The Alexander Experience
By Ron Dennis, Ed.D.

The technique developed a hundred years ago by F. Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) survives today because of the unswerving effort of its founder over a long lifetime to teach and otherwise establish his pioneering work. Struggling alone as a young actor in Australia to restore his own voice, severely strained by incorrect vocal production on the stage, Alexander discovered a relationship between unconscious tension habits and many common problems, including learning difficulties, control of performance, and various physical disorders. His approach, now carried on by a third generation of teachers worldwide and endorsed by leading performers, physicians, and educators, blends touch and idea in a uniquely supportive learning process.

Everyone could benefit from the experience and knowledge gained in Alexander lessons, but it is the person with an unresolved problem who especially stands to gain. You should definitely consider Alexander if:

• your performance is suffering and you don't know what to do about it

• you're not really improving or you're feeling too dependent on your current treatment or therapy program

• you're discouraged about ever resolving your problem .

The Alexander Technique operates on a totally different principle from approaches utilizing exercises, massage, or adjustment, which do not take into suffficient account the unconscious habits of muscular constriction and imbalance that few escape in the lifelong response to stress. Such habits negatively condition all we do, including, strangely enough, our very efforts to improve ourselves. The crooked man walked a crooked mile because he couldn't do otherwise, given his unbalanced state. Any program aiming at lasting improvement (rather than just the temporary relief of symptoms) must address this issue of unconscious habit.

By bringing counterproductive habits into awareness and consciously learning to inhibit--not do--them, we activate a process of self-motivated and reflex-facilitated change, leading toward less tension in all activities and an efficient, attractive poise of the whole person.