There has been a lot reported in the press about the benefits of Alexander Technique in helping back pain.  The research reveals that following 24 AT lessons, the average number of activities limited by low back pain had fallen by 42%, and the number of days in pain had decreased from 21 to 3 days per month one year after the trial started. Also a series of 6 lessons followed by GP-prescribed general exercise was about 70% as beneficial as 24 AT lessons alone.  I read the actual study published by the BMJ, and a subsequent research article on the cost effectiveness to the NHS – and both studies did conclude that the Alexander Technique was beneficial over a longer period of time to helping people manage and reduce back pain.

The cover for the BMJ Magazine

At Posture People we’ve heard a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of Alexander Technique, but until recently hadn’t actually experienced it for ourselves, and if you had asked me two days ago I would have described it as doing certain actions like sitting in a chair, over and over again until the correct way of doing it was drummed into you.

I actually think Mark Claireaux from Alexandertechniquebrighton.com must have overhead me describing it, and offered to show me what was actually involved in a lesson.

The lesson started with an overview of what the Alexander Technique is, and in a nutshell it’s a re-education of your muscles to provide better support for your body, and a way of eliminating poor habits you’ve picked up through the years.  A lot of the lesson was based around learning how to sit on a chair correctly, but as Mark explained that it’s something we do many times a day without even thinking about it. We use most of our co-ordination in this simple movement, i.e. bending at the ankles, knees and hips and the co-ordination of the head neck and back. If we can improve the way we do this simple activity with less tension and better co-ordination we can apply this to every activity we do during our day from our journey to work, through to sporting activities.

Image by freeyourneck.com

As the lesson progressed I learnt that as toddlers we are nicely balanced, our big heads wonderfully supported and everything all pulling together as it should, then somewhere along the way it all starts to go wrong.  We pick up bad habits from our parents, poor furniture at schools and the killer – our love affair with the computer; combine all that with a more sedentary lifestyle and bang it’s not surprising that more people than ever before are suffering with postural problems.

Mark explained “The Alexander Technique is unique in that we can start to eliminate bad habits that maybe doing us harm as we go about our daily lives. We are learning to move more efficiently and effectively. You may have a habit of twisting when sitting or getting drawn down into your computer or work station, you might notice that you respond to cold weather by hunching up your shoulders, you may also do this when stressed. As your awareness improves you may start to notice how stress manifests itself in your body and make a choice NOT to react in your old habitual ways. People often report that they feel calmer and more relaxed which often means their breathing has improved. If you go to the gym, play sports or are involved in yoga/tai chi or dance you will be able to apply what you have learnt in your lessons to how you move in your activity. Many people feel it really improves their performance, so you can see there is much more to the Alexander Technique than pain management it is more like getting the tools for life”

Image by Guardian.co.uk

So Alexander Technique helps to re-educate our bodies, and the muscle that got the most use during this lesson was definitely my brain, as I really did have to think about even simple activities like sitting down in a chair, and how by making small changes I could be much more efficient in how I was performing the task.

Do I think it would work?  I can definitely see the benefits, but this is not a quick fix, as one lesson would definitely not cure a lifetime of poor habits.  So a course of lessons would definitely be needed to see a real difference, and even then you would have to commit to changing your habits on a long term basis to keep reaping the rewards.

But even after one lesson I left feeling more refreshed and taller, and minus the headache that I walked in with.  Also one effect I hadn’t expected was my mind felt full of ideas again.  I do believe it’s a good idea to take time out and focus on what might be affecting your performance, and if your body is working against you, Alexander Technique would be a great method of redressing that balance.