Alexander Technique
Many people are mystified by their own back pain, excess tension or lack of coordination. They often see problems in their joints or muscles as structural, unchangeable. As an Alexander teacher, I hear clients say things like, "I've always walked like a duck," or "My posture is just like my father's." But, as they learn the Technique, they are surprised that they really can make lasting changes in the way they walk, their degree of muscular tension or the shape of their posture. They learn how dynamic and changeable the body really is. They find that, by learning the Technique, they can improve their overall movement and achieve optimal health for both body and mind.We all have unconscious movement habits. Without realizing it, we put undue pressure on ourselves. We use more force than we need to lift a coffee pot or a weight bar. We slouch as we sit, unaware that our way of doing things gives our bodies a certain look. We blame body problems on activities -- carpal tunnel syndrome on computer work, tennis elbow on tennis. But often it is how we do something that creates the problem, not the activity itself.
An Alexander Technique teacher helps you see what in your movement style contributes to your recurring difficulties -- whether it's a bad back, neck and shoulder pain, restricted breathing, perpetual exhaustion or limitations in performing a task or sport. Analyzing your whole movement pattern -- not just your symptom -- the teacher alerts you to habits of compression in your characteristic way of sitting, standing and walking. He or she then guides you -- with words and a gentle, encouraging touch -- to move in a freer, more integrated way.
The Technique's basic idea is that when the neck muscles do not overwork, the head balances lightly at the top of spine. The relationship between the head and the spine is of utmost importance. How we manage that relationship has ramifications throughout the rest of the body. As the boss -- good or bad -- sets the tone for an organization, the head / spine relationship -- compressed or free -- determines the quality of the body's overall coordination. Our neuromuscular system is designed to work in concert with gravity. Delicate poise of the head sparks the body's anti-gravity response: a natural oppositional force in the torso that easily guides us upward and invites the spine to lengthen, rather than compress, as we move. Instead of slouching or holding ourselves in a rigid posture, we can learn to mobilize this support system and use it wherever we go -- in the car, at the computer, in the gym.
Young children have this natural poise. If you watch a toddler in action, you will see an erect spine, free joints and a large head balancing easily on a little neck. A healthy child walks and plays with regal posture. Barring birth defects, we all began that way. But over the years, we often lose that spontaneity and ease.
Using the Alexander Technique, you can learn to strip away harmful habits, heighten your self-awareness, and use your thought process to restore your original poise. In a way, you are learning something that, deep down, your body already knows. With the Alexander Technique, you come to understand much more about how your body works. You can tap more of your internal resources, and begin on a path to enhancing your comfort and pleasure in all your activities.
By Joan Arnold
Books
Healthy Back Bag
Mbt shoes
Spinalis chairs
Relaxations CD
The Perfect Line explores complementary aides to maintaining healthy posture
All products available contribute and help with problems of discomfort and pain in the body in particular the back. I have researched intensely the latest designs to target pain in your back , joints, and muscular and skeletal problems.
Healthy Back Bag
Healthy Back Bag contours to the natural curve of the spine and makes a heavy load feel significantly lighter. The weight is distributed asymmetrically throughout the length of the bag rather than pulling from one point on the shoulder-thus reducing pressure on the neck, shoulders and back, and encouraging good posture.
Feel free to visit my private practice in Kentish Town to view the Healthy Back Bags. They are both stylish and ergonomically efficient.
MBT Shoes
Spring/Summer range 2009
The new Autumn/Winter range really is the best ever. See some examples of the new range on this page or click below.
Feel free to call us at Perfect line for a no obligation session to try on a pair and find out more about these amazing shoes. CLICK HERE.
Relaxation CD
How many of us truly learn to relax? This relaxation CD, with one 25 minute relaxation and one 45 minute relaxation. The relaxation is based on the yoga relaxation. If you are interested in attending a relaxation workshop, please let me know.
Hours are spent sitting in our chairs; working at computers. With the Spinalis chair we are involved in active seating. This means that you are literally exercising while
020 7485 2264 / 07813298257
Alexander Technique
Welcome to our shop
Copyright Nicholas Chapman
NEWSLETTER
April 2010
TESTIMONIALS
Please view these video testimonials of a variety of people using the Alexander Technique to solve different problems.
Andrea Fishenden uses the alexander technique to maximum effect. Not only does she use it affectively to solve her muscular pain she discovers that it helps her to improve her singing technique and her approach to performance.
The people in the other videos all use the alexander technique to solve their own particular problems.
Our mission at Perfect Line is to assist you to take back control of your health. The perfect line represents the perfect line that we are born with originally in the body.
This line is undermined by the stresses and strains of early adult life, however, this is unnecessary as it is natural for the body to maintain perfect equilibrium. The Perfect Line allows you to regain your bodies perfection using Alexander Technique principles and products that compliment the natural line we are born with in order to live a pain free life without stress or strain, leaving you to live your life.
