How The Alexander Technique Has Impacted My Teaching
Over the last 3 years, I have studied the Alexander Technique, F.M. Alexander’s Evolution as a speaker, teacher, writer and his profound impact on how we develop true conscious control and a deep understanding of our space in the world. His struggle to save his voice led him on a transformative journey of self-discovery, resulting in the development of a technique that not only restored his vocal health but also improved the use of his entire body.
By recognizing and inhibiting his poor habits and patterns of tension, Alexander was able to prevent vocal strain and utilize his respiratory power more effectively. This new path of healthy vocal technique allowed him to recite with a powerful and free voice. However, the benefits of the technique extended far beyond his voice, leading to a remarkable improvement in the overall use and functioning of his entire body.
Alexander’s experiences and insights were so profound that he felt compelled to share them with others. He wrote numerous books detailing his discoveries, providing valuable resources for those interested in the technique. Additionally, he established a practice for teachers, ensuring that his teachings could be passed on and experienced firsthand by students.
The essence of the Alexander Technique lies in the conscious connection between the mind and body. Alexander recognized that tension and limitations are often rooted in subconscious habits. This understanding of the mind-body relationship has been a central tenet of the Alexander Technique and has helped countless individuals experience positive change and transformation in their lives.
Alexander’s commitment to teaching and sharing his technique demonstrates his belief in its enduring value. Over the years, the Alexander Technique has indeed stood the test of time and continues to be embraced and practiced by many individuals seeking greater freedom, ease, and well-being.
To observe the changes my students have made utilizing the technique, is truly a gift. The first major hurdle is their struggle to learn inhibition, fighting for their poor habits as if they were attached body parts. Awareness and inhibition in my experience teaching the technique, is the most challenging piece, but also fascinates me as a teacher. As a student begins to overcome those challenges, and own the new direction, to see the transformation to freedom in the way they react and move is something of a revolution.
There is deep discipline required to learn the technique, but I believe in practice it is quite simple and accessible to learn. Once Alexander made the discovery that habitually pulling his head back was the main cause of his vocal issues, he began to make incredible discoveries within his own use. The primary control, needed to drive all movement of the body: uses the eyes to lead, the neck muscles to soften, the head sits freely on top of the spine without contraction or strain, the spine lengthens, as well as the iliopsoas muscle releases; all of which encourages freedom of movement of the inner organs and overall good coordination. As one can read in The Use Of The Self, satisfactory primary control is the starting point to unravel our tension, create space to inhibit our poor habits that cause pain and disease, and support a new direction to move with conscious direction. In Alexander’s case, and in many who practice the technique, it became crucial to utilize the technique to allow the respiratory system to function in the most optimal way. All of these discoveries encouraged further development and experimentation of the technique.
In my experience, I have come to understand the critical nature of how holding my body in a position, habitually restricting the natural placement of my skeleton – essentially my alignment, prevents free movement and projection. Without mindful movement, I was continually straining my body. Over time this caused stiffness, inflammation and pain. As I continue on a path to understand F.M. Alexander’s Technique more deeply, I respect that it is even more critical to live in a “means whereby” to stay well and healthy in my mind and body.
The evolution of the technique was born out of Alexander’s need and passion to save his voice and moreover his career. Without his struggle he may not have embarked on this search. He discovered the technique of inhibiting his poor habits, that were causing vocal strain, and prevented him from utilizing all of his respiratory power. He then initiated a new path of use that supported healthy vocal technique to recite with a powerful and free voice. In turn, there was a distinct improvement of use of his entire body, so profound that he wrote many books about his experience. He also created a practice for teachers to provide their students a hands on experience so that they too could reap its benefits. He committed his life to teaching a technique that has stood the test of time. All manifestation of tension is caused in the mind. When you free your mind, you can heal your body. This conscious connection of mind and body can create immense positive change.
