Basic Principles of the Alexander Technique: A skill for living

The Alexander Technique is a simple and practical method of self-help and learning. Many people from all walks of life have benefited from it since it was developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander over 100 years ago.

On a mental level the Technique teaches you to see that you have choices about how you live your everyday life on all levels. You can learn to cast off old, effortful habits and make way for easefulness instead.

On a physical level it encourages lengthening of the spine, ease of breathing, greater lightness in bodily movement, and altogether more health and happiness.

It is based on the discovery that our everyday habits, for example how we move, speak, breathe and think, affect the way we function. Using the three principles of the Technique we can learn to stop doing what it is unhelpful for us to do and allow the right thing to do itself.

Three Principles

Know Thyself

Obviously we need first to be aware of what our habits are in order to change them. Here it is very helpful if trained eyes and hands can give us feedback. Everything is interesting. We do not need to judge or correct; we simply need to be curious about ourselves.

Just say no...

However, we cannot change just by superimposing something new over what is old. Only when we are able to give ourselves time and stop our old patterns, can new ones be established. And we start by stopping unnecessary muscular effort, particularly in the neck.

Thinking Aloud

Our thoughts can have a subtle but deep effect on our muscles. In the Technique we learn new ways of thinking, or directions, as Alexander put it. And the most basic direction deals with the relationship between the neck, head and back, which it is essential to have released if the rest of the body is to work well.