Alexander technique

[sr71blackbird]

I saw this story today on Yahoo news (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080820/hl_nm/back_pain_dc).
It is called the Alexander technique. It seems to be a methodology of positioning yourself so that you make proper use of your joints and this alleviates pain and tension. I am very interested in this, but I cannot seem to find anything that describes the technique! It is very frustrating because I do not want to go see someone to learn how to do this.
I want to see it being done and practice it alone and on myself. Id like to see a video.
I did several searches and non have been what I am looking for. I want to see illustrations, explanations and methods. Anyone hear of this? Anyone know of any sites that will show what I am looking for? It is like they want to keep it a secret! I looked on youtube and it seems to be just practitioners trying to drum up business.

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/941/675031.JPG

[TooLowBrow]

i knew a dance instructor who would have us bend at the waist, keeping legs straight and back loose. then slowly we'd move to upright, so each vertebrae got back into position before the one above it. is this what you mean?

[sr71blackbird]

It might very well be, but since they give zero information on the story and on the web, I guess I may never know.. I notice this a lot, like there is an information black out or something.

[IamPixie]

so those crazy ass, moon shoes didn't work out for you?

[sr71blackbird]

They do, but this looks like it would help you get yourself in the correct posture. I slump down when I sit and at my desk at work I find that after a while my chin is on my chest and my shoulders are rounded. I know I have horrible posture. The shoes help that part when I am walking or standing.

[BlackSpider]

Have you tried the Ludovico technique?
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r221/spidescorp/orange3.jpg

[jonyrotn]

Oh yeah..I've heard of this, I think the English term is "standing up straight"..It's hard to execute with all this gravity and shit but I know people who have nearly mastered it..
I would try walking first then move onto all this harder stuff..

[Ritalin]

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QFT

[El Mudo]

I only subscribe to this Alexander technique


Blech...I can only link it here (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2636503729289931176&ei=OCnaSJPpHomwrQL4ipSmCw&q=alex+ovechkin+goal)

[pennington]

I slump down when I sit and at my desk at work I find that after a while my chin is on my chest and my shoulders are rounded. I know I have horrible posture.

I recommend the Truback. I know it's cliche but I saw an infomercial and ordered it.

I originally bought it for my lower back and it has somewhat helped that but it's really made a difference in my upper back and posture. It took me weeks using it every day to get my head all the way back in the advanced position. I now can put my hands together straight above me and can put them all the way straight behind me until the touch the floor behind my head.

I use it every day. Some days when I'm slumped over as you described, I use it and it straightens me out. You only have to use it for four or five minutes. They include pads which you can use in the beginning if you want but I recommend removing them, it works faster.

In the beginning you will tense up and fight it. But you need to relax and let gravity do the work.

Link:
http://www.trueback.com/index2.php?SID=GRANTGZT

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shit!

[Thebazile78]

There was recently an article in the NY Times (Health; "Well" Blog (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/health/nutrition/13fitness.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=walking%20lessons&st=cse)) about a growing interest in "walking lessons" ... which are related to the Alexander Technique.

Basically, what you are looking to do is develop a consciousness of how you are using your muscles and joints. The practitioners of the "walking lessons" advocate strengthening your core muscles to help you consciously align your body.

On WebMD, they have articles about the Alexander Technique and there's also a short piece about it at DiscoveryHealth (health.discovery.com) under the Alternative Medicine section (I think the listing is in the "Alternative Medicine Cabinet" feature that explores a lot of Alternative/Homeopathic/Traditional medicine terms/practices ... and links you to websites of accrediting associations for those practices that have them._

Doing yoga can help you develop a consciousness about your body's alignment while exercises like Pilates can help you strengthen your core. If you add "walking lessons" to your practice, you can free yourself from the pain that comes from being out of alignment.

[niciggy]

There was recently an article in the NY Times (Health; "Well" Blog (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/health/nutrition/13fitness.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=walking%20lessons&st=cse)) about a growing interest in "walking lessons" ... which are related to the Alexander Technique.

Basically, what you are looking to do is develop a consciousness of how you are using your muscles and joints. The practitioners of the "walking lessons" advocate strengthening your core muscles to help you consciously align your body.

On WebMD, they have articles about the Alexander Technique and there's also a short piece about it at DiscoveryHealth (health.discovery.com) under the Alternative Medicine section (I think the listing is in the "Alternative Medicine Cabinet" feature that explores a lot of Alternative/Homeopathic/Traditional medicine terms/practices ... and links you to websites of accrediting associations for those practices that have them._

Doing yoga can help you develop a consciousness about your body's alignment while exercises like Pilates can help you strengthen your core. If you add "walking lessons" to your practice, you can free yourself from the pain that comes from being out of alignment.

I'm a new Pilates instructor and if you strengthen your core, you will find that you have the abililty to tap into the muscles that allow you to stay straighter longer. However, I also have scoliosis and kyphosis and wore one of those hideous back braces in high school, but am not fully corrected. So, I still slump when I'm tired. I do agree, yoga or pilates will help you. I also have the horrible moon shoes, and make fun all you want...they do help! I'm definitely at my worst on the computer. Have you tried the bench where you kind of sit/kneel at the computer? That did help me.

[Thebazile78]

I'm a new Pilates instructor and if you strengthen your core, you will find that you have the abililty to tap into the muscles that allow you to stay straighter longer. However, I also have scoliosis and kyphosis and wore one of those hideous back braces in high school, but am not fully corrected. So, I still slump when I'm tired. I do agree, yoga or pilates will help you. I also have the horrible moon shoes, and make fun all you want...they do help! I'm definitely at my worst on the computer. Have you tried the bench where you kind of sit/kneel at the computer? That did help me.

My mother, who also has scoliosis (and wore a back-brace through high school), has that crazy-ass kneeling-chair in her home office.

She loves it.

I hate it.

Incidentally, I pushed her to get into yoga a few years ago because I was concerned about the impact her scoliosis was having on her arthritis ... and read an article about using yoga for pain management. She now practices every day and it's improved her pain management greatly.

It's challenging to get new equipment like that if you're at a regular office...my workplace, for example, has fancy-schmancy Aeron chairs and encourages employees to work ergonomically ... but half the friggin' chairs' armrests don't retain the proper positioning and the building's cleaning staff screws around with the keyboard shelves, so we're kind of stuck re-adjusting ourselves every day if we want to get an ergonomic solution.

[IamPixie]

My mother, who also has scoliosis (and wore a back-brace through high school), has that crazy-ass kneeling-chair in her home office.

She loves it.

I hate it.

Just curious -What does a kneeling chair look like and how does it help?

[Thebazile78]

Just curious -What does a kneeling chair look like and how does it help?

It looks like this:

http://www.badbackstore.com/v/vspfiles/photos/U-16000-2.jpg

(I think the idea is that it forces you to sit upright using your core muscles instead of slumping against a chair back or else you'll fall over.)

OK, I am mostly right according to this quote from the website I pulled that pic from:

Active seating allows you to reduce your lower back pain by encouraging proper posture. When you are sitting in the kneeling chair, you are constantly using your back muscles to keep balance, in turn correctly aligning your back, shoulders and neck.

[hunnerbun]

I have heard about people using those Stability balls at their desks as well, same principal.

[Thebazile78]

I have heard about people using those Stability balls at their desks as well, same principal.

And cheaper!

A stability ball will run you about $20 ($30 if you splurge and also get the stay-in-place ring thingy that I've seen in Target, although you could always get an embroidery hoop and cover the end with tape or start thinking creatively about how to stabilize your stability ball) while the kneeling chair will run you about $100 or more.

A former teammate of mine here used a stability ball when he was having back trouble; it was kind of funny to see his pricey Aeron chair sitting unused in someone else's cube while the $20 stability ball sat under his keyboard.

[niciggy]

And cheaper!

A stability ball will run you about $20 ($30 if you splurge and also get the stay-in-place ring thingy that I've seen in Target, although you could always get an embroidery hoop and cover the end with tape or start thinking creatively about how to stabilize your stability ball) while the kneeling chair will run you about $100 or more.

A former teammate of mine here used a stability ball when he was having back trouble; it was kind of funny to see his pricey Aeron chair sitting unused in someone else's cube while the $20 stability ball sat under his keyboard.

I forgot about the stability ball! Geez. I use one when I'm sewing for long periods of time (okay sewing + back brace + moon shoes is really making a winning profile for me here....) however, I love my stability ball. You can get them for really cheap prices at any off the rack store like t.j. maxx, ross, marshalls, etc. They also have new "weighted" stability balls, which have something in them so you don't need the "ring" to keep it in place. Another thing that I have used is a balance/stability cushion. Usually they're made of the same material as the ball, but they are like a large, partially inflated frisbee. Again, same concept, can get them for cheap or order them online for 35 dollars. They both engage the core while you are seated, helping you not to slump.
If you can find one pilates mat class, anywhere, it will give you the skills to do five minutes of core building a day. Or, my local library has videos and dvd's. Yours probably does too. Also, there are a ton of sites online that will show you the simple pilates core moves, basically hundreds, pilates crunches, v-sits, leg lifts, and standing poses which really do make you work your core.
It's all about the core baby! Core is the new black!
I also use a foam roller. I've seen them at target, but they are smaller and very expensive there. You can probably find one online. A tennis ball and the wall will do the same thing, just tricky to manipulate. You need to roll up and down the against the wall.
It all goes back to posture.
I wonder if you could find more about this technique through a chiropractic website? If you google jospeh pilates you'll find tons of info there.

[Thebazile78]

OK, at the Discovery Health website (health.discovery.com) I found the info about Alexander Technique that I mentioned several posts ago:

Alexander Technique International (http://www.ati-net.com/)

The website has links to find teachers of the Technique and other information. Hope it helps!

[TooCute]

One of my best friend is an Alexander technique teacher in the city. It's unfortunately really the sort of thing you need an instructor for, at least for one session to get an idea of how you're supposed to be thinking about your body.

[pennington]

I recently got the following from my library: Alexander Technique : Regain your Natural Poise and Alleviate Stress by Michele MacDonnell. Very easy to read with plenty of pictures.

This has helped me a lot with a neck problem I have had for years. Basically it shows you how to stand and sit properly. You consciously correct yourself until it becomes a new habit.

[Chigworthy]

I recently got the following from my library: Alexander Technique : Regain your Natural Poise and Alleviate Stress by Michele MacDonnell. Very easy to read with plenty of pictures.

This has helped me a lot with a neck problem I have had for years. Basically it shows you how to stand and sit properly. You consciously correct yourself until it becomes a new habit.

Helpful and positive bumps aren't that fun.

[weekapaugjz]

Helpful and positive bumps aren't that fun.

not at all.

[pennington]

Helpful and positive bumps aren't that fun.

Sorry, I'm a dick. I like your dog avatar (damn, I did it again)...