Alexander Technique at the Cheltenham Holistic Health Centre

The Alexander technique is concerned with the quality and co-ordination of physical movement. It can be effective in a wide range of conditions including back pain, neck and shoulder tension, stress-related illnesses and general fatigue.

The Technique was developed by Frederick Mathias Alexander, a Shakespearean actor born in Tasmania in 1869. When his career was threatened by voice and breathing problems and medicine was unable to help, he set himself the task of finding a means of self-help. He began by identifying patterns of habitual body-tension then developed techniques for replacing them with better ones.

How is the Alexander Technique taught?
Students wear everyday clothes and usually spend part of the lesson performing routine activities such as sitting, standing and lying down. Using the hands as well as verbal instruction, the Alexander teacher helps the student to release inappropriate tensions so that the body can become aligned and balanced.

Frequency and duration
The Alexander Technique is taught individually. Most students begin to experience the benefits relatively quickly but to change long-standing habits in a fundamental way we would generally recommend a course of twenty or more lessons. In addition to individual lessons, we also run short introductory courses for small groups throughout the year. These offer a good opportunity to try out the Technique before making a longer-term commitment.

Who can benefit?
Many people begin learning the Alexander Technique to help with chronic back or neck pain, headaches, stress, or bad posture. Sportsmen and women, musicians, dancers and actors also use the technique to improve body-awareness, coordination and performance. Almost any skill can be studied along Alexander lines, from working at a desk to giving on-stage performances.