THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
By Margaret Rakusen
Lisa was 48 years old and came to me for an introductory
session in early December 2000. She had decided to try the
Alexander Technique to see if it would help her ongoing
back problem.
Lisa had been having pain and discomfort with her back
for approximately 15 years. Her lower back was very painful.
She would get sharp pains from it at night that woke her
up and was in fairly continuous pain during the day. A canoeing
accident seven years ago had led to neck problems which
she still suffered from, although she had been for physiotherapy
at the time which had eased it somewhat, but the problems
returned and her neck was always prone to stiffness.
I explained to her that in the Alexander Technique we would
be looking at the way in which she was carrying out all
her daily activities and that I would teach her the best
way of doing these, so that she would no longer damage herself.
I noticed that she held her head in an attitude that was
causing a lot of very harmful pressures on her spine and
discs.
Lisa decided to come for a course of 20-30 lessons with
seven lessons fairly close together at the beginning so
that we could get some improvements fairly quickly. After
that she would come for weekly sessions, changing to fortnightly
when she was ready to come less often.
Lisa began her lessons and soon started to improve. In
the lessons I showed her a different way of sitting, standing,
walking, writing, lying down and how to turn her head without
damaging her neck. We also looked at ways of improving her
breathing and how to bend and lift without any strain.
Lisa applied everything that I taught her when she was
carrying out her everyday activities and soon built up confidence
in her ability to move freely without triggering off her
back problems. She told me that on occasions when she forgot
and her back gave warning twinges she was able to quickly
put everything right because she knew what was causing the
problem. This has given Lisa confidence in her own ability
to look after herself.
Conclusion – two months later
Lisa continues to make steady progress and is now
coming fortnightly. Her neck is much less stiff and her
lower back no longer gives her the continuous pain during
the day or the sharp pains at night. She has recently completed
a ten mile walk at the weekend without any painful after
effects whatsoever!
About the Author
Margaret Rakusen B Sc. PGCE MSTAT.
I decided to become a teacher of the Alexander Technique
after taking lessons in my early twenties for help with
poor posture and stress, and finding it tremendously beneficial.
After a three year training with Walter and Dilys Carrington
in west London I qualified in 1982 and moved to Yorkshire.
I run a private practice in Leeds, West Yorkshire and for
the past ten years I have also been running a training programme
for teachers of the Alexander Technique. I have demonstrated
the Alexander technique on two television programmes and
also give talks and group sessions. My interests include
many aspects of complementary health care, meditation and
all aspects of personal development.
I am currently taking a three year training with a Chinese
teacher called Jason Chan to qualify as a teacher of his
method of T’ai Chi. I am also a practitioner of Spiritual
Human Yoga which is a unique healing method that uses the
energy centres of the body for healing.
Contact address
Margaret Rakusen
Design House,
3 Hanover Avenue,
Leeds LS3 1BG
Tel: 0113 2449713
Email: maggie.rakusen@btinternet.com
