Alexander Technique

What is the Alexander Technique and how does it work?
The Alexander Technique is a self-help method which can help you ease neck, shoulder or back pain, RSI and any muscular tension or stiffness that you experience on a regular basis. The Technique helps you improve your posture and move more freely. It can also help you calm your mind. Most people don't realise that it is something that they are doing that causes the problem, so working with me helps you find out what it is that you are doing and helps you to stop doing it, resulting in less pain and increased freedom of movement. Recent research shows that the Technique is particularly effective in the long-term treatment of chronic low back pain.

Learning the principles of the Alexander Technique enables you to bring your habitual reactions and movements into conscious control. Once you are aware of these habits, you have the power to change them. Alexander Technique lessons help you gain control of your reactions and find balance and poise in your life.

What happens during a session?
In a lesson, I work with you using my hands and voice to bring your attention to areas of tension in the body and gently help you to let it go. This may include habits of mind, such as not being able to stop your thoughts from racing. We explore your muscular and emotional habits so that you become more aware of them and when they tend to occur. As your awareness increases, you learn to notice the tension or over-active mind when it starts to creep in and become able to let it go. I introduce the principles of the Alexander Technique as you progress so that you gain an understanding of what it has to offer.

Lessons last about 50 minutes and may include lying in the semi-supine position on the table or activities such as standing, sitting, moving from standing to sitting and vice versa, walking and other activities to explore achieving freedom of movement.

You should wear loose comfortable clothing (trousers) and you will be asked to remove your shoes for the duration of the lesson.

The Alexander Technique works best when you take it with you after each lesson and translate it into your everyday life. This is difficult at first, but as you progress with the work, it becomes easier to remember what you have learned and make use of it outside the lesson environment.

How many lessons will I need?
Since we are working with habits that you may have had for many years, the Technique is not a quick fix. You should notice the benefit after the first few lessons, and things should really be changing after ten lessons. You may need more than this to really make the changes you need to make. However, the number of lessons you need depends on you. If you take on board what happens in the lessons and apply it elsewhere, you will quickly start to make changes, your aches and pains become something you have control over, and you find increased freedom of movement. The Alexander Technique gives you the tools to help yourself and take control of your body and mind.

If you work with the Technique long enough to really get it into your system, you learn to prevent the tension patterns from happening at all. This results in a natural poise and balance that most of us haven't experienced since we were very young!

When can I come for my lessons?
I work at the Kendal Physiotherapy Centre on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

How do I book?
Contact me on 01539 721881 mobile: 07771 602665 or email: erica.donnison@mac.com

Erica Donnison MSTAT: Alexander Technique Teacher
I graduated from the Fellside Alexander School in Kendal in 2004, having successfully completed a three-year full time course. I am a teaching member of the Society for Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT).

I enjoy working with people who want to find out how to help themselves overcome pain or stiffness and improve their posture, to become truly poised and free. If you want to find out about and learn to change the way you sit, stand and move, and the way you react to stressful situations to prevent stiffness or pain, the Alexander Technique is for you.

In addition...
I run two on-going classes every week in Kendal at the Fellside Alexander School. I also run day workshops for runners, cyclists and horse riders.

I am also qualified to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality questionnaire, which gives you an insight into how you and other people tick. Contact me or look at my website for more information www.atechniqueforlife.co.uk

PRICES:
Since you will need to come for lessons over a period of time, weekly at first, going to two-weekly or monthly after a while, I charge at a rate to make this possible.

£25 per 50 minute lesson

LINKS
www.atechniqueforlife.co.uk
www.stat.org.uk