Alexander technique and Feldenkrais method: a critical overview

The natural state of the human body is to be in motion. This motion includes dynamic movements, such as running or jumping; subtle fine movements, such as writing; or omnipresent movements, such as breathing. Most people do not focus on the quality of movement, but rather take movement for granted. It is not until people become injured or begin to perfect their movement for a specific activity that they may become more aware of these activities. Heightening the awareness of one’s own move-ments can be traced back more than 1000 years. The importance of being fully attentive to the state of all one’s muscles, including the muscles involved in the act of breathing, can be found in references to meditation and yoga found in the Yogasutra by Pathanjali dating back to 200 A.D. Applying this same awareness to the body in motion, rather than at rest, is the primary focus of modern movement re-education techniques. Two of these techniques are the Alexander technique and the Feldenkrais method. The Alexander technique and Feldenkrais method are somatic education techniques designed to establish a heightened awareness of movements. The desired outcome is to become more functional and aware of one’s movements spatially (or, more accurately, kinesthetically) throughout everyday routine activity. The Alexander technique and Feldenkrais method, in contrast to other forms of alternative therapies, are relatively new and not as widely understood by society. Although each method has its own history an