The Alexander Technique

Bad posture is ageing. Why spend vast sums of money on chemical anti-ageing products when good posture is free?

Good posture is a great foundation for all sorts of health benefits, better agility, relief from back pain, and headaches plus a feeling of well-being are just some of them. Another aspect to consider is that bad posture adds years to your appearance. We spend vast sums of money on all sorts of anti-ageing products, when good posture comes for free!

The Alexander Technique was invented by Austrailian actor Frederick Matthias Alexander, after he began suffering with voice problems when on the stage. Although medical treatment didn’t help, he found that he could resolve his problems completely, simply by altering his posture. This became the basis for a whole technique of retraining the body’s movements and posture. There are now teachers of the Alexander Technique all over the world, who work on a one-to-one basis with their “pupils”.

Bad posture is like any other habit it can be so deeply ingrained that it feels completely natural, and re-training and rehabilitating your muscles can be difficult. Althought the technique is learnt from a qualified teacher, there are some easy prodedures you can do to help yourself.

Mirror, mirror. Watch yourself in a mirror; while standing, sitting and walking, really look at your posture and balance. Standing side-ways to the mirror, imagine a line that passes from the crown of the head, through the point where the skull sits on the spinal column, down through the shoulder joint, the centre of the pelvis, the hip joint, kneee joint and straight down through the heel and into the ground. Make sure your balance is distributed evenly on both feet, then try and be completely aware, so that you become tuned-in to tensions in your body, be aware of your breathing as well. Don't be surprised to find that your balance line tilts forwards, like most peoples, or backwards.
Start to sway very gently, backwards and forwards. Be aware of your whole body moving from the ankle joints. As you sway too far backwards, notice how you have to tense your stomach muscles to keep your balance. In the same way, when you sway too far forwards, the lower back muscles will tense-up to help keep you upright.

As you continue, making the swaying movements smaller and smaller you should, if only for a few moments, eventually find your optimum line of balance. Your back should feel stronger and your head balanced in a more relaxed way on the spinal column. You should also notice that you have slightly more weight on your heels than on the balls of your feet. Don’t try and hold this position, but just be aware of having attained perfect balance.
While using the minimum muscular effort, your goal is to aim for relaxed movements and stance, whether standing, sitting or walking.

When sitting, avoid...
Sitting with your head down and your shoulders falling forward and rounded; this restricts breathing by compressing the stomach, as does sitting hunched over a desk. But don’t try and sit too straight, this can give an unatural curve to the spine.

When sitting aim for...
Sit well back in the chair, keep your shoulders relaxed and don’t cross your legs (this twists the spine and pelvis) but keep your feet flat on the floor, with the knees slightly apart. When leaning forward, bend at the hip not from the upper body.When getting in and out of a chair, keep your neck and spine aligned by bending at the hips, knees and ankles.

To find out all about hangover cures click here
If you want to try the Yoga Sun Salutation excersise click here
©Tenerife Magazine 2005

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