Why do I need a teacher?

Since they are so familiar, your harmful movement habits often feel “right” to you. In other words, it is difficult to recognize when you are actually creating unnecessary tension in your body. You often do so because it is below your level of consciousness.

Even if you understand the principles of moving more efficiently and naturally, it doesn’t mean that you have the awareness to apply this understanding. One of the challenges to making changes in your movement habits is that you are often not doing that which you think you are doing. F.M. Alexander commented on this aspect of the human condition, describing it as an “unreliable sensory appreciation.”

Part of what the Alexander Technique teacher does is to help you recognize when you are creating this excess tension, and how you can stop it. With the help of the teacher’s hands and verbal guidance, you will experience a new coordination, based upon muscular release and balance. You will also learn to improve your sensory awareness so you can prevent these harmful movement patterns as they start to arise.

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