Agreeing an Explanation of the Alexander Technique

One of the most interesting small (!) tasks that we have had to do on the regulatory front has been the agreement of a short explanation of what the Alexander Technique is. It has taken four people from 9th December to 3rd February to come up with the following. It will be used at the head of the discipline-specific section of the National Occupational Standards.

The Alexander Technique (AT) is a taught practical discipline with significant healthcare implications.

AT lessons help people to free themselves from unhelpful postural and movement habits and develop a more intelligent and skilled control of the manner in which they engage in activity.

An important part of teaching is the use of specialised hand contact which helps learners identify and reduce interference with the working of their innate mechanisms of balance and coordination.

Practice of the AT directly benefits the performance of both everyday and specialised activities; general health and well being benefit as the progressive decrease in poor habits leads to increasing improvement in the functioning of physiological systems.

The AT is also valued for its contribution to self-development: people learn to increase their attention level, gain poise, presence, and ease of movement and remain calm and rational under pressure.

Alexander Technique teachers work in many different areas such as the performing arts, education, sports and leisure, as well as in healthcare contexts.