Page 84 - Total War on PTSD

Alexander thought he was preventing these interfering habits. He noticed, however, that when he began to speak, his old movement habits would reappear. The act, even the thought of speaking, was a stimulus for his old habits. He had to relearn how to use his voice, so it did not require him to perform his customary interfering movements. How he thought about his movement even before he spoke became crucial. His continued observations led him to discover a third important concept that has to do with the relationship between the head, neck, and back. Downward compression or over- extension of the head and neck determines how well we move. The tension Alexander created in his neck affected his entire coordination. If and when he would “leave himself alone” (not engage muscles not required to speak), he found he was successful in retaining his voice.
Alexander shared his discoveries with actors in his native Australia, where he became known as “The Breathing Man.” He soon realized that so much more than the breath was affected by the changes he was able to make in his habitual movements. In the early 1900s, he relocated to London, England, where he began to gain greater recognition for his discoveries. He found supporters in the medical and scientific community and began to publish. He was sought out by many in need and by those who wanted to learn and teach the work. He found he was able to teach his process of “non-doing,” and was successful in helping people who stuttered, those who suffered the results of polio, athletes, and many more.
Today there are different lineages of Alexander teachers working with groups and individuals throughout the world. Teacher training programs are also available worldwide. Two generations removed from Alexander, the work has grown and expanded while the key principles remain. You may find specialists in Alexander Technique for golf, skiing, acting, tennis, horseback riding, musicians, pain relief, mindfulness, business, motivation, personal development, and more, yet all will teach and apply Alexander’s same principles. The Alexander Technique has become known as a technique you can apply to any discipline to accomplish more with less effort. Alexander had been known to say, “Give me a thief and I will make him a better thief.”
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