Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique teaches the skilful "use of the self": how we move, how we stay still, how we breathe, how we learn, how we organise our awareness and focus of attention and, above all, how we choose our reactions in increasingly demanding situations.

Teachers of Alexander Technique use demonstration, explanation, and repeated examination of what spontaneously occurs in the student. Light hand contact is also used to detect the student's unnecessary physical and mental stresses. Hands-on suggestions are offered in the context of everyday actions such as sitting, standing, walking, using the hands, and speaking. Assistance with sports, hobbies, or the performing arts may be requested by students as further topics of personal interest.

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Alexander Technique Links

The Society of Teachers of The Alexander Technique

Wikipedia Alexander Technique Article

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Alexander Technique Documents

Alexander Technique Article

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Alexander Technique in Dorset

Link to Dorset Alexander Technique Directory to assist in finding a Dorset Physiotherapist.

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Advice to patients wishing to try Alexander Technique or any Complementary Therapies
· Always start with your GP - regardless of which therapy you wish to practice always inform your GP. This will ensure that your total health needs are considered. Your GP will be agood source of information about the therapy.

· Know the dangers of each Therapy - a number of therapies have potential problems and you should be informed of these by your therapist.

· Seek evidence based assessments of each therapy - look for research which scientifically evaluates thru clinical trials the acuracy of any claims about cure success rates.

· Limit your treatment - make sure that you do not become a victim of therapists who try to extend treatment beyond that which is adding real benefit

· Look for a patients charter if there is one - some surgry / clinics publish a patients charter which explains your rights and sets your expectations.

· Check the clinics and therapists qualifications - this should be readily available. Some associations provide a tool on their websites to let you check that the therapist is actually qualified.

· Avoid therapies or clinics that purport to be a panacea, a cure all - clinics that offer a range of herapies are more likley to have accepted that one therapy alone will not cure all ills.

· Therapy associations - know what to expect from them

· Ensure your therapist conforms to the NICE guidelines: http://www.nice.org.uk/