Alexander Technique: An Introductory Guide to the Technique and its Benefits

130 Pages·1996·32.862 MB·English

by  Chris Stevens

ALEXANDER
TECHNIQUE
An .introductory guide to the
technique and its benefits
CHRIS STEVENS
Chris Stevens began learning the Alexander Technique
in 1969. He has been director of a recognized teacher
training course for over 10 years and is a former
chairman of STAT.
He has carried out scientific research into the Technique
in the Department of Anatomy, University of
Copenhagen and the Division of Basic Medical Sciences,
Kings College, London. Through this, Chris has
continued Alexander's tradition using modern scientific
methods and advances in scientific knowledge to
improve his understanding and teaching methods.
Chris teaches in England and Germany, and has written
several books and research papers.

ALEXANDER
TECHNIQUE
An introductory guide to
the techniques and its benefits
Chris Stevens
lllustrated by
Shaun Williams
VERMILION
LONDON
First published by Macdonald Optima in 1987
357910864
Copyright© Chris Stevens 1987, 1995
Chris Stevens has asserted his moral right to be identified as the
authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without prior permission of the copyright owner.
-This revised edition published in the United Kingdom in 1996
by Vermilion
an imprint of Ebury Press
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British
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ISBN O 09 180979 7
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To my mother

CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 9
FOREWORD 11
INTRODUCTION 13
1. WHAT IS THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE? 19
Alexander and his discovery 20
How is Alexander's discovery relevant? 24
What kinds of people find the Technique useful? 28
2. WHY WE NEED ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE 33
Body misuse and modern living 33
How misuse manifests itself ·36
How Alexander stopped misusing his body 37
A little anatomy 40
3. HOW ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE HELPS 47
Three fundamental discoveries 47
Towards a solution 51
The teacher's role 51
Alexander's method 52
4. THINKING ABOUT ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE 55
5. STAGES OF LEARNING 63
First stage 63
Second stage 65
Third stage 66
Fourth stage 67
Failures 68
CONTENTS
Why it takes a long time to learn 72
Why individual lessons are necessary 73
Why 'how to do it' books do not work 73
6. SCIENCE AND THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE 75
Early scientific support 75
Experimental evidence 76
Quality of performance 83
Blood pressure 83
Breathing 83
Digestive problems 84
7. HOW CAN I HELP MYSELF? 85
Lying with the head on books 85
Sitting 87
Sitting on the floor 90
Exercise 90
Lifting and carrying 93
Writing 94
Rehabilitation 95
A broader perspective 96
8. TOWARDSA NEW MILLENNIUM 99
Alexander's experience 99
A new starting point 101
Modem scientific ideas and Alexander 108
USEFUL ADDRESSES 123
FURTHER READING 124
Other books and articles by Chris Stevens 125
INDEX 126
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With grateful thanks to my colleagues and students,
especially Walter Carrington for correcting my
many errors.