The Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is a practice of becoming more present to our bodies; what we are doing with them, how we hold and move them. We can learn to let go of unhelpful patterns in our body/mind that may be causing pain and stress, and/or be the result of trauma, pain and stress. We can move forward with more grace and economy and less pain.
-Musicians, performers and athletes study the technique to improve their performance.
-Meditators learn the technique to deepen their practice, to sit and walk more comfortably, and to integrate their body sensations and feedback.
-People with chronic pain, repetitive stress injuries, and physical and emotional trauma benefit from the technique.
-People with chronic anxiety learn tools to attend to themselves, and help them orient in moments of stress and spiraling.
My work with the Alexander Technique has helped to establish an acute awareness of my habits and patterns in daily movement. Specifically, it helps by providing some clear examples of how easeful movement actually feels. I now have a reliable model for movement (and drumming) with less tension. This translates well to music performance. The Technique also plays a key role in my learning to live with tendonitis.
-Matt Wyatt