What is it? The Alexander technique is not a therapy as such. Instead it is an educative process during which the individual unlearns poor posture and movement which has led to tension and sometimes pain in the body. By becoming consciously aware of the strain and unnecessary effort this is putting on the body, the individual then goes on to relearn the body's natural and correct posture and movements. Alexander technique teachers focus on showing people how to release unnecessary tension in their bodies while doing such everyday activities as brushing their teeth, eating at the table, sitting at a desk, standing in a queue, driving a car and walking.
What does it treat? The Alexander technique does not treat specific conditions directly. However by unlearning postural errors and becoming consciously aware of the need for good posture, individuals can find relief from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, tension headaches and repetitive strain injury. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, hyperventilation and other breathing difficulties can also be helped with the Alexander technique.
A first timer's experience (35-year-old female journalist): The calm, slow speaking voice and gentle controlled body movement of the Alexander technique teacher (they are not called therapists) was a striking introduction to this consultation. I had come with subtle, achy pains in my arms and a feeling that if I didn't improve my posture, I would end up with more serious, possibly constant, pain.
The teacher began by asking me about the pain and when it began. He then spoke quite a bit about how we abuse our bodies by bringing tension into certain areas unnecessarily. He demonstrated how we often lock our whole bodies into position when sitting looking at a computer screen rather than keeping our body aligned and simply using our eyes to look at the screen. He listened carefully as I spoke about my postural mistakes and agreed that things like wrist pads in front of keyboards and phone headsets would help. He then observed me while I sat on a chair and stood up from sitting, asking me to place my arm on the back of my head to feel how the muscles in my neck were moving as I did this. He watched me walk around the room, placing his hand on the top of my head to prevent me from tensing it unnecessarily as I walked. Walking like this felt less strained.
He also stood behind me and repeated a few words about extending my head upwards and my shoulders downwards to allow my body to extend to its full length and width. We spoke about how important it is to become aware of one's grip on toothbrushes, knives, forks and pens, and how we often create excess tension with unnecessarily tight grips. I left the half-hour session feeling the need to become more conscious about how I do things. I also understood that it would probably take a few more classes (or a lot of conscious effort and checking in the mirror) before I could genuinely unlearn some of my bad habits.
An advocate's view: Eamon Dunphy (54), broadcaster and journalist: "I had chronic back trouble for up to 20 years which was related to a football injury. Often my back would go into spasm, which would put me in serious pain. I tried everything from acupuncture to chiropractic. I even had surgery, which involved the removal of two discs but this was never completely satisfactory. Then I went to an Alexander technique teacher. He taught me how to walk correctly and how to sit down correctly. He explained to me about the weight of my head on my body and made me aware of the importance of good posture and how to have conscious control of it. At first, learning these things was hard work. Now it has become habit and I understand that the way I walk and sit are fundamental to how my back feels. I have had a long period of remission from my back problem but if I get chronic pain again, I will go back to the Alexander technique teacher. Of all the therapies I tried, none of them has been as good as the Alexander technique.
The Medical View: Dr Muiris Houston, Irish Times Medical correspondent says: "Alexander technique is an accepted method of preventative treatment in back pain. Some doctors and physiotherapists with special training in orthopaedic medicine use the technique as part of an overall treatment plan. It is important to have persistent or recurrent back pain investigated thoroughly by medical practitioner before submitting to any alternative treatments."
There are eight teachers of the Alexander technique in the Republic and one in Northern Ireland. A full list of teachers is available from the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, 29 London House, 266 Fulham Road, London SW10 9EL (00-44-171-3510828). One half-hour lesson in the Alexander technique costs £20-£25. See also: www.stat.org.uk
