Reframing pain with the Alexander technique

macunderwood

When I was in crippling pain, every treatment I tried failed. The pain persisted, but I refused to settle for merely managing it. Treating symptoms didn't feel like a solution. I was determined to identify and fix the root causes of my pain. After trying out a method backed by Versus Arthritis' randomised controlled trial, I've experienced remarkable results. It's not just about movement or treatment; it's another way of thinking. Often the missing piece in restoring a healthy, functional body. Hoping it helps you too!

So many of us have:

• Injuries that have not been addressed with rehabilitation or are getting worse.
• Sedentary lifestyles or workplaces
• Recurring wear and tear from repetitive day-to-day motions

The best posture/pain relief strategy for me was Alexander Technique explained in part by my favourite David Foster Wallace story.

“There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?”

The essence of the fish story is that the most glaring and significant truths are often the hardest to notice.

You're probably aware of how tough it is to focus on the things that really matter, rather than getting too caught up in your pain or internal chatter (which might be happening right now). In the trenches of dealing with persistent pain, managing your attention is often a challenge.

Real freedom from pain happens once you can effortlessly switch your attention from the pain stimulus to your pain relief strategies. You can learn this and move towards vitality and health in a pain-free body.

Alexander Technique has been teaching how to do this for over a century. It is mindfulness applied to movement. Although frequently used by elite performers in acting, music and sport, most use it to get out of pain. It’s a clinically proven way of undoing harmful muscle patterning. It works fast, with many experiencing immediate relief.

More than just another movement system or treatment, it's another way of thinking. It is often the missing piece in restoring a healthy, functional body. Alexander Technique teachers have refined the precise instructions that best improve muscle tone, postural support and coordination so that you have the freedom to move without tension and bracing.

Before you get there, there is an essential stage of getting to know yourself well in all your discomfort. What’s your water like? My experience of figuring this out is here. Hope it helps!

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Anna

Hello @macunderwood and welcome to the online community,

Thank you for letting us know your positive experience with the Alexander Technique - this method has been around for quite a while and some people have found it beneficial to help prevent pain although there hasn’t been much published research on it. Here’s what Versus Arthritis says about the technique:

https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/alexander-technique/

Best wishes,

Anna ( Moderator)