WHY IS THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE USEFUL ? in addition to making things easier, it can add some fun to just walking around.
People study the technique to feel better (for relief from back and neck pain) to stand, sit, and use a computer/phone without stress to prevent the formation of a dowager's hump
to improve performance and expression, in sports, theater, art, music and life to hit that high note to speak in public and debate effectively (just ask John Dewey) to have a competitive edge
to enhance rehabilitation and exercise programs to recognize when to stop (before pulling a muscle) to prevent repetitive motion injuries (such as carpel tunnel syndrome) to improve well-being
to fall up, One day as I was walking up 30th St in Georgetown, I tripped on a the edge of a brick sticking up from the sidewalk and started falling down, my nose soon to meet the sidewalk. Instead of continuing to look down and fall on my nose, I thought to move my head up. Instantly, as my head went up, my body changed direction, following my head, up. My body was moving up and my legs immediately came along too, realigning under my body. Instead of falling, I was taking a small step and then another, as if standing up from a crouch. After a few steps more I was walking with a normal stride and height, up the hill without a care, smiling at the pedestrians passing by.
to improve sports performance, In the late 80's, an Alexander Technique teacher helped the Harvard Crew Team while training for the Olympics, apply the Technique to their rowing. In timed races, using the Technique, the rowers improved their time for the course. When they climbed out of their boats at the finish line, they did not feel, as they usually did, totally exhausted. Their Coach was delighted. However, despite their faster time, because they did not 'feel' utterly exhausted, the team did not experience their better time as an improvement. 'Feelings' triumphed. They preferred feeling wasted to scoring a better time. Goodbye Alexander Technique, Goodbye Olympic Gold.
to sharpen expressive abilities on the stage, Because F. Matthias Alexander was an actor, many actors in London studied with him including Lilly Langree and John Gielgud. Many actors and performers continue to use the Technique to improve their art, such as John Cleese, and Mary Steenburgen.