An education for life: The process of learning the Alexander technique

Woods, Charlotte; Glover, Lesley; Woodman, Julia

Abstract

The Alexander technique is an educational self-development self-management method with therapeutic benefits. The primary focus of the technique is learning about the self, conceptualized as a mind-body unity. Skills in the technique are gained experientially, including through hands-on and spoken guidance from a certified Alexander teacher, often using everyday movement such as walking and standing. In this article the authors summarize key evidence for the effectiveness of learning the Alexander technique and describe how the method was developed. They attempt to convey a sense of the unique all-encompassing and fundamental nature of the technique by exploring the perspectives of those engaged in teaching and learning it and conclude by bringing together elements of this account with relevant strands of qualitative research to view this lived experience in a broader context.

Citation

Woods, C., Glover, L., & Woodman, J. (2020). An education for life: The process of learning the Alexander technique. Kinesiology Review, 9(3), 190-198. https://doi.org/10.1123/KR.2020-0020

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 16, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 14, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Deposit Date: Aug 17, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2020
• Journal: Kinesiology Review
• Print ISSN: 2163-0453
• Electronic ISSN: 2161-6035
• Publisher: Human Kinetics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 190-198
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/KR.2020-0020
• Keywords: Movement coordination; Self-management; Self-care; Whole self; Mind-body; Complementary healthcare
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3548906
• Publisher URL: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/krj/aop/article-10.1123-kr.2020-0020/article-10.1123-kr.2020-0020.xml