The Alexander Technique Workbook: Your Personal Program for Health, Poise and Fitness (Health Workbooks)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Alexander Technique!
Review: Not having had a course of Alexander Technique lessons myself, I still managed to gain a considerable amount of physical and mental self-awareness through reading this book, helped by a partner of mine who was having regular Alexander sessions at the time. A course of lessons from a qualified practitioner is no doubt necessary to gain the full benefits of the Technique, but many of the ideas and suggestions from this book still remain with me several years after first coming across them. They have helped me considerably with my posture as a singer and guitarist.

According to F.M. Alexander, "You translate everything, whether physical or mental or spiritual, into muscular tension". The Alexander Technique is a deceptively simple way of becoming more aware of the balance, posture and co-ordination of our bodies as experienced in everyday activities. It begins with basic self-awareness of how we sit, how we stand, how we think, physical and mental habits we have, and so on. From there it may be a case of re-educating ourselves through daily awareness, helped by a number of exercises with particular emphasis on the neck and spine. The aim is to "regain the natural grace and balance of a child".

These simple ideas and exercises (which to some extent are similar to other disciplines such as yoga or meditation) have played an important part in helping me develop and sustain a healthy mind, body and spirit over the years. I recommend them.