Early in 2008 I noticed some difficulty in getting on and off my roadbike. My legs seemed to have lost some range of movement. In addition I seemed suddenly unable to comfortably reach the handle bars. Thinking this was due to too little stretching before and after exercise I increased this aspect of my program, but to no avail.

 

I became aware also of a dull ache in my lower back and pain in the front of my shoulders and hips, as well as shooting pains down my right leg.

My regular sports massage and chiropractic sessions seemed to have lost their remedial effects and I was at a loss at what to do.

 

Xrays of affected areas, blood tests and an MRI of my back showed nothing abnormal and doing the rounds of various health professionals and specialists were either ineffectual or resulted in the pain worsening.

 

One of the professionals I was referred to suggested 8 weeks lying on my back and doing nothing. After this my pain levels became unbearable and I was convinced that at the very least I had a couple of ruptured disks.

 

An eminent Neurosurgeon diagnosed that I was probably suffering from chronic pain and referred me to a pain specialist.

Time in a pain clinic resulted in pain levels came down to more manageable levels but were still very high and everything was painful and difficult.

 

My old exercise regime, in fact my old life as a whole, was a thing of the past as simple acts such as putting on my shoes, brushing my teeth, using a knife and fork, or even talking  was fraught with difficulty and pain.

 

A short article on the Alexander Technique in the newspaper The Australian Financial review “Technique works on bad backs” attracted my interest and I found a nearby teacher.

 

The lessons always seemed to leave me feeling somewhat better and while knowing little about the process at the beginning I knew that something worth pursuing was happening.

 

My teacher, showed extreme patience and skill. I was convinced that her hands were solely responsible for these gradual positive changes but she always denied this, emphasising that any change was a complete cooperative between pupil (me) and her.

 

I found this educative/therapeutic process beneficial and fascinating. Quite unlike anything I had experienced.

 

Sessions consisted mainly of doing simple everyday movements such as getting in and out of a chair. She showed me by gentle guidance with her hands as well as verbal instructions, how it could be managed with much less effort. She gave me the actual kinaesthetic experience of a completely new way of doing things.

 

Habits that were causing me pain were gradually exposed and alternatives which were much more comfortable, sustainable and effective, gently introduced.

 

I decided to enroll in the  3 year teacher's training course and when successfully completed I was then qualified to teach the Alexander Technique to others.

 

During my training I was amazed by the diversity of uses to which the technique was effectively applied. Besides pain and injury issues, I saw firsthand, incredible benefits to people with Parkinson’s, RSI, speech and breathing problems, performance problems of actors,  musicians, sportsmen and presenters, as well as helping a variety of common everyday problems.

 

The experience has been one of the most beneficial and interesting of my life. I have resumed my previous activities and my only regret is that the Technique’s low profile is such that most people have never heard of it. Without knowing something exists, it is not on the radar as a possible choice. With a higher profile I and many others could possibly have enjoyed its benefits so much earlier in life. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                               Alexander Technique Melbourne