Alexander Technique Central Brighton's Blog

This blog has moved

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:48:00 +0000

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Alexander Technique Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:36:00 +0000

I am posting a tip a day for 80 days on my twitter account. Follow me here:
http://twitter.com/AlexTechnique

Roger's story - Piriformis Syndrome/Sciatica

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:51:00 +0000

Roger is retired and when he came to me he was very held in his muscles and was uncomfortable when sitting or standing too long. Here's what he has to say about his lessons:

"I had been suffering with Piriformis Syndrome ( See definition below ) for about five years. Having turned to my GP, Acupuncture and Chiropractor treatments all without success, I decided to try the Alexander Technique. Mark has been teaching me over the past five months and I am now able to walk and sit again in comfort and to relax. I had forgotten how good that feels!" Roger McIntosh

(DEFINITION:Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or otherwise irritated by the piriformis muscle causing pain, tingling and numbness in the buttocks and along the path of the sciatic nerve descending down the lower thigh and into the leg.)

To see how the Alexander Technique can help you go to:
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Lulu's age defying secrets include Alexander Technique

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Sunday's Daily Mail includes an article of Lulu's tips for a younger you:

"The fastest way to lose 5lb and take off five years is to stand up straight. I can remember going shopping with my mum and I’d sort of schlump when I was trying on clothes — and she’d narrow her eyes and give me such a look!

I’ve studied the Alexander Technique in the past, which really helps with posture (and so does yoga). As part of the Alexander Technique training, you imagine being gently pulled up by a string attached to the top of the head — where the fontanelle (the soft part of a baby’s skull) is. You feel your neck lengthening. The arms should be relaxed and heavy, but not so heavy that they drag down your shoulders.

Keep your back straight and your buttocks relaxed. (You don’t want them to stick out like a duck’s bum, or have a swayback.) In a relaxed way, put your shoulders back — even if you’ve got boobs and you’re self-conscious about them — and open that chest. It not only looks better, it opens the throat and makes it easier to breathe properly. I took up the Alexander Technique because I’d noticed on TV that my posture wasn’t great. But, importantly, it also helps you to feel more at ease in your body — and clothes sit better on a woman who’s comfortable with herself.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1251462/Lulus-Secrets-My-wardrobe-golden-rules.html

To try a lesson for yourself in Brighton go to:
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Alexander Technique Video (New)

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:58:00 +0000

Take a look at this great new video introducing the Alexander Technique and it's many possibilities. My old teacher John Nicholls was involved in it's making.
http://www.alexandertechniquevideo.com/
If you would like to try this for yourself go to :
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

What happened in my Alexander Lesson.....

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:49:00 +0000

Jo Blood from "Posture People" gives an insight into what actually happens in an Alexander Technique Lesson.
http://www.posturepeople.co.uk/blog/category/alexander-technique/

Alexander Technique for Parkinson's Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:31:00 +0000

A Study shows that Alexander Technique can help people with Parkinson's Disease.
http://cre.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/16/7/695

Barefoot running + Alexander Technique

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:38:00 +0000

See the article in Sunday's Observer Sports Monthly Magazine about barefoot running and how the Alexander Technique can improve efficiency. I have attended a couple of Malcolm Balk's " Art of running" courses and Oh boy it makes a difference. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/07/the-challenge-barefoot-running

Alexander Technique Group Classes Brighton

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:38:00 +0000

I'm starting Group classes at Brighton Natural Health Centre (Central Location), 6 Mondays from April 12th 5.15pm to 6.30. This is a beginners group. Great for balance, posture, breathing and back care.
For more details or to book go to: http://www.bnhc.co.uk/classes/body-work/alexander-technique

Alexander Technique can Help Depression

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:18:00 +0000

Take a look at the Times article."The Alexander Technique helps Mental illness"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/traineo/exercise/article3773825.ece

Improve Will power by thinking about your posture!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:12:00 +0000

Listen to this from BBC radio 4. When we concentrate on our posture we are training our pre-frontal cortex of the brain which in turn improves will power.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8451000/8451264.stm
Well this makes perfect sense to me.

See how you can improve your posture in Brighton:
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Improve presentation skills

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:20:00 +0000

This week Jo came to her lesson very excited. "I was so excited this week I nearly phoned you" she said. "Everything has clicked into place, I feel more supported and upright and can sit upright with little effort and best of all my coach at work was really impressed. Also I feel more confident when doing presentations."

Jo certainly looks different, much more aligned and comfortable in her body, but the most important thing is how she is feeling about herself.

Want to feel more confident in presentations? Check this out:
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/presentations.html

Are you stressed out?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:14:00 +0000

" I was working in a very stress laden environment (financial services industry). Mark helped me to realise that I needed to release tension as it occurred, not allow it to build up to fever pitch i.e. Migraines and to take time throughout my day to check my posture and muscle state. Mark makes the lessons fun, interesting, worthwhile and helps you take control of the way you react to stress."

John Stevens

Check this out to see how the Technique can help you take back control:
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/stress_brighton.html

Alexander Technique for Actors,Performers and Singers

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:09:00 +0000

As we become more balanced and co-ordinated and our body awareness improves we can quickly apply this to our particular activity. The actor can play a character who is hunched over without damaging themselves, the musician can play with ease and fluidity, the dancer can move with an enviable degree of freedom of expression and the singer can produce a sound with more resonance.

Check this out to see how the Technique can improve your performance:
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/musicians.html

Alexander Technique for Musicians

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:03:00 +0000

“The Alexander Technique can be sustaining; it is something that if learned well, can be carried along with you for the rest of your life. It gives you confidence to be who you are when you are up in front of an audience."
Patrick Maddams, managing director, Royal Academy of Music

Check this out to see how the technique can help you:
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/musicians.html

Sports injuries? Improve your performance

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:58:00 +0000

When at the gym are you really targeting the muscles you want to? Are you tight as you go into movement? Have you locked your knees? Are you actually in support without undue tension? Is it possible to avoid using any muscles which are not needed for the activity itself? Could you be causing yourself a muscular imbalance? The way we go about training strongly affects both the process and results. We need to prepare body and mind for an exercise.
Check this out to see how you can reduce injury and improve performance:
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/sports.html

Breathing Problems?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:50:00 +0000

We have a saying in the Alexander Technique “Good breathing does itself, the only thing we can do is mess it up”. So the aim in lessons is to observe our breathing to see if we are indeed interfering and see if we can get back to natural breathing.
Check this out to see how this Technique can help you or to book an introductory session:
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/breathing.html

Rid yourself of Headaches.

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:42:00 +0000

We tend to accept headaches and migraines as part of life these days but we shouldn’t. When we get a headaches we just take a pill for the symptom but maybe we should look at WHY the headache?
Check this out to see how the Alexander Technique can give long term relief.
www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/headaches.html

'Miracle method straightens out Victoria Beckham' Daily Mail today

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:59:00 +0000

See the full page article 'So that's how to fix my POSHTURE' in Daily mail today. Not sure about the play on words!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1234900/So-thats-fix-Poshture-Miracle-method-straightens-Victoria-Beckham.html

want to know more about how The technique can help you here in Brighton:
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Liz's Story - Headaches thing of the past.

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Liz is a young lady in her early twenties, she came to me due to tension headaches which she had been suffering 3 to 4 a week for the last three years and they tended to last all afternoon. It is no coincidence that she also complained of shoulder and neck pain most of the time. Liz also reported that she found standing for long periods difficult. After just 3 lessons the headaches reduced and by lesson 6 she was no longer getting the headaches at all. As she has learned to support herself the tension has gone from her neck and back. How did this happen? Well Liz was standing completely out of support with her feet turned out with more of the weight on the insides of her feet. This created undue tension in her legs, narrowing her back and even creating excessive holding in the shoulders and neck all of which contributed to the headaches.
If you would like to find out how this could help you go to:http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Pupil survey

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:14:00 +0000

If you have had some lessons in the Alexander Technique please take a few minutes to complete the Society of Alexander Technique's survey online: www.stat.org.uk/pupilsurvey/2009
This we enable the Society to get an insight on the effects of lessons on pupils lives.
Many Thanks
Mark Claireaux
For lessons in Brighton go to :
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Kate's story......Hips.

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:31:00 +0000

Kate has had Alexander Lessons for many years and has been coming to me over the past year. Kate has a very challenging job and has to give many presentations. She has noticed that she feels much more grounded when giving presentations which impacts on her delivery.
Recently we have been spending more time on getting Kate in centred support. ( A position which frees up the whole body and joints). It has been quite a revelation and for the first time Kate's hips are freeing up. This feels really quite different to Kate and in the beginning can feel quite wrong. She felt as if she was leaning over but when she looked in the mirror this was not the case. Her hips really were freer and were ready to go into movement.
Sometimes we do concentrate on parts of our body that we feel we need to work on or fix in some way especially if we have pain. If we can learn to operate more out of centred support these problems can dissipate.

If you would like me to show you this go to:
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/ to book an appointment.

Alexander Technique for Performers

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:08:00 +0000

"Light up for the right notes" was a recent article in the Irish Times about the role of Alexander Technique in reducing pain for the performing arts. See full article:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/1013/1224256493953.html

As an Alexander teacher when I can get the person in centered support in standing or sitting this has a huge impact on their voice and/or playing. To find out more go to:

http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Sit up straight! It'll keep you smiling.

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:59:00 +0000

This is an extract from an article by Claire Coleman in todays Daily Mail:

Brita Forsstrom, chair of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (stat.org.uk), agrees that our physical demeanour is very much bound up with our mental state.
'When you think about phrases we use in everyday life and the connotations that they have, it's understandable that there should be a link between the way we stand or sit, and our mood.
'We talk about someone being "level-headed" or being able to "keep a clear head", and conversely about someone being "spineless" or "lacking backbone" or "being down".'
Brita explains that Alexander Technique is less about consciously good posture and more about encouraging the body to regain natural, easy poise.
'This physical poise gives coordination, balance and support. It allows the back to lengthen, lets the head sit comfortably and move freely, and broadens the chest so we can breathe more easily. This projects the appearance of someone who is alert and relaxed.'
It's all very well talking about poise, and about effortless posture, but what can we do practically to help ourselves?
'When sitting down, rather than sitting back on your buttocks or the base of the spine, try to sit on your sitting bones, the bones right at the bottom of the pelvis,' Brita says.
'If you're standing for any length of time, try to ensure that your weight is evenly balanced between both feet and evenly distributed between the heel and ball of the foot.
'When walking, don't walk with your shoulders. You want to think about your head being freely positioned over the spine - that way you'll be poised, both physically and mentally.'Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1221310/Sit-straight-How-good-posture-boost-physical-AND-mental-wellbeing.html#ixzz0UOFkRmPC
To find out how the Alexander Technique can help you in Brighton go to:
http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/

Daily Express - Bluffer's guide to Alexander Technique

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Claireaux) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:53:00 +0000

This is an extract from a recent article in The Daily Express:

THE hottest tips to improve posture and general well-being

WHAT IS IT?
The technique teaches us to identify and eventually lose bad habits in posture that have been built up over the years.
It considers how individuals move and breathe and teaches students how to move more freely, ridding the body of tension.
It involves no specific exercises, requires no special equipment and can be practised wherever you are. It is suitable for people of all ages and levels of physical fitness.
WHAT DOES IT PROMISE?
You will learn how to release tension and rediscover balance of mind and body.
With increased awareness you can be poised without stiffness, move gracefully and powerfully with less effort, be alert and focused with less strain, breathe and speak more easily and freely as well as being calm and confident.
It can also solve ailments including carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury, stiff neck and shoulders as well as back injuries. The technique is often used to enhance the performance of singers, actors and athletes.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Mastering the Alexander Technique is the same as learning any complex skill and is often compared to studying a musical instrument.
The teacher should be skilled in the technique and use demonstration, explanation and examination. Light physical contact between the student and teacher is used to detect the student’s physical and emotional stresses.

Explanations of how to improve everyday actions such as standing, walking, bending and talking are offered. Students can also specify a focus such as helping with sports, music or drama.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Individual lessons with a qualified teacher are the best way to learn and these will also cater for individual needs. The technique is usually taught in a series of 20 to 40 sessions. Each lasts about 45 minutes.
COST
Fees are typically £30-£40 per session.