Product Description

The Alexander Technique Manual explains how to reduce stress levels and thus achieve a happier and more fulfilling lifestyle, and reveals how Alexander made his unique discoveries. Simple step-by-step instructions, aided by specially commissioned colour photographs, will enhance your understanding of the underlying principles of the technique. You will learn new ways of sitting, standing and moving that will put less stress on your muscles, bones and joints, and release tension throughout your body. Special sections are included, covering a wide range of sports, as well as pregnancy and childbirth, making this book a must for anyone wishing to improve, and ease, their lifestyle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77101 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

About the Author
Richard Brennan has studied the Alexander Technique since 1983 and is a qualified teacher running a busy practice and workshops.

Customer Reviews

Expensive glossy brochure with no real practical information
This book is printed on high quality glossy paper, alas that is all the quality it has. For a book with the title The Alexander Technique Manual I would have expected lots of information on techniques, instead the reader is bombarded with suggestion to go and see an Alexander Technique teacher - perhaps the book should be called "Sales brochure" instead of manual. Although the author puts forward a few ideas for posture, they are very sparse and constantly refer to how a teacher would show you rather than instruction on 'how to'. When you finish reading the book, you are left with a feeling of why did I buy it? As the author himself states "the experience of the Alexander Technique can never be described in a book or conveyed by speech." pity that isn't printed on the cover, it would have saved me the money for my first lesson with a teacher. The Alexander Technique is no doubt a marvellous aid to sufferers of back and joint problems and reducing stresses in the body, but this sort of expensive book does nothing to further the cause. The info in this book could have easily been printed in B&W on far lower quality paper with a much lower price tag, and not lost anything as a result....

An excellent clear guide to The Alexander Technique
This is that rare book on the Alexander Technique, one that manages to explain the key principles in clear English. It is an excellent introduction and, in conjunction with lessons from a certified teacher, is sure to bring the reader the very best results from the technique.

If other reviewers bemoan the fact that lessons from a certified teacher are still required, they will have missed the point of the technique. Whilst a book can provide much useful information, nothing can substitute for the experience of a teacher. Teachers qualify after a rigorous 3 year course and it would be unlikely that a single book could ever be a substitute for some lessons. What this book does admirably is to explain what the technique is and how it works and to motivate the reader to take the technique further with one-to-one lessons or group workshops.

The Alexander Technique Manual
Posture is important. Not standing rigidly straight like our mothers told us but natural posture. At first, it sounds a little redundant. Of course, I stand, sit, and walk in a natural way. However, it's amazing the strain we put our bodies through without even recognizing it. After twisting our bodies like pretzels, we then wonder why we have neck, shoulder, or back pain.

The Alexander Technique Manual is a good basic resource that literally shows us how awkwardly the majority of us sit, stand, and walk. The key to making changes is pretty straightforward, beginning with awareness. We can't change what we don't know exists. A few mindful exercises and some minor modifications can really make a difference.

On this one, I do highly suggest seeing a professional trained in The Alexander Technique. He or she will see things that you won't necessarily notice. Still, simply by paying attention to body pain, strain, stiffness, or awkward movements and then making small changes, you can make a world of difference even on your own.