Sound Being Studio

Do you find yourself “stressed out” too often?   Are you prone to muscle tightness and headaches?  Do you feel like you are spending too much effort and energy to accomplish daily activities?

Many times, strain and discomfort are symptoms of how we misuse our body in daily activities.  Your body is designed for efficient and easy movement, but tension and un-needed habits have been layered over this natural coordination.  Your ability to notice and control the amount of tension in your body needs to be trained through your kinaesthetic sense.  Through increased awareness and re-education, you can learn to monitor your reactions to move with ease and fluidity.

In this one-hour introductory talk and demonstration, learn basic ideas about your body’s natural design.  Learn how you can change long-standing habits to improve your health.  We will explore specific ideas about noticing muscle tightness and releasing tension.  This event is led by Heather Walker, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique.

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library:  Wednesday, March 27th, 2013.  6:30-7:30pm – FREE

Please note: a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique does not diagnose illness and does not prescribe medical treatment.  This is an educational event, designed to heighten your awareness and knowledge, which will empower you to change your habits.

With Alexander Technique…“we already notice, with growing amazement, very striking improvements in such diverse things as high blood pressure, breathing, depth of sleep, overall cheerfulness and mental alertness, resilience against outside pressures, and in such a refined skill as playing a musical instrument…”
Professor Nicholas Tinbergen, Nobel Prize winner for medicine and physiology

Do you feel that you have bad posture?   Do you have a tendency to hold yourself with too much tension, or collapse with fatigue?  Do you feel uncoordinated?  Would you like to move with more grace and poise?

Many times, bad posture and discomfort are symptoms of how we misuse our body in daily activities.  Your body is designed for efficient and easy movement, but tension and un-needed habits have been layered over this natural coordination.  Through increased awareness and movement re-education, you can learn to change your posture and coordination to function with ease and poise.

In this one-hour introductory talk and demonstration, learn basic ideas about your body’s natural design.  Learn how you can change long-standing habits to improve your health.  We will explore specific ideas about posture, including what you can do to stay more fluid in sitting and standing.  This event is led by Heather Walker, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique.

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library, Wednesday, March 20th, 6:30-7:30pm – FREE

Please note: a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique does not diagnose illness and does not prescribe medical treatment.  This is an educational event, designed to heighten your awareness and knowledge, which will empower you to change your habits.

“The Technique’s many benefits … include minimized tension, centeredness, vocal relaxation, responsiveness, mind/body connection and about an inch and a half of additional height.”
Kevin Kline, actor

Bad posture? Back Pain? Fatigue? Headaches? Tension, stress, injuries?

The Alexander Technique will help you to:
– Move with ease, grace, and poise
– Improve kinaesthetic awareness & posture
– Release muscle tension and tightness
– Be energetic and efficient yet calm
– Re-establish better balance
– Change your habitual patterns of reaction
– Perform activities with awareness and freedom
– Learn recuperation and relaxation exercises for home
– Understand your body’s design for efficient movement

Heather Walker 250-716-3464
Certified teacher of the Alexander Technique
www.soundbeingstudio.com

Alexander Technique Workshops 2.5 hours $35.00
Solace Wellness Centre, 719 Fitzwilliam Street, Nanaimo
Sunday, February 17th, 2:00-4:30pm

Client testimonials:
“I didn’t believe that such a simple set of techniques could have such a profound effect on me both physically and mentally.” – Jeremy
“… I have gained bodily awareness, insight into limiting habits, practical ways of dealing with stress and tension in my body and a better quality of life due to her teachings.” – Vashti
“The Alexander Technique…has been wonderfully life changing in so many ways.” – Cheryl

Welcome to Sound Being Studio, your mid- Vancouver Island resource for Alexander Technique.  For those of you wanting to know more about Alexander Technique and how it can help you, I’ll be posting articles and links here.  Although it’s a few years old, this article is still revelant….

The following questions and answers regarding the Alexander Technique appeared in the New York Times online June 1, 2009, 11:55 am

The Alexander Technique for Back Pain

A recent study in the British Medical Journal BMJ found that the Alexander Technique, a noninvasive method of adjusting body postures to relieve stresses, may aid in the treatment of back pain. New York Times reader Karen G. Krueger of New York City had some questions about that research. We contacted Paul Little, professor of primary care research at the U.K.’s University of Southampton and lead author of the BMJ study.

Question:

I have found that very few medical professionals in this country know about the Alexander Technique; I myself found it through a friend in the arts — the technique is widely taught in music conservatories and drama schools as a means of enhancing performance and avoiding injury. What can you tell readers about the Alexander Technique and how it works?

Answer:

The Alexander Technique involves a teacher using both gentle hand contact and verbal instruction to help patients learn to become aware of and avoid harmful habits of muscle use which may cause and maintain pain. The Alexander Technique is not a form of back exercise -– rather it is applied in everyday tasks like standing, walking, sitting at a desk or playing a musical instrument. We hypothesize that the Alexander Technique works through release of tension, decompression of the spine, more balanced muscle activity and improved flexibility.

Question:

In what circumstances should a back pain patient pursue the Alexander Technique (with or without an exercise program) as opposed to other, more invasive approaches, such as medication or surgery?

Answer:

I would recommend any patient try the technique before more invasive interventions; that is, patients with chronic or recurrent functional back pain where there are no clear “red flags,” such as progressive or multilevel neurological symptoms, steroid use or a recent history of trauma.

Question:

Have your studies demonstrating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Alexander Technique to treat back pain increased the profile and availability of the technique to patients in Britain?

Answer:

I think the profile has improved but not hugely — the medical establishment is inevitably slow and cautious about recommending new interventions when they perceive them to be novel.

Question:

The medical research establishment in the United States has begun to study various alternative health practices to address back pain and other chronic conditions for which traditional medical approaches have had limited success. What can you say about other “alternative” therapies for back pain?

Answer:

There is encouraging evidence in the short term for massage and yoga and also some evidence for acupuncture, and for chiropractic when combined with exercise regimens. In terms of “alternative therapies” for back pain, try and use something that is based in good research evidence.

The Alexander Technique has been around for many years. New York Times Personal Health columnist Jane E. Brody wrote about the technique back in 1990. To learn more about the latest research on the Alexander Techniqueand see a video of the practice, visit the BMJ site.