Click below to reveal the answers or contact a qualified teacher for a more detailed response.
How will the Alexander Technique benefit me?The Alexander Technique can benefit different people in different ways. Benefits can include improved posture, coordination and vocal control; ease of movement; increased stamina and spatial awareness. Also, long term application of the work can offer relief from various ailments including RSI; muscular aches and pains; stress related conditions; various injuries and breathing disorders. Alexander Technique is, however, not a ‘quick fix’ but in essence a life skill which requires long term application to be of any long term benefit.
Will it cure my back problems?Application of the Alexander Technique can help relieve back pain amongst other ailments. However, training in the Alexander Technique does not qualify a teacher to diagnose or cure any form of medical condition. The technique itself in fact is most definitely not a direct cure for any medical condition, though it is particularly helpful as a preventative measure for various ailments, not least for back, muscular and breathing problems.
How many lessons will I need?This is an indefinite amount as it depends on how quickly a student learns to apply the work. As a guideline, 20 lessons should be sufficient for a student to understand the fundamentals of the work, though many students prefer to continue taking lessons after initially planning to take a course of 20.
How often should I have a lesson?This factor is often decided by how often a student can afford to have a lesson and the availability of both the student and the teacher. It can be particularly helpful to the learning process if the first series of lessons are fairly close together (e.g. 2-3 times a week for the first month), though in the longer term, 1 lesson per work can normally suffice.
How long does a lesson last?This depends both on the teacher and on the student, and can vary based on no specific factors. Most lessons last around 45 minutes to 1 hour, though under the right conditions 30 minutes can be adequate. Generally, lessons which go on for too long (e.g. 1 hours, 15 minutes or more) can be counter productive.
How much does it cost?This can also vary greatly from teacher to teacher dependent on location and on the teacher’s experience. Some teachers also give discounts dependent on circumstances. The average price of a lesson seems to be around £35-£50, though it is quite possible to find teachers of great experience based in a metropolitan area charging in excess of £60. Some teachers of limited experience can also be found to charge as little as £20 (N.B. price and experience is not necessarily a clear reflection of the quality of a teacher’s work). Many teachers also offer reduced prices for booking blocks of multiple lessons.
What should I wear in a lesson?There is no dress code for an Alexander lesson. It is not necessary to dress any differently to the way you would normally. However, part of the lesson can involve lying on a table on your back, thus it is helpful to wear trousers rather than any clothing which restricts movement of the legs.
Can I learn the technique in a group?Group teaching of the Alexander Technique can be a somewhat controversial subject, thus the owner of this website would like to express the following point of view – ‘One to one teaching is the only way a student can receive the necessary physiological and verbal feedback which makes the Alexander Technique effective. However, by means of an introduction to the work, an initial group session can be effective. In the long term it should not be encouraged as each student is different and thus requires different, one to one feedback – group feedback does not fulfil this requirement and therefore is an inadequate alternative.
What exercises can I do on my own?The Alexander Technique does not encourage ‘exercise’ in the generic understanding of the term as exercise generally involves repetition of particular movements. Such activity can encourage habitual patterns of tension which is exactly what the Alexander Technique aims to change. However, at certain stages during the course of a student’s learning, teachers will generally give students activities to carry out and habitual patterns of activity to be aware of while away from the teaching room.
How do I know that a teacher is genuine?All genuine teachers of the Alexander Technique have received a full time training over 3 years. There are a number of teaching societies around the world who qualify graduating teachers. The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) is based in the UK with various affiliated societies in other countries. All STAT certified teachers (MSTAT) are required to adhere to a professional code of conduct and hold professional indemnity insurance.
