edinburgh alexander centre

In the Beginning
The teacher and the pupil discuss the pupil's needs and questions before agreeing how to proceed together. This can happen either at the beginning of an introductory lesson or at a free consultation.

The Introductory Lesson
The purpose of the first lesson is to introduce you to the basic concepts of the Alexander Technique and to explore how they are relevant to your needs and questions. The lesson itself lasts an hour and you remain fully clothed throughout, only removing your shoes. In the first part of the lesson you will be asked to stand in front of a chair and explore your habitual ways of co-ordinating your sitting and standing which your teacher will highlight for you along with its effects. Next, you will be taught how to prevent your habitual co-ordination from being initiated, while the teacher will use their hands on your head, neck and torso to encourage a new co-ordination whose kinaesthetic effect is usually immediately obvious. The experience, which is often described as a pleasant lightness or floating, helps demonstrate the practical effects of a new and different co-ordination.
Having worked for twenty minutes standing and sitting you will usually be asked to lie on a table where the teacher will work on you to facilitate an improved co-ordination. While lying there you will be given some pleasant homework , which involves lying on the floor for fifteen minutes everyday. Immediately on finishing the tablework you will be taken through a set procedure for the lying down on the floor and getting up again. The lesson finishes with some instruction on walking and a chance to ask some questions.

Subsequent Lessons
Subsequent lessons last for half an hour and continue with the work started in the first lesson, involving both the chair and table as appropriate. As lessons progress the focus begins to shift from teaching you the basic concepts, to training you how to employ them in your everyday life. At this time specific applications of the Alexander Technique to activities as diverse as singing, dancing and the martial arts can be undertaken with you.

A Basic Course of Lessons
Most Alexander Technique teachers would describe a basic course of lessons as being between twenty or thirty lessons. During that time you have the opportunity to learn the basic concepts of the Alexander Technique and how to employ them as well as experiencing fundamental change. For many people this is all they need, For others lessons may need to continue beyond this according to the nature of problems faced and the level of skill desired in directing co-ordination.