• 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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discover the F.M.
Alexander Technique