The Alexander technique can benefit writers experiencing pain due to poor work posture. Sitting all day at a desk and punching away on your keyboard can be financially rewarding, but it can also invite chronic neck and back pain.
When these pains linger, writing becomes very discomforting and generally affects creativity and productivity. As a writer who has to sit and work the keyboard, pain should be far away.
The inevitable reality is that at some point, we experience pain or, at most, become bundles of knots on the neck and shoulders from working and slouching over. Alexander technique may be the answer to relieving these knots and pains if you notice that they are becoming frequent visitors in your body.
Wondering about this technique? Read on. This article will inform you and add to your knowledge of the Alexander technique for warding off pain and keeping your creativity flowing.
What is Alexander technique?
The Alexander technique is an alternative therapy discovered by an Australian author and actor, Fredrick Mathias Alexander. He created this therapy, which became widely known and is used today to alleviate health issues that arise from poor posture and stress. The technique does not require patients to take drugs or exercise vigorously to get well.
Though without scientific backing, many people have claimed that Alexander’s therapy has the potential to cure various health ailments that are not posture-related. Studies have shown evidence that its potency, however, lies more in treating Parkinson’s and long-term neck and back pain.
How does Alexander technique work?
The technique’s primary goal is to teach and guide you in moving or staying in position while writing to avoid bad posture and its accompanying complications. To maintain a healthy body as a writer, you must be conscious of your body’s movement and how you position yourself while writing.
Prolonged sitting can be a harbinger of various health problems, which should never happen if you stay conscious of your body, movement, and posture. That is the exact gospel of the Alexander technique, which states that your posture and movement can positively or negatively affect your overall well-being.
Therefore, you must learn to carry out this therapy on yourself or use the services of experts. For a writer with long-term neck or shoulder pain, it is wise to seek these experts to teach you all you need.
An Alexander technique teacher would first monitor how you move from point A to B and how you position your body at a standstill. For example, the technique teacher would ask you to sit, stand, walk, and lie down.
When you carry out these activities before them, helping you becomes easy because they will notice your poor posture and guide you to do them right.
These teachers won’t just tell you; they will talk you through it and guide you by gently placing their hands and palms on you and positioning your body properly. Not to worry, you will keep your clothes fully on but ensure they are loosely fitted.
Also Read: 7 Health tips to stay healthy for female content writers
Can you learn the Alexander technique by yourself?
Well, not entirely. These techniques require proper guidance if you must escape from pain. An experienced Alexander technique teacher will teach you physical practicals for some time before you can do it yourself.
However, finding a great tutor on YouTube or other social media platforms and following all the instructions to the ‘T’ can help you learn by yourself. This is not guaranteed, by the way. If you have other means of learning this technique, by all means, break a leg.
Is the Alexander Technique scientifically proven?
The United States National Center for Biotechnology Information carried out research on the effect of this technique on humans’ emotional and behavioral aspects. This experimentation gave participants more clarity and knowledge as they learned about body movements, sitting, and grounding.
They become aware of their body and spine’s position while sitting and then experience the benefits of grounding, which connects them to the earth.
Again, the study carried out and documented on Research Gate showed that people noticed a significant reduction in long-term chronic back pain after applying the Alexander technique. It allowed them to return to their lives and do what they could not do before. It is safe to say that it improved their general well-being.
How Alexander technique is done?
I mentioned earlier that you need an expert to learn about this technique. However, writers who are always bent over their writing materials and already experience knotted shoulders and necks can start learning independently before finding an expert. You may want to try these few tips:
How to stand
You must be seated before you can learn how to stand from your chair. Firstly, be conscious of your body and body movement. Relax your arms, plant both feet on the ground, bring your head forward, straighten your back, and slowly stand with your hips pushed back and your hip joint and feet bearing your weight.
How to sit
In your standing position, bend your knees a little forward, move your hips backward, and slowly release your weight until you are seated. Avoid sitting too quickly or keeping your knee in a straight position.
How to lie down
Lie on hard surfaces instead of soft places. Spread your feet apart on the hard surface and keep both hands by your side. Breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth a few times while making the ‘ahhhhh’ sound. Put up a hand and form your palm into a pointing position. Point slowly to release the tension.
Practicing this therapeutic technique daily helps keep your pain away, but remember, do not rely on only these few tips I mentioned here, as I am not an expert at teaching it. Although reading books can help, an expert will help you faster and provide immediate relief.
Writing consistently may not affect you if you learn how to position your spine and body before sitting and while writing. You will keep doing what you love and still enjoy focus and mind clarity.
Thank you. It’s handy information for me. I was glad to go through it. Thank you for the sitting, standing and lying posture techniques. I only apply the standing own. Now, I will start applying the rest.
Thank you so much for reading through and welcome. Yes, I apply them too. We all suffer back aches from prolonged sitting but this technique helps.