Health and beauty

Head leads spine follows


4/ 5/2004

Asalamu Alaykum readers.
This month I am going to tell you about a wonderfully refreshing technique I have recently practiced.
It's called the Alexander technique and is a method of training in posture, body movement and positioning.
An actor called Frederick Alexander developed this technique when he observed that his voice projection was much better when he held his posture in an upright position.
Gradually he developed the idea that body use - how we hold ourselves, move etc, can effect the functioning of our internal organs and overall health.
His techniques are based on the principle of extending the spine, allowing it to reach its optimal length and generally to re-deploy the body's entire muscular system. A common phrase used to describe the ideal movement is the 'head leads, the spine follows.'
Alexander exercises are geared towards restoring natural posture and ease movement.
Young children move naturally with a lengthened spine and a sense of poise.
As we get older, unfortunately we often acquire bad habits. Additional stresses can lead to imbalance and excessive muscular effort in the movement.
If chronic tensions build up, the neck and back muscles contract, leading to rounded shoulders, a lowered head and an arched back which causes further tension and so the problem gets worse and worse.
Alexander teachers seek to help re-educate us to change these patterns and regain positive, easy body use.
Improvements in posture can be accompanied by health benefits such as greater mental alertness, better sleep, increased resistance to stress and enhanced performance of physical tasks.
The techniques are learned in classes rather than treatment sessions and could involve some simple actions such as sitting down and getting up from a chair or walking backwards and forwards, with corrective advice on how to use the body more efficiently.
It is advised to use some self-help measures which may be of benefit, for example, looking closely at your posture in the mirror might be a valuable piece of insight in identifying obvious imbalances.
However, bad habits are hard to change or spot sometimes, so a series of lessons from a teacher is likely to be the most helpful way to correct them.
The Alexander technique is a not a cure, but improves the way we hold and use our bodies and can improve many people's overall health and movement.
For more information on local Alexander technique classes, drop me a line at Asian News, Observer Buildings, Drake Street, Rochdale OL16 1PH or e-mail me on asiannews@gmwn.co.uk
Remember, nothing tried, nothing gained.


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