The Alexander Technique
A Different Kind of Learning
Not a therapy, not an exercise — a method for re-educating the whole self.
What Is the Alexander Technique?
The Alexander Technique is an educational method that teaches you to recognize and change harmful habits of posture and movement that cause pain, tension, and fatigue.
Developed by F.M. Alexander in the 1890s, the technique addresses the relationship between thinking and physical action — how the way we think about movement directly affects how we move.
It is not a form of exercise, massage, or physical therapy. Rather, it is a process of learning to notice and release habitual patterns of tension, and to allow the body's natural poise and coordination to emerge.
“There is no royal road to anything worth having.”
— F.M. Alexander
Core Principles
Inhibition
Learning to pause before acting — to stop the automatic, habitual response — is the foundation of the technique. This pause creates space for a new, more coordinated response.
Direction
Conscious directions — thoughts that guide the body toward length, width, and ease — replace the old patterns of compression and tension.
Primary Control
The dynamic relationship between the head, neck, and back is central to the technique. When this relationship is free, the whole body can function with greater ease.
End-Gaining
The habit of focusing only on the goal — the 'end' — at the expense of the 'means' is a major source of tension. The technique teaches attention to the process, not just the outcome.
What It Can Help With
The Alexander Technique is best understood through direct experience. Schedule a lesson with Joan to discover what it can do for you.
See What a Lesson Looks Like