Not with that lot

Some people raise an eyebrow at the prospect of Alexander Technique teachers being on the same register with this list of therapies*. 'We are not therapists! We are teachers!' comes the cry. Indeed one my first reactions to the news that we were likely to share our regulatory framework with these approaches to health and well-being was 'Not with that lot!' I now recognise that my reaction was a prejudicial gut-reaction based on the perception that being seen in such company would somehow degrade, somehow place the Alexander Technique at a lower-than-deserved value.

Leaving aside the question 'Should the Alexander Technique be listed with therapies?' for a moment, this reaction of mine seriously underestimated the evidence that I already had to hand that these approaches have really helped people who are close to me.

A family member - a real sceptic (ridicule is his trade) - has had huge benefits from the Bowen Technique; my family has had fantastic benefits from homeopathy - me especially, ethnic white Irish (potato white, deeply averse to sun-worshipping activities) have been sun-proofed by a homeopathic remedy; people I know and respect have benefited from, and indeed practice, Reflexology.

So a simple inspection of my personal experience, and the evidence around me should have been sufficient to stop me making such a prejudicial exclamation.

*Aromatherapy, Bowen technique, Cranial Therapy, Homeopathy, Massage, Naturopathy, Nutritional Therapy, Yoga Therapy, Reflexology, Reiki and Shiatsu.