JESSICA WOLF:

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE &

THE ART OF BREATHING

Home

The Art of Breathing

The Alexander Technique

Who Was F.M.
Alexander?

Why Study the
Alexander Technique?

Breathing Coordination

Why Study the Alexander Technique?

“The Alexander Technique enables people to get better faster and stay better longer. Its practitioners stress unification in an area of increasing specialization. This is undoubtedly the best way to take care of the back and alleviate pain.”

- Jack Stern, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosurgeon

If you are encountering any of the following conditions, the Alexander Technique might be right for you:

Backache
Headache
Knee & Foot Pain
Arthritis
Scoliosis
Sciatica
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Osteoporosis
Asthma
Breathing Problems
Digestive Problems
Vocal Disorders
Pain During Pregnancy
Disease of the Central Nervous System
Psychological Problems

Originally developed as a method to improve breathing, this century-old Technique later evolved into a way of working with the whole self, i.e. the body and mind. The Technique enables you to use your mind more effectively which improves concentration, endurance and creativity. At the same time, mobility and ease are restored to the body. Once awareness is achieved, you can voluntarily refrain from unwanted tightening. The body becomes more supple and comfortable to maintain.

It is a question of awareness. Most of us have not stopped to consider that we may have been mis-using ourselves for most of our lifetime. Ordinary activity can create pressure and strain on our body. The busier we are the more we seem to ask of it. Our back might “go out” in a momentary instance of sneezing or bending, and it’s at times like these when we have no choice but to take notice. Mis-use can cause malfunctioning. When the body becomes “handicapped” by counter productive habits, it can’t respond well to the demands we place on it – what’s more, these habits may even damage our bodies. Learning the Alexander Technique will enable you to identify the habits that are limiting you and provide the tools to change them - enabling you to meet the demands of modern life with ease and stamina.

Habit is Powerful

“Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.”

- Mark Twain

The habits that are damaging to our whole self are the candidates for conscious change. Changing a habit is a complex act. We’re all used to making temporary changes, such as catching ourselves slumping and deciding to stand up straight. The Alexander Technique can provide a way of changing the habits that interfere with ease and health – by making a conscious choice to do so and then to continue making that choice over and over again.

Here are some every day examples:

Consider what happens to us as we sit at our computers. Most of us tend to round our backs as we lean in toward the screen. This causes our hip joints to tighten, which in turn makes our lower back ache.
When standing and talking to people at a party, do you find yourself shifting from one hip to another or from foot to foot? Have you noticed any tightening in your legs or buttocks? Do you find that you are searching for a wall to lean against? By the end of the evening do you find the effort to hold yourself up has resulted in chronic tension and pain?
Driving long distances in your car can create a cascading array of physical and mental problems. Have you ever noticed, for instance, your neck craning forward, your shoulders rising to your ears and the death grip on the steering wheel? What about your mental attitude? Do you get upset and impatient with other drivers?
Consider the indispensable habit of breathing. Do you hold your breath while listening to a friend speak? Do you grab for breath because you feel your breath to be unsatisfying? Do you suffer from colds and recurring bouts of respiratory disease or discomfort?
Are you currently in physical therapy practicing exercises that don’t seem to be helping? Unconscious muscular habits may be interfering with what the exercise is meant to achieve. It’s not what you do but how you do it that will affect the outcome.