August 2008 Archives

There is good news for people interested in the Alexander Technique and for anyone who is suffering from chronic back pain.

The BMJ Online has just published the results of the ATEAM Research Trial which shows that people who had 1:1 lessons in the Alexander Technique, with a registered teacher, experienced a significant reduction in levels of back pain along with an improvement in the quality of their life. Importantly, these results were sustained one year later.

It is likely that if people maintain their improved use and application of the Technique,  the results could be sustained for even longer but it has not been possible to clinically evaluate this as yet.

Recurrent back pain is extremely common and is one of the main causes of disability and absence from work in developed societies. However, until now there has been little clinical evidence to show which treatments may help people and the ATEAM trial now shows that supervised exercise can have some benefit, massage has less but that the Alexander Technique offers the greatest long term benefit for people with non-specific back pain.

As one of the registered A/T teachers selected to teach on the ATEAM Research Trial, I am particularly pleased that the results show so clearly that learning the Alexander Technique can be of great benefit for people with low back pain. Alexander teachers have known for a long time that the Technique can help people with chronic back pain and it is good that there is now some statistically significant evidence to this effect that we can put before the scientific and medical community.

If you would like more information about the Technique or individual Alexander Technique Lessons in Stoke Newington N16, you may contact me here.

You may also phone me:
+44 (0) 20 7254 9206

Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain BMJ 2008;337:a884

My next Introductory Alexander Technique Course will commence on Saturday 13th September


This Course is for people who have little or no experience of the Alexander Technique and runs over 3 Saturday mornings:

13th; 20th; 27th September.

Come and discover how the Alexander Technique can help you reduce back pain, RSI and stress related problems, plus enhance your performance skills and feel good about being in your body.

This Small Group Course, with a maximum of 6 participants, offers beginners the chance to find out about the Alexander Technique in a friendly environment in which you can experience some individual hands-on work with Hilary King, an experienced teacher, who will be assisted by a senior student from LCATT.

Participants will be able to have a half price individual follow-up lesson. This format allows you to gain a sense of what Alexander Technique lessons are like and be more able to decide whether or not you would like to continue with further lessons.

Small Group so please Book in Advance to Reserve a Place

Further Information and Application Form

You may also phone me:
+44 (0) 20 7254 9206

If you would like to join a course but cannot manage this one, there will be another Short Course starting on October 12th as part of International Alexander Awareness Week.

Individual Alexander Technique lessons are available on an ongoing basis.

There will be a free 3 day interactive festival, to launch The Big Draw 2008, at the Wellcome Trust's exhibition 'Skeletons: London's Buried Bones' .

You can join leading artists and scientists who will be drawing, studying and reflecting on the skeletons, examining what it means to be human. the programme is packed full with numerous performances, workshops and talks on topics such as art and the brain, bodymaps, cartoons....

If you are interested in the Alexander Technique, then you are likely to be interested in finding out more about how your body works - how well do you understand your own mind and body? This is a chance to take a close-up look at ourselves in a wonderfully creative way.

Enjoy the event - it sounds fascinating and fun!

Venue: Wellcome Trust, Euston Road

Date:    26-28 September

Free

http://www.wellcomecollection.org/exhibitionsandevents/events/The-Big-Draw-2008-National-Launch/index.htm