Right now, without changing your body's position or posture, take a minute and scan your body for any tension. Does your body feel comfortable, uncomfortable, tense, tired or relaxed? Do you feel any stress or strain in your neck, shoulders, or back? Do your arms feel tired or heavy from holding this article up to read? Are your eyes straining to read the print? Are you clenching your teeth or frowning as you read? Are you sitting in a slumped, rigid or relaxed posture?

There are several theories on body therapy, but the Alexander Technique is a highly sophisticated, proven method to teach conscious control of muscular tension, movement and postural coordination, and manage pain for people experiencing headaches to back pain, with conditions as varied as Multiple Sclerosis to Parkinson's disease. A complement to physical therapy manual techniques and modalities, the Alexander Technique enriches posture, movement, and neuromuscular re-education, essential educational components in physical therapy.

F. Matthias Alexander developed the Alexander Technique in London in the 1890s. One of the key concepts in the Alexander Technique is how we use our physical bodies. With good use, the body moves easily with balance and coordination, so that minimal effort is exerted to perform a task. Another key concept is that people are designed for movement. Inherent in this design is an incredible capacity for ease, flexibility, power and expressiveness.

The Origin of the Technique
Alexander devoted his life to the study of good body use. Many years of self observation led Alexander to the discoveries that have become the Alexander Technique. Alexander came to an understanding that the correct relationship of head, neck and back was essential for proper body movement and function.

The Alexander Technique is a valuable tool for anyone interested in working toward personal goals with increased awareness. It does not treat specific symptoms but it is a powerful way of eliminating harmful habits that cause physical stress and discomfort, while bringing about improvements in overall health, alertness, and performance.

Thinking rather than Doing
The Alexander Technique consists of thinking to the body rather than actively doing anything with it. To overcome his difficulty, Alexander developed four specific mental directions to guide his body into an improved use.

1.  Allow your neck to release so the head can balance forward and up.
2.  Let the torso lengthen and widen.
3.  Let the legs release away from the torso.
4.  Release your shoulders out to the sides.

How is this technique beneficial?
The Alexander Technique is a method of self-awareness as one goes through activities of daily living. This technique helps one to let go of tensions that may be responsible for aches and pains that affect our musculoskeletal and neurological systems. It is a re-education in which you learn how to use your body appropriately, avoiding stresses on bones, joints and internal organs. You learn to become proactive in your life rather than reacting habitually to a given situation.

The basic tenet is that when the neck muscles are not overworked, the head is poised at the top of the spine. This balance ignites the body’s anti-gravity response. This response is an oppositional force in the torso that easily guides us upward and invites the spine to lengthen instead of compressing when we move.

The pillars of the technique include three concepts. The first is the head-neck-torso unit. By correcting the way these body parts are used, faulty habits may diminish or disappear. Secondly, mental instructions or directions are simply instructions used to guide the body. Lastly, inhibition is the conscious stopping of a habitual response.

We have integrated ideas from the Alexander Technique while treating our patients. Using verbal and tactile cues to treat dysfunction in rehabilitation is done every day; giving patients cues in a different way may help to enhance the rehabilitation process. The Alexander Technique has been useful in helping people with a variety of physical dysfunctions. We apply it to people who have sustained traumatic injuries, people with neck, back and hip dysfunctions, repetitive stress injuries, neurological and respiratory dysfunction, posture and balance disorders, and pain management. Patients or students can attain a more upright posture with less muscular tension in the neck, back and shoulders.