‘Micropractices’ and the Alexander Technique

‘Micropractices’ are brief practices which can be as short as 20 seconds, and which can lower anxiety or stress. They are convenient, accessible and can be practised almost anywhere. An article in Psychology Today has even called them ‘the next disruptive innovation in stress and anxiety treatment’. A recent study of a 20 second micropractice …

‘From Stressed to Poised’: Alexander Awareness Week 2024

Alexander Technique Awareness Week is 1st to 7th April, and this year it wraps around ‘Sustainable Healthcare Day’ which is on 6th April. Stress causes a variety of negative effects on our bodies, mood and behaviour. The Alexander Technique can help to manage stress in various ways such as by: Scientists have suggested that improvements …

Demystifying Alexander’s ‘Direction’: a guide

The Alexander Technique community is a broad church and yet there is one thing it can agree on: the importance of ‘Direction’. It is an essential Alexander Technique skill. The best introduction to FM Alexander’s own use of the term is by Jean Fischer. But this article has a different purpose: to provide a practical …

Alexander Technique and pain

Mari Hodges, pain management therapist and Alexander Technique teacher, wrote recently that ‘many people living with persistent pain have felt unvalidated, unheard and stigmatized in their encounters with western medicine’. She continued: the complexities of pain have long been misunderstood and ignored in western society, largely due to a division of mind and body that …

‘Seven wonders of wellbeing’ – for musicians

It’s a privilege again to be on the faculty at the European String Teachers Association (ESTA) summer school, this year held at Dean Close School in Cheltenham. Check out their Facebook page for updates on signing up. I’ll be presenting a broad range of themes for attendees under the heading ‘Seven wonders of wellbeing’. First …

Dealing with family during the holiday season

A recent article about the emotional challenges during the Christmas season – and how we tend to revert to our childhood selves – caught my attention. It reminded me of some insightful writing on how the Alexander Technique can give us a new perspective on tricky personal relations. The passage ends with a thought on …

Why Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) loves the Alexander Technique

Most professional actors have come across the Alexander Technique. The list of famous names endorsing the Technique is long and includes actors such as Judi Dench, William Hurt, John Cleese, Jeremy Irons and Keanu Reeves to name a few. Now a recent documentary about Lily Gladstone, lead actor in Martin Scorcese’s recent film, ‘Killers of …

Changing habits: the Alexander way

Introduction FM Alexander formulated a unique approach for dealing with the way habit interferes with human potential. Speaking well on stage was Alexander’s own preoccupation, but the approach can be applied to any activity, or ‘end’. Examples range from ‘simple’ actions such as standing up from a chair or typing at a laptop, to complex …