Starting and Stopping Alexander Technique Lessons.
Q. How do you know when to stop taking Alexander Technique lessons?
A. You stop taking Alexander lessons anytime you want.
People seek out Alexander Technique teachers for different reasons, including back pain relief, neck pain relief, posture improvement, or stress reduction. Since Alexander Technique students often derive expected as well as unexpected results from this mind/body technique, how can you tell when you’re through with lessons?
For some people, it’s when their pain has lessened significantly, or stopped altogether. They start to notice a decrease, or complete cessation, of their need for pain medication. They may become aware of the dwindling number of days per month their back is “out”.
Others stop Alexander lessons when they’ve reached a point where their posture has improved, and they’ve acquired new postural habits. Even when they’re not thinking about the Alexander Technique, they notice a difference in the way they sit, stand, walk, use the computer, and other everyday actions.
People taking Alexander Technique lessons to help reduce their stress notice a reduction in muscle tension, and an increase in breathing capacity. They notice more self control, calmness, and relaxation. They are aware that their breathing is fuller and slower. Their stress level has dropped, they’re looser, more expanded, and empowered.
Musicians learning the Alexander Technique have reduced their pain, enhanced their performance, and changed detrimental habits with and without their instruments.
But there is no definitive, categorical stopping point; get on the Alexander Technique ride wherever you are, and get off anytime you like.
How do I know when to stop doing the Alexander Technique?
Never.
You don’t ever want to stop applying the Alexander Technique, or practicing the Alexander Technique, or doing the Alexander Technique. Even when you are no longer taking Alexander Technique lessons, you’re applying what you’ve learned and incorporating it into your daily life. If you don’t, your back pain or neck pain may return, your good posture may fade, and any other benefits of the Alexander Technique could diminish. The Alexander Technique is meant to be absorbed, used, assimilated, and integrated-for good.
Therefore you never stop the Alexander Technique and you never stop taking Alexander technique lessons. It’s just that at a certain point (the beginning, for instance) you begin teaching you. Alexander Technique teachers train you to become your own Alexander Technique teacher; though two teachers are better than one, especially if one is trained and experienced.
The sooner you start Alexander lessons, the sooner you obtain results.
Comments always welcome!
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
(917) 709-4648
Bravissimo Mark!!!
I’m glad you liked it, Barbara!