• What is the Alexander Technique?
• Why do people take lessons in the
Alexander Technique?
• Is the Alexander Technique a form of
massage or massage therapy?
• How long does it take to learn the
Alexander Technique?
• What is the cost of the Alexander
Technique lessons?
• How do i choose an Alexander Technique
Teacher?
• Are there professional training
standards for Alexander Teachers?
• What is the
Alexander Technique?
The word
'Technique' isn't indicative of the process devised by F.M.
Alexander (1869-1955) early in the 20th century. In
actuality, it wasn't known as the Technique until after his
death in 1955, before which it was referred to as 'The
Work'. The word 'Technique' usually brings to mind a
certain routine or procedure. There is nothing routine
about the Alexander Technique. In fact, the application of
the principles that underlie Alexander's discoveries can be
called nothing less than revolutionary.
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•
Why do people take
lessons in the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander
Technique has been an integral part of the performing arts
community for nearly a century. Musicians, singers,
dancers, and actors have embraced the Technique as a
process to enhance their performance and to overcome
injury.
So what about the rest of us? The Alexander Technique is a
formula for improving general well-being with implications
beyond pain relief. Yet most individuals come to the
Technique because of pain in some form or another. Often,
people come to the Technique when they have exhausted all
other alternatives. In some ways, it is unfortunate that
the Technique has become a method of last resort, but on
the other hand, it is gratifying as individuals come to
understand the way in which their own particular habit
patterns have created their difficulties. Armed with this
knowledge, they are able to unravel these patterns and
learn how to use themselves more efficiently.
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• Is the Alexander
Technique a form of massage or massage
therapy?
To the casual
observer, lessons in the Alexander Technique may resemble
massage in that the teacher makes use of his or her hands
to give manual guidance in assisting the student through
different ranges of movement. But just as a medical doctor
uses palpation to assess certain muscles and organs during
a routine exam, the Alexander Technique teacher makes use
of his or her hands in a dual role: as a tool of
observation like the doctor and additionally as a tool of
guidance for the student in changing the habitual patterns
of use that may be maladaptive.
While the Alexander Technique may have therapeutic
benefits, the purpose of the Technique is that of
re-education, assisting the individual to an improved
general co-ordination of themselves in the activities of
their daily lives. By improving co-ordination in general
and developing a greater sense for acquired habit patterns,
the individual is allowed a greater freedom to choose more
effective, more efficient, and more enjoyable ways to
accomplish daily routines.
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• How long does it
take to learn the Alexander
Technique?
The length of
time needed to learn and to apply the principles of the
Technique will be on an individual basis and will depend
somewhat on the conditions that the person comes with to
lessons. Generally, an initial series of 30 lessons should
be adequate to develop a grasp of the principles involved.
These initial lessons will be most beneficial if they can
be taken as closely together as possible. The student will
benefit more from a closely spaced series of daily lessons
than from a single lesson a week or every several weeks.
After a period of more closely spaced lessons, the student
can then decide how continuing lessons in the Technique can
be of benefit and on what frequency of schedule.
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• What is the cost of
Alexander Technique lessons?
The cost of
lessons tends to vary regionally and is also dependent on
the experience of the teacher. Generally, lessons tend to
be from 30-40 minutes in length. Rose charges $50 for
lessons. Rick charges $40 per lesson.
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• How do I choose an
Alexander Technique teacher?
Beyond fee
structure, choosing a teacher is very individual-based.
Initially, you may want to try lessons with several
teachers. Lessons are tailored to the student and there is
no 'set' curriculum. Choose the teacher who best suits you
and with whom you feel you have some rapport. It is
important to give lessons a chance. The Technique doesn't
come quickly and it's probably something different than
anything you've tried before.
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• Are there professional
training standards for Alexander
Teachers?
For different
areas, a good place to start in finding a teacher is with a
national society of Alexander Technique teachers. The
American Society for the Alexander Technique is located in
Florence, Massachusetts, and may be contacted at (800)
473-0620. The purpose of the society is to educate the
public about the Technique and to establish and maintain
training standards for teachers. Society standards include
a minimum of 1600 hours of training over a period of no
less than 3 years. Additionally, there is a
teacher-to-student ratio of no more than 1-to-5 in order to
assure a high level of personal attention in the training
process.
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