthy posture. Learning "AT" can bring unexpected benefits for mind, body, and self-understanding. 

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I often describe AT as an antidote for modern life and all its stressors. Typical, everyday situations like sitting long hours at a computer screen, driving, using cell phones/tablets, having too much to do in too little time, and juggling various pressures at work, school, and home all contribute to patterns of compression in the body. The Alexander Technique offers an approach to establishing your center, with connections to the ground and the space around you, while contributing to greater receptivity, less reactivity, easeful breathing, and clearer perceptions/thinking.

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Quotes about AT:

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The Alexander Technique gives us all things we have been looking for in a system of physical education: relief from strain due to maladjustment, and constant improvement in physical and mental health. We cannot ask for more from any system; nor, if we seriously desire to alter human beings in a desirable direction, can we ask for any less.

--Aldous Huxley, Writer and Philosopher

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Change involves carrying out an activity against the habit of life.

--F.M. Alexander, Originator of the Alexander Technique

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(Educational Philosopher, John Dewey) said that he had been taken by (the Alexander Technique) first because it provided a demonstration of the unity of mind and body.

--Frank Pierce Jones, Professor and Researcher of the Alexander Technique

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97% of people with back pain could benefit by learning the Alexander Technique - it is only a very small minority of back pain sufferers that require medical intervention such as surgery.

--Jack Stern, Spinal Neurosurgeon 

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It is my opinion that every singer and performer should enroll in a course of Alexander lessons. I have personally profited by doing so.

--Barbara Bonney, Classical Singer 

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I find The Alexander Technique very helpful in my work. Things happen without you trying. They get to be light and relaxed. You must get an Alexander teacher to show it to you.

--John Cleese, Actor

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The Alexander Technique works... I recommend it enthusiastically to anyone who has neck pains or back pain.

--Roald Dahl, Writer

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Lessons in the Alexander technique offer an individualised approach designed to develop lifelong skills for self care that help people recognise, understand, and avoid poor habits affecting postural tone and neuromuscular coordination. Lessons involve continuous personalised assessment of the individual patterns of habitual musculoskeletal use when stationary and in movement; paying particular attention to release of unwanted head, neck, and spinal muscle tension, guided by verbal instruction and hand contact, allowing decompression of the spine; help and feed- back from hand contact and verbal instruction to improve musculoskeletal use when stationary and in movement; and spending time between lessons practising and applying the technique (also see appendix on bmj.com).

--British Medical Journal study, Paul Little, et al, BMJ 2008;337