Alexander Technique and Older People
Improve poise and balance, helping to prevent falls
Increase flexibility at joints and reduce pressure on bones
Reduce and manage pain and stiffness
Regain and maintain mobility
Promote ease in daily activities
Improve stamina and lightness
Improve mood and ability to cope and lessen anxiety
Working with Older People
If you are an older person you may be seeking the means to improve your quality of life, to cope with concerns that seem to limit your activities more each day, and to retain your independence and mobility for as long as possible.
Using some simple principles, thoughtful and non-strenuous movement, and the development of your ability to observe yourself and gradually take responsibility for how you choose to move, the Alexander Technique can make a powerful contribution.
Most of us tend to consider increasing stiffness, pain, illness, distress and loss of function as just an inevitable part of the ageing process. But many of these things are caused – or at least exacerbated – by our own learned habits of compression, tension and uncoordination in movement throughout our lives.
The Alexander Technique can help you to restore flexibility, balance and range of movement. This in turn helps restore confidence and enables you to age with grace and poise, rather than fear and tension.
Benefits
The relief of pressure and redistribution of balance that the Alexander Technique teaches can have wide-ranging effects for older people including:
- Improving poise and balance, helping to prevent falls
- Increasing flexibility at joints and reducing excessive pressure on bones
- Helping to regain and maintain mobility
Increasing economy of movement, improving stamina and lightness - Promoting ease in daily activities, such as rising out of a chair, as well as the more specialist or complex activities, such as lifting, reaching, hobbies, golfing, gardening etc.
As movement becomes less effortful and pressure is taken off joints and other organs, general well-being is enhanced and older pupils often experience:
- Less pain and stiffness
- Improved breathing
- Improved organ function
Improved digestion - Lowered blood pressure
- Improved ability to cope with chronic illness and/or pain
And since the Technique makes no distinction between the mental and physical nature of the human organism, these improvements can also:
- Lessen anxiety
- Improve mood and sense of well-being
- Restore independence and a sense of self-determination
- Restore natural coordination, control and choice
The Alexander Technique makes a real difference to my life. Its thoughtful approach has made me calmer, improved my concentration and given me a clearer sense
of my own well being.
DAME JOAN BAKEWELL
Lessons for Older People
I offer Alexander Technique to individuals and groups, with gentle movement and fun for vitality, flexibility and remaining in the present, learning to achieve the best psycho-physical condition we can establish.
I travel to you to work in the comfort and familiarity of your own private home or residential setting. (I have much experience working within the framework of residential settings, both with residents and staff).
You may feel fragile, but as long as you can still engage in some physical movement with guidance, gentleness and observation to stay in the present, then I can help you to appreciate what you can still do for your own wellbeing.
You, your family and/or carers can have complete trust in my experience, professional and personal approach and thorough appreciation of your particular situation.
