Alexander Technique Directions
I wish to free my neck … so that
My head can move forward and up…so that
My torso can lengthen and widen and…
My legs can move away from my torso and…
My shoulders can release out the sides.
Alexander Technique directions act as verbal, or neuro-linguistc cues. They tell us where we want to go, which is often upward, outward, into expansion. Up, down, and out. Head up, feet or sit bones down, shoulders out, legs away…

If you’re looking looking to take Alexander Technique lessons in New York City, how would you search the web? The most direct path Alexander Technique classes NYC ” is another possibility, but that might lead you to group classes. Taking group Alexander Technique classes may be a good way to go, but not if you have bad back pain or neck pain…

In teaching the Alexander Technique here in NYC, I often use the words ‘let’ and ‘allow’, as in ‘allow’ your neck to be free or ‘let’ your head lead your spine into length. During Alexander Technique lessons I might say ‘allow’ your entire ribcage to contract and expand as you breathe and ‘allow’ your sit bones to release down into the chair. ‘Let’ your torso gently spiral as you walk, ‘allow’ your jaw to release, and countless other examples of allowing… letting…
If we need to allow things to happen, it stands to reason that we unconsciously disallow them from happening…

The Alexander Technique calms you down as it wakes you up. The Alexander Technique lets you know what you already knew but forgot so that you can remember it when you forget it again. It gives some un-namable things names, reinforced by a guiding touch. The Alexander Technique gives you words, strategies and directions to get the feelings you want. It opens you up. All you have to do is think of it. The Alexander Technique has plenty of side effects, only they’re all good ones…

“How can I incorporate the Alexander Technique into my life?” I hear this question, and versions of it, frequently at Alexander Technique lessons. It’s really a great question and gets to the heart of the matter of the benefits of the Alexander Technique.
The Alexander Technique is done as you think about it. If you’re thinking about the principles of the Alexander Technique, you’re doing the technique, or you’re practicing the technique, or you’re performing the technique, or you’re applying the technique, or you’re incorporating the Alexander Technique into your life.
As an Alexander Technique teacher I emphasize awareness of initiating movement; how you start actions like moving your hands, initiating walking, so…

One area people ask me about most concerns computer posture. We tend to collapse down in front, poking our necks, faces and upper chest towards the screen. Sound familiar? Feel familiar? How about right now?… What we want is for our necks to be free of excess tension, so that our head can move up. Tension shortens our neck, bringing the head back and down. We want the head to move forward (rotationally) and up. A simple way to achieve this forward rotation is to slightly, slowly lower your nose, while the crown of your head moves up. At the same time…

Is the Alexander Technique a ’series of exercises?’ Yes. And no. What might be implied with the word ’series’ is that there are exercises one does in a certain order, and they’re the same for everybody… Exercise doesn’t always mean working out or lifting weights…One of the big difference between many of these Alexander Technique exercises and what we might usually think of as exercise is that that you don’t have to spend any extra time ‘doing’ the Alexander Technique. You incorporate…

1. Become aware, and then let go of the muscles in the back of your neck.

2. Think of your head moving up. (The crown of your head)

3. Slightly, slowly lower your nose.

4. Continue 1,2,3, and let your sit bones release down in your chair, but your torso moves up.

5. If you’re standing, let your feet release down while the rest of you moves up.

6. Let your jaw dangle open, even when you’re lips are closed. (Give it a try)…

Got an extra third of a second or so? You could use it by doing nothing. Not doing anything. Not doing the thing you were going to do, and instead doing something different. Or not that either. Your choice. It’s your choice, if you stop your habitual, automatic response and choose. Mind the gap…

…think of the head moving forward as a forward rotation of the head on the spine. Slowly lower your nose as you let the crown of your head move up. Let your head lead your spine into length. When you want to get closer to the computer screen, use your hip joints and leave your spine alone. Don’t force…