My AT Story

It's not unusual among Alexander Technique teachers to talk about what brought us to the Technique. So here goes . . .

About 23 years ago my spinal cord was compressed just below the waist so that I lost function from the waist down. I can say with certainty that learning to walk at age 2 is much easier than as a middle-aged adult.

Well . . . that only indirectly brought me to AT. I was an elementary music specialist back then, singing for 6 hours a day, and the changes to my legs and trunk created breathing issues. I was using muscles to sing and breath that cause great pain every time I used my voice. Since I needed to keep my job a few more years, I found an AT and voice teacher who changed my life. My voice is still not as strong as it could be if I spent more time working on breath and singing. Some day!

However, the Alexander Technique has completely transformed the rest of my body! Sitting, standing, walking, bicycling, doing dishes, lifting and carrying—even sleeping. All these have improved with my study of the Technique.

When I was teaching for the school district, it wasn't unusual to see a chiropractor weekly and a massage therapist every couple weeks. They helped, but there was a certain dependence: I couldn't keep my muscles lose without their work. And that meant I couldn't beat the pain without them.

Now I'm happy to say that I haven't had a massage for over 10 years because I can lengthen my muscles on my own. That will alleviate most of the pain I get myself into, but I just don't get the same kind of tension I had for so many years because I've learned when to stop so it doesn't get so bad in the first place. I also have movement choices for when I do find myself in pain. I can usually walk myself out of knee or hip pain. I can move to even out back muscles and alleviate shoulder and neck pain. I can rest with legs up to alleviate low back issues.

It's not magic. It takes practice, but the coordination I can create has kept me in good shape even when I've pushed myself farther than I probably should. That's the biggest habit I'm still working on . . .

If you're curious about what Alexander Technique can do for you, contact me and ask for a demonstration. I teach classes and private lessons.

RePattern2Learn@gmail.com

712-292-2882

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