Alexander Technique

The famous Athenian comic playwright Menander (342-291 B. C. ) in one case said wellness and psyche be the cardinal blessings of life. This was the standpoint of his nigh realistic depiction of a situational character as a withstand comedian wherein school principal and body were overjoyed upon Menanders satires. Probably the take up aspect of Menanders hilarity was his insightful rational and somatogenetic gestures that captivate the spontaneity which he conveyed to the audience.The conveyance of mental and physical gestures have and so become the therapeutic norm of the Australian actor and Shakespearean orator Frederick Matthias horse parsley (1869-1955) who then discovered a technique of effective vox by means of mental and physical easement and control cognise as the horse parsley technique. In this regard, this paper will discuss several(prenominal) studies on the black lovage technique which has been known and adopted by more or less stage and movie perfor mers and has been publicly recommended to be used as therapy. What is Alexander proficiency?According to the electronic journal, The Complete Guide to Alexander Technique, the Alexander Technique (AT) was veritable in the early 1900s by Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955) to release his chronic laryngitis tension for best vocal writ of execution which he later developed as a complete mental and physical therapy. Based on the personal experience of noted health columnist of the New York Times Jane Brody, the Alexander technique is a order of adjusting body postures to relieve her damaging stresses, ilk relieving her neck tension, occasional pain, and plain crippling spasms (Brody, 1990).Moreover, according to Anne Rickovers Life Bridge Coaching, the Alexander Technique sewer be helpful to everyone, especially those who are engaged in the delicate harmonization of the head teacher and body worry actors, dancers and musicians, as well as to injured musicians. Today, the mastery of this technique is required in various sympatheticistic discipline and music schools across Europe, America and Australasia. (Rickover, R. , 2007). Rationale of regularity According to Nicholas Brockbank, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, the functions of perspicacity (mental) and body (physical) are the primary coordinates in using the Alexander Technique.Thus, the coordinative functions are the basic method of inborn covering or usage. The discovery of usable coordinates as a method was regarded by Frederick Matthias Alexander when he felt his voice or vocalization was vacillating (Brockbank, 2007). In forepart of a mirror, Alexander observed the inconsistency of his voice to his mind setting. Moreover, the mind and the body were indivisible human faculties from which the counseling people think the way they acted was the primary cause of their physical ills (Brockbank, 2007).Brockbank concluded that the method of coordinating mind and body are elements of physical habits that Alexander Technique adopts the method of functional coordinates (Brockbank, 2007). Application of method Upon Frederick Matthias Alexanders discovery and adoption of the method, he was inspired and encouraged to share it with performing artist, most especially with the musicians and the vocalists, which he judgment were stressed during the rehearsals with the added anxiety (stage fright) in front of the audience.To cite, the mental and physical movement must be applied with proper coordination and function as the front man of mind and body that eventually touch ons and sets aside the complex of stress that whitethorn top to Repetitive Strain Injury (which becomes a checkup term known as RSI), which is a common injury of singers, musician, and dancers (Brockbank, 2007).The Alexander Technique has developed as an effective and applicable method in coordinating the mental and physical functions and are used by most of the performing artists like Paul McCartne y, Yehudi Menuhin, Sting, Julian Bream, James Galway, and the conductor, Sir Adrian Boul (Brockbank, 2007). It has also been integrated into the curriculums of various schools such as the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, The proud College of Music in London, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and different schools of music, universities and colleges around the world (Brockbank, 2007).Findings, descriptive procedures, and relevance The descriptive procedures in applying the method of Alexander Technique are found to be similar to the method of Ergonomics. Several naturalists or those using the natural cure and therapy believe that what Frederick Matthias Alexander discovered was a self-taught procedure which he incidentally applied and thought as his own method. In which case, the naturalists acknowledges Alexanders discovery as an applied natural science.Meaning, Alexander theorized and placed the application of Ergonomics method in which several methods of natural cure were only limited to countries like Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of European countries. Moreover, according to moolah Hymans journal, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, the natural cure through therapy has long been practiced by the Egyptians, Africans, Chinese, and the Malays. Among of the indigenous and famous natural cures are Acupuncture, Acupressure or the Thai massage, aromatherapy, Reiki, and what is commonly known today as methods of Reflexology or Physical therapy (Hyman, 2008).According to Holly A. Sweeney, a certified Ergonomist, the only method that is being recognized in Alexander Technique is that the functional use of mind and body coordinates without external physical manipulation. In addition, the power of thinking (mind) has both(prenominal) degrees or level of dictation to what the physical (body) self shall do or to do (Sweeney, 2007). Based on Sweeneys findings, the term ergonomics is derived from the two Greek wor ds ERG (meaning to work) and NOMOI (meaning natural laws).The study of Ergonomics focuses on human capability towards work, in which the connection or link to work shall meet the demand or performance of human capability that has the following basics (1) All work activities should allow the worker take on evenly healthy and safe postures, (2) Muscular force has to be exerted it should be through with(p) by the largest appropriate muscle groups available, and (3) Work activities should be carried out with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement which applies specifically to the head, trunk, and upper limbs. (Cortlett, 1983 in Sweeney, 2007).It may be deduced from the findings of Sweeney that Ergonomics is very much interrelated technique to Alexanders, considering the fact that Ergonomics also covers all stress-out methods, which is also known as stretching at the emergent spasm of body joints and muscles while at work. However, the recognition of Alexander Techni que although parallel to Ergonomics has been carried out by the grotesque method of exercising out the stress from the vocal chords of the singer and larynx of musicians using pipe instruments through coordination of psycho-physical functions (Sweeney, 2007).In addition, the functional psycho-physical coordination invokes the prowess of the performer with a sudden gush of esteem and self-confidence that conveys the good physical posture and perfective aspect vocalization (Sweeney, 2007). Conclusion Natural cure is indigenous and partly an evolutionary medicine that complements the continuous development of medical sciences. Indeed, what has been quoted by Menander (342-291 B. C.), that health and intellect are the two blessings of life, has been proven by the theory and practice of Frederick Matthias Alexander. The Alexander Technique is a natural therapy that must impart advance of developmental studies as a restorative healing method that adheres to baulk medicine. The medicina l value indicates the benefits, usefulness, and cost efficiency. However, the practice of the Alexander Technique may only be limited and relevant to occupational work of renowned expertise.The practice of Alexander Technique could be more beneficial, appropriate, and therapeutic when value at the large-scale advocacy of treatment. Over the years, the accompanying development of medical science has brought in trial and error of scientific exploits. The medical malpractice in diagnostic and infirmaryized treatment still occurs around the world, although the incidents are few and not alarming. The paranoia may not only be a post-surgical trauma barely a social stigma. Practically, no one wants to be hospitalized.This mainly collectable to the large costs of hospitalization, scarcity to healthcare benefits or medical upbeat (specifically in poor countries), the surging prices of medicines, and the anxiety to medical treatment or medical phobia. It can be then deduced that various f orms of natural healing, like Alexander Technique, could be rationalized into a broader social perspective as a preventive alternative medicine rather than always resorting to hospital cure. References Brody, J. (1990). Personal Health. New York Times electronic magazine.Retrieved 10 whitethorn 2008 from http//query. nytimes. com/gst/fullpage. html? res=9C0CE0DB1031F932A15755C0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Brockbank, N. (2007). What did Alexander Discover And why is it in-chief(postnominal)? . Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http//www. alexandertechnique. com/articles2/brockbank/. Hyman, M. A. (2008). Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. InnoVision wall socket Vol. 14, No. 3. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http//www. alternative-therapies-digital. com/alternative-therapies/20070506/?sub_id=DLuKONBMDWMwD. Rickover, R. (2007). Life Bridge Coaching. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http//www. lifebridgecoach. com/lbcmain. htm. Sweeney, H. A. (2007). Applying Ergonomic principles in the Workplace How the Alexander Technique can help. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http//www. alexandertechnique. com/ergonomics. htm. The Complete Guide to Alexander Technique (2008). Electronic Journal of the Institute of Alexander Technique in neon and Toronto. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http//www. alexandertechnique. com/.