Blue Mountains Alexander Technique
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The Alexander Technique approaches human functioning as a living, adaptive system. These writings look at how coordination, perception, and intention interact, and how reorganising the system as a whole leads to more coherent movement and more dependable outcomes.
Here you’ll find essays, teaching notes, and longer reflections that map this systems view in plain language. The archive is designed as a resource for students, teachers, and anyone curious about how thoughtful practice can reshape the way we move through daily life.
Using Constructive Conscious Control for self-improvement. In the realm of self-improvement and personal growth, “consciousness” is a concept that is spoken about but perhaps not well understood. It’s important to
Five things you can do to improve your breathing and vocal control Struggling for a deep easy breath? Find that you are chronically coughing? Finding that your voice is failing
It’s called a “slipped disc”, a ‘bulging disc” or a “herniated disc”. It means pretty much the same thing, you have damaged the tissue that connects one vertebrae to another in your spine. This can mean anything from minor aches to very intense, crippling and life endangering pain.
In this blog, I’ll provide you with some good quality, simple-to-understand information and some ideas for what you can do.
First-go to your doctor or medical practitioner.
I suggest this as a first move because there are some instances (generally rare) where a herniated disc can have very serious and extreme health consequences.
Medical practitioners can quickly tell the difference between serious spine related issues and the more common variety of injury that afflicts so many of us. Symptoms such as loss of movement, loss of bladder or bowel control should be attended to by a hospital urgently.
A herniated disc is not an insignificant health event.  The problem is that there are no quick fix cures available. Surgery is extremely invasive and may not work. Cortisone washes give temporary pain relief but can not be used regularly because of their side effects.
What is a herniated disc?
Discs are the shock absorbers that sit between each vertebra in your spine bone. They are very strong and designed to bear large forces and load. Like all physical structures discs have a load limit. When the load placed on your disc is too great the structure of the disc can tear. The tear usually starts from the inside of the disc near the centre. The nucleus of the disc pushed out through the tear and as shown in the illustration it can bulge up against a nerve root. This can create pain at the spine, in the surrounding muscles or in areas of the body that are fed by the nerve.
In yoga it’s called “savasana”. In Alexander Technique it’s called “semi supine” or “constructive rest”. There are many similarities between the savasana pose in yoga and semi-supine.
Savasana has the outward appearance of something easy and yet it is described by some as one of the most difficult poses to master. At the heart of the matter is the meditative state required to completely let go of physical tension and the mental tension that accompanies it, while still remaining present and aware in the moment.
Proponents of the Alexander Technique use a version of this pose to cultivate a neutral state of balance and poise, enjoying a presence in the moment that flows into movement as well.
Alexander lessons can assist you to manage sciatica. Sciatic pain happens when inappropriate pressure comes onto the sciatic nerve. The causes can vary but anyone who experiences it knows that
Did you know that the most common type of back pain, suffered by people, is lower back pain? If you have lower back pain, it’s a red flag that something
Jane (pictured) is doing an Alexander Technique procedure called the ‘semi-supine’. Some people call this the ‘Rescue Position’. It’s called the Rescue Position for good reason. If you suffer from
If you have pains in your back, legs arms and neck that won’t go away, you are not alone. Over 4 million people in Australia or (16% of the population)reported that they experienced back pain. Pain at least “moderately” interfered with daily activities for almost 2 in 5 (38%) people with back problems in 2017–18. 1
The secret that thousands of people around the world know, is that you can manage back pain by learning Alexander Technique.
Alexander Technique is an invaluable tool for anyone who suffers from scoliosis. Conventional treatment involves the sufferer wearing a brace. Alexander Technique becomes an important skill that can be used to reduce some of the ill effects of being braced for a long period.
Is Alexander Technique Quackery? If you are developing an interest in Alexander Technique, it’s good to gather information and understand what it is and how it may be helpful. To