The
Five Principles of the Alexander
Technique
The Alexander Technique is based on five basic
principles…
1.
Recognition of habit
This
means learning to notice what you are doing which may be
causing you pain or discomfort
2.
Inhibition and non-doing
Which
involves stopping yourself from doing the unhelpful habit
and learning to release muscular tension
3.
Recognition of faulty sensory awareness
This
means that you don’t always know exactly what you are
doing and what feels wrong and uncomfortable may actually
be better for you, it is just unfamiliar.
4.
Giving directions
This
is about sending “orders” or specific thoughts
or intentions to the body from the brain to encourage the
body to flow and expand rather than contract. This enables
much more freedom in movement and freedom from habitual
tension and reactions.
5.
Primary control
This
is the functional relationship between the head, neck and
back in our bodies. Alexander found that this is crucial in
organising the body so that it functions at its most
efficient. To allow the primary control to engage takes
awareness of the body and what you are doing and therefore
links in with number 1 above.