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
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 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
engage the primary control takes awareness of the body and
what you are doing and therefore links in with number 1
above.