The Alexander Technique
FM Alexander 1869-1955
What is the Alexander Technique?
Explain the Alexander Technique
If you were looking for essential skills to change the way you move, the Alexander Technique would be one of the most useful approaches to try.
What is Alexander Technique used for?
Its strength lies in treating movement as whole mindbody coordination. People who learn it discover how to bring thought directly into action, creating a quality of movement that feels intentional, coherent and quietly masterful.
Named after its originator, FM Alexander, the Alexander Technique has developed an enduring reputation for offering a clear and thoughtful approach to movement self‑regulation and functional ease.
What did Alexander discover?
Alexander discovered that movement is organised by the whole self, not by isolated muscles or parts. He saw that the relationship of the head, neck and spine acts as a primary control for balance, coordination and ease, influencing every action we take.
He also realised that our reactions are both physical and mental, a single system responding as one. By pausing before a habitual response, he could interrupt the old pattern and use directed thought to influence a new bodymind organisation.Â
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This simple act of stopping and redirecting thought into the body revealed possibilities in movement that most people never notice, opening a way of working that feels both practical and quietly transformative.
Have a look at the video to your right.
How can I use his discoveries?
Learning to identify and prevent unwanted habits can unravel the muscle grips, twists and compressions that interfere with ease. As these patterns settle, movement becomes clearer and more responsive.
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Developing accurate information about your body in motion gives you practical influence over the quality of your coordination. You begin to sense how the balance of your head and spine creates an organising relationship that supports steadiness and lightness.
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Practising the conscious projection of thought into the body can guide gentle postural change and refine the way your whole system responds. This directed attention influences both muscular tone and the autonomic nervous system, reducing strain and supporting a healthier internal balance
Benefits of Alexander learning
Students often notice a gradual shift toward easier posture, clearer balance and a reduction in habitual tension.
The amount of information and the quality of information about the students body in movement increases dramatically.
Movements that once felt effortful begin to organise themselves with less strain, and breathing becomes more responsive.
The Technique can also offer practical support for chronic pain conditions, occupational overuse, voice and breathing challenges, and general movement fatigue.
Its benefits emerge through learning rather than treatment, giving you skills you can use long‑term.
How to begin
There are a number of ways that you can take your interest in the Alexander Technique further. Have a lesson with us at Blue Mountains Alexander Technique. We have a wide selection of articles for you to read on our blog archive. Wherever you are in the world you can have a zoom online lesson with Michael Shellshear or start today with our eLearning activities. We have a large range of Alexander Technique eLearning available.
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