FAQs
about
the Alexander Technique
What brings most people to the Alexander Technique?
Many people come to the Technique because of physical problems:
back, neck or shoulder pain, RSI, stress, vocal or breathing disorders to name
a few, but others learn the Technique because of a curiosity about themselves
and a desire for personal development. My students have ranged in age from 8 to
80.
Can I learn the Technique on my own?
Habits are, by their nature, unconscious. Though you may try to
effect changes by yourself, it takes the trained eyes and hands of a teacher to
help you perceive and change your ingrained patterns. The training course for
teachers of the Alexander Technique is three years, with a minimum of 1,600 hours
of class time.
How long does it take? What does it cost?
Duration of study depends on your initial condition and personal
goals. A recommended course is about 30 private lessons, although some people
take fewer than that. Most students take half-hour lessons, which cost $60.
I also teach hour-long lessons for $100. The success of the
work depends on how you use what you learn. The goal is to help you use yourself
more efficiently and healthfully in all of your activities. The Alexander Technique
offers you a gentle way to improve the way you use yourself no matter what you're
doing, each day, throughout the course of your life.
Is the Alexander Technique considered a medical therapy?
Though it has therapeutic benefits, the Technique is not a treatment
such as chiropractic or massage. It is something you learn to do on your own,
but it is not a set of exercises or postures. Instead, it is a method for noticing
your movement patterns and changing those that get in your way.