What is the Alexander Technique?   

    

The Alexander Technique is a unique educational process that teaches you how to perform activities with greater ease and less tension. It is recognized worldwide as a practical and effective means of integrating body and mind. You will learn to recognize and release habit patterns that make you more vulnerable to stress and its side effects. It is an effective technique for both preventing injuries and for releasing pain.

 

Benefits of the Alexander Technique may include:

• Relieving pain from various conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, sciatica, scoliosis backaches, physical injury, chronic pain, headaches and migraines

• Help healing and managing repetitive stress injuries

• Reducing strain and muscular tension

• Injury prevention (especially important for the rigorous demands of musicians, performing artists and athletes) 

• Improve performance techniques, presentation and communication skills

• Stress management

• Improve balance, coordination posture and poise

• Increase body awareness, range of motion, strength and flexibility,

• Improved breathing and vocal activity

• Access to a greater resource of energy

 

What happens during a lesson?

​

The Alexander Technique does not involve physical manipulation or exercises. During a lesson, you will engage in simple, everyday movements like walking, bending, standing, and sitting. Leslie will observe patterns and use a light, subtle touch to guide you through the activities. You will become aware of habitual patterns that involve excessive tension and effort. Initially lessons focus on noticing stimulus-response patterns and learning how to pause habitual responses in order to make conscious, embodied choices. Later lessons will focus on activities and/or concerns unique to you, such as: pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, sports-cycling, running, weight lifting, exercise, swimming, yoga, playing an instrument, acting, driving, working at a computer, illness, etc. Through learning to engage in activities without habitual tension, you will gain the ability to perform all activities in your life with more balance, coordination, and ease.

 

How long is a lesson? 

​

Lessons can be scheduled for 30-60 minutes.

Generally, lessons are scheduled for individuals; however two people can share a lesson time. Group sessions and workshops are also available. 

​

  

Why study the Alexander Technique?

 

The Alexander Technique helps people recognize and change habitual response patterns in all activities. 

 

All ages and lifestyles can benefit from Alexander Technique lessons. The technique has received broad recognition from the fields of arts, sciences, education, neuroscience, and human development. Its supporters and students have included; 

​

• Julie Andrews (actor) 

• George Coghill (anatomist and physiologist)

• Raymond Dart (anthropologist)

• John Dewey (philosopher and educator) 

• Moshe Feldenkrais (Founder of the Feldenkrais Method) 

• Aldous Huxley (author), 

• John Housman (actor and Founder of Julliard School’s Theatre Division) 

• Barry Humphries (actor and author) 

• James Earle Jones (actor)

• Ben Kinglsley (actor)

• Heath Leger (actor)

• Benjamin Libet (neuroscientist) 

• Yehudi Menuhin (violinist)

• Sir Paul McCartney (musician) 

• Paul Newman (actor)

• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (First Lady)

• Frederick Perls (Founder of Gestalt Therapy)

• Christopher Reeve (actor)

• Keanu Reeves(actor)

• Sir Charles Sherrington (Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine)

• George Bernard Shaw (playwright)

• Patrick Stewart (actor)

• Sting (musician)

• Nikolas Tinbergen (Nobel Prize for Medicine)

• Andrew Weil (physician)

• Robin Williams (actor)