“Alexander Technique is about undoing harmful physical and mental habits and replacing them with healthy habits.”

– Marius De Vos, Alexander Technique teacher

What it is..

 

It is an educational process in which the teacher helps the students to acquire mental and physical skills that allow tension free, light, stress reducing use of the body in all circumstance.

The Alexander Technique is about undoing harmful physical and mental habits and replacing them with healthy habits. It is an educational process aimed at providing the student with the skills to change the way they sit, stand, walk, breathe, eat soup, brush their teeth, play the piano, ride a horse…everything.

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One of the technique’s primary tasks is to make the student aware of how they use their body, and then to cultivate an ongoing healthy awareness.

The Alexander technique tends not to focus on specific problems or areas of concern. Instead it works towards creating a well balanced, well organized and co-ordinated system which can alleviate the impact of damage that has been done as well as preventing further damage. The work done between teacher and student is primarily physical, but essentially addresses the relationship between how we think and how we use your bodies..

What it is not..

 

.. it is not a therapy.
.. it is not an exercise regime.
.. it is not a quick fix.
.. it is not an alternative medical practice.
.. it is not a ‘once and for all’ problem solver.

Who it is for..

 

Essentially, the Alexander Technique is for anybody, because it is basically about how we use our bodies for all activity.Some people come to Alexander lessons in response to a specific challenge or difficulty, while others come simply in order to change the way they go about things and in that way prevent, or at least reduce the chances of,problems in the future.

The technique is suitable across all age ranges and all levels of physical or cognitive ability.

Contact me for an introduction to Alexander Technique

Musicians

How Alexander techinque can benefit musicians

Musicians report that the technique helps to relieve pain caused through the way the body is used while playing an instrument.This includes everything from neck pain from playing a violin to back issues for cello players. They also report that they are able to prevent further injuries or pain from developing, and that the tone and quality of music they produce improves noticeably. What the technique offers musicians is the ability to remove any unwanted or unintended stress in the body; the absence of stress changes the quality of the sound produced.

Actors

How Alexander techinque can benefit Actors in their professional lives.

Actors benefit on many levels. On the one hand, the technique offers ways to find a ‘neutral’ body, i.e. one in which there is balance, freedom from unwanted tension, and freedom from unconscious habits and posture. This allows the actor to approach the creation of a character, from a physical point of view, from a more neutral palette. Absence of tension also has a direct influence on the voice. The technique also offers ways of dealing with the physical demands of a particular role, both in terms of how to create such physical states and in terms of dealing with the potential strain on the body caused by them.

Sportspeople

How Alexander techinque can benefit and improve Athletes sporting life

Sportspeople, whatever their particular discipline, are focused on an optimum use of the body. In many cases the emphasis on creating more strength or flexibility or agility in a specific area (e.g arms for a swimmer) draws attention away from how the whole system is operating.Sportspeople report that thinking in terms of the whole body as a system rather than focusing exclusively on specific areas results in a lesser chance of injury, and in enhanced performance.

How does it work?

Although the technique is sometimes taught to groups or in workshops, in most cases it is taught on an individual basis. A lesson normally lasts an hour (but can be adapted to suit individual need).The aim of lessons is to provide the student with skills and ideas so that they can continue to work on themselves outside of lessons. However, the ‘homework’ focuses on changing thinking about movement, rather than physical exercises.In the light of this, a minimum of 10 lessons is recommended.Many people choose to have ongoing Alexander lessons, while some others return to lessons periodically (e.g. doing 10 lessons every year). It is important to note that the technique is never a ‘quick fix’ for any physical problem, nor is it a substitute for appropriate medical intervention.

Although the technique is sometimes taught to groups or in workshops, in most cases it is taught on an individual basis. A lesson normally lasts an hour (but can be adapted to suit individual need).The aim of lessons is to provide the student with skills and ideas so that they can continue to work on themselves outside of lessons. However, the ‘homework’ focuses on changing thinking about movement, rather than physical exercises.In the light of this, a minimum of 10 lessons is recommended.Many people choose to have ongoing Alexander lessons, while some others return to lessons periodically (e.g. doing 10 lessons every year). It is important to note that the technique is never a ‘quick fix’ for any physical problem, nor is it a substitute for appropriate medical intervention.

A central idea in Alexander work is that mind and body are not separate. Working on the body means also working on the mind; changing the way you move is only possible if you change the way you think about moving and while moving

A lesson will consist mostly of ‘chair work’ – working on getting in and out of a chair as a way of dealing with all possible uses of the body as a system.Chair work creates opportunities for exploring all the basic Alexander technique ideas and principals. Some work will also happen with the student lying on a table.

The teacher will place hands on the student throughout the session in order to guide, understand and re-educate the body.The work happens fully clothed.Comfortable, easy to move in clothes are recommended, but no special attire is required.

Sometimes a specific challenge will be addressed, such as how to hold and play a cello, or how to sit well on a horse. Howeverthis is seldom the primary focus, and where it is focused on will probably only happen after quite a few ‘general’ lessons.Even where special attention is paid to a specific body part or a specific function, it is always done within the context of the body and mind as a system.

This really is entirely up to the individual and individual circumstances. It is preferable that there is not longer than a month between lessons, and not less than a week. It is also best, but not essential, for lessons to be reasonably regularly spaced.

Packages & Costs..

Taster pack
€490,-
Although a series of 10 lessons is recommended, it is possible to have fewer lessons as required.
2 ‘taster’ lessons - €45.00
8 lessons - €50.00
10 pack
€450,-
If all ten lessons are paid for in advance, all lessons are charged at €45.00
10 prepaid lessons - €450,-

Contact & Address

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Stadhouderskade 51, Amsterdam