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The body has infinite intelligence.  This vital vehicle is so important……it conveys to all, the emotions, the personality, how much pain there is; for some it is merely the vehicle with which to get through life and for others a painful bag of bones!  The body’s one function is to carry the brain/mind (captain) through life.  Your head is heavy and is supported by your neck and shoulders - often the site of much pain.

Do you talk to yourself? 


It is said (joking of course), that this is not a good sign; actually we have self talk from birth (but not aloud thank goodness).   Your body is the vehicle your conscious and subconscious mind uses to communicate with you and the outside world.  This language is as refined, systematic and as complete as your own verbal language.  But we are often not aware as it has become habit, each moment, each movement.  For example, if the phone rings now and you move to answer it, are you aware of each muscle it has taken to get the self-talk to start the muscles?  Or are you more aware that the shoulder or neck hurts as you do this? Our ‘self-talk’ becomes habitual movement, this paves the way to slow change, usually not to the good.

Conscious control

FM Alexander found when he spoke on stage and lost his voice, his movements in his head and neck were the basic cause of the trouble.  When he had figured this out, he found that almost everyone has some form of physical difficulty that arises from unconscious ‘talk’ and so the Alexander Technique was born and has spread world-wide with its popularity.

“The King’s Speech”.  – This movie is well worth seeing

A great filming of the difficulties that King George VI went through in stuttering and giving speeches.  Overall, he was unaware of all the muscles that tightened to make even his first word impossible to utter. 

By good fortune he came across Lionel Logue, an unknown, self learned man, with no recognised qualifications.  Logue trained the King to overcome his mind-bending fear and speak to the world.  Lionel Logue, an Australian like FM Alexander, is reported to have had consultations with Alexander in Australia.  Alexander relocated to London and had rooms in Harley Street at the start of 1900’s. 

The head, neck and back (including shoulders) have a vital part to play in the whole, and then of course there are the limbs too; all must work together to get the best results in life.


Cindy, from Howick had Alexander Technique lessons with Jann; she says:
“Originally I injured my arm –‘tennis elbow’ from playing a guitar.    I tried physiotherapy but I knew without learning how to use my body, it would just come back again.  – now I am learning how to release and use my back muscles to do the main work.  The arm is a lot freer.  In the beginning it is a bit of a blind leap of faith”


For more info see website: www.alexandertechnique.co.nz

Email:  jann@alexandertechnique.co.nz 

Submitted At: 8 February 2011 3:17pm | Last Modified At: 4 December 2014 9:38pm
Article Views: 1477

Professional Alexander tuition in Auckland and New Zealand. For dynamic self help; release of long held patterns, gain freedom from pain & tension, a healthy back and joints, free breathing.

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