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Description of a Session
An Alexander session lasts approximately 45 minutes. While fully clothed, students will often lay on a table as well as perform daily movement activities such as walking, standing, and sitting. In both aspects of a session the practitioner uses a gentle hands-on approach to guide students in moving their body in new, more beneficial ways. Verbal suggestions are given, such as “the back lengthens and widens” and “head forward and up”, which the student thinks or pictures, but does not “try” to make happen. A new relationship of the head, neck and spine is explored and everyday movements are practiced to re-enforce this new alignment and co-ordination, bringing ease and lightness to all movement activities.
Course of Treatment
The Alexander Technique is usually taught in a series of sessions which can vary in duration depending on the goals of the student, the nature of the issues being addressed, and the degree of home practice and assimilation of the lessons. It is generally considered to take about 30 sessions for the student to solidly incorporate the teachings into their lives.
Side Effects
Because of the gentleness of the approach side effects are not an issue.
There may be a learning curve, however, in which the new patterns being explored do not yet feel comfortable and natural. This may create some psychological discomfort while the student experiences an increased awareness of old habit patterns but is not quite yet able to find and embody the new ways of moving in a consistent way.
Safety Issues
There are no contraindications to this approach, as no force is used in an Alexander session. It is a lesson in movement re-education based on gentle touch and mentally directed suggestions to the body/mind, rather than any physical manipulation of muscle, bone or other tissues of the body.
Other Modalities That Work Well With This Approach
The Alexander Technique works well with any other therapeutic approach, especially those that promote awareness and gentle change such as imagery, meditation and yoga.
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Content last modified on Mar 18, 2003
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