Named after and created by an Australian actor who struggled with chronic laryngitis when he performed, the Alexander Technique was shared to help others speak and move with more ease than previously.

Based on the idea of not holding tension within the body and therefore moving through life in a more mindful way, this technique is suitable for a number of different individuals with a range of different issues and conditions – both physical and mental.

In this article, the Alexander Technique will be discussed in terms of addiction and how it may be beneficial for rehabilitation and recovery. However, it is first important to understand further the usefulness and application of the Alexander Technique itself.

Mindfulness in the Alexander Technique

Popular amongst musicians for the treatment of stage fright and anxiety (1), the Alexander Technique is known for the way in which it helps individuals to regulate their emotions more reliably.

This is part of why the Alexander Technique is considered to be such a mindful practise; it aids the individual in being more mindful of their surroundings and their emotions through different movement.

Mindfulness itself is known to be particularly effective in the treatment of addiction and the rehabilitation and recovery process, often being implemented separately into some individuals’ programmes (depending on their needs and requirements of care).

Principles of the Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique can be applied across a number of different treatments and can be practised while sitting, standing, walking, lifting/carrying, as well as other everyday activities.

It is considered to be a mindful practise as an individual must take notice of areas of their life and/or movement that are not efficient and make changes and alterations to this so that they are using the appropriate amount of effort for the activity they are partaking in.

The following three subheadings outline some of the key principles of the Alexander Technique in more detail, adding to this how best an individual may go about applying these principles to their addiction and recovery programme.

1. Body awareness

By ‘moving more mindfully’ through life, individuals will need to focus much more deeply into their body’s movements.

Whether this is simply moving around a room, standing to sitting, or any other daily movements, mindfulness can be brought to every aspect of this.

When it comes to addiction, this may be hard for some individuals to do; the discomfort of the early stages of rehabilitation (home detoxification, for example) can be especially challenging to focus on. However, once this focus is achieved, recognising how the body reacts to different movements and refining this can be a great form of physical therapy (2) and confirmation of their body’ recovery process.

2. Stress relief

As a byproduct of moving the body more mindfully, individuals are therefore less likely to experience stress or tension in specific areas of the body.

The neck and back, for example, are great holders of tension – whether we as individuals feel it or not – and the Alexander Technique could be used to reduce the tension in these areas, reducing overall stress and therefore reducing the mental stress simultaneously.

With addiction, the recovery process can be stressful for some individuals, further highlighting the importance of stress reduction and methods for managing this further and in the long-term.

3. Emotional regulation

The final principle, emotion regulation is another phenomena that is incorporated into the Alexander Technique.

Emotion regulation refers to the recognition and management of emotions – positive and negative – and is vital for maintaining a strong mental attitude toward recovery and addiction rehabilitation.

For example, in the early stages of rehabilitation it can be very hard for individuals to maintain their commitment to recovery, view their recovery journey positively, or continue the programme at all.

However, by practising the Alexander Technique and bringing a greater level of emotional regulation to ones’ recovery, individuals are far more likely to have a better experience of rehabilitation, as well as maintaining this in the long-term.

How can the Alexander Technique be applied to different situations?

Previously across this article, the Alexander Technique has been proven to be beneficial in the process of overcoming addiction, as well as specific examples of musicians and stage fright, for example.

However, it is also important to note the more general reasons that an individual may choose to apply the Alexander Technique to.

Some examples of this include the following:

• Repetitive strain injury
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Backache
• Stiff neck/shoulders
• Long periods of sedentary work
• Singers, musicians, actors, dancers, or athletes who feel as though they are not performing at their full potential (such as the original F. Matthias Alexander)

However, there are many more situations in which the Alexander Technique may be beneficial – speak to a medical professional today about the best treatment for your specific condition(s).

The Alexander Technique and addiction recovery – an alternative approach?

As seen from this article, there are many potential benefits for individuals who may use the Alexander Technique as a part of their recovery from a number of different issues.

For addiction recovery specifically, there is a growing interest in alternative and holistic therapies.

Alternative therapies refer to those that fall outside of the typical treatments and therapies and include techniques such as the Alexander Technique and breathing techniques, for example.

Holistic treatments are those that draw from an individual’s existing hobbies and activities and combine them with therapy, leading to treatments such as art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy, yoga, and meditation.

The importance of a full and effective recovery programme

So how can an individual start to implement the Alexander Technique into their addiction recovery journey today?

As with all treatments and therapies, an individual must first get medical approval to determine whether or not these treatments will be beneficial for an individual or not. After this, it is vital to ensure that an individual will be partaking in a range of different therapies to cover all areas of their recovery.

Although the Alexander Technique may benefit some individuals as a part of their rehabilitation journey, it should always be combined with other forms of therapy to consolidate a full and effective treatment programme.

Without a comprehensive therapy/treatment programme, individuals may spend more time in care, progressing in some areas but not others, therefore requiring extended periods of time in rehabilitation where it may not have been predicted or planned for.

Speak to your local health services or addiction referral service today to see what treatments and therapies would be most effective and beneficial for your individual case or the individual case of someone you know.

Get further support for addiction and the Alexander Technique today

For more information on the Alexander Technique, how to get involved, and much more, take a look at the other pages on the Alexander Technique website.

In all cases of emergency addiction support, the emergency services should always be contacted.

Sources:

[1] Klein, S.D., Bayard, C. and Wolf, U., 2014. The Alexander Technique and musicians: a systematic review of controlled trials. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14(1), p.414.

[2] Woodman, J.P. and Moore, N.R., 2012. Evidence for the effectiveness of Alexander Technique lessons in medical and health‐related conditions: A systematic review. International journal of clinical practice, 66(1), pp.98-112.