Sue's Story      

There are many reasons why people learn The Alexander Technique. The majority of people who come for lessons have back pain, neck & shoulder pain or RSI (repetitive strain injury). Others have noticed their poor posture (or it has been pointed out to them), and some want to use the Technique to improve their performance as musicians, actors or sportspeople. Often there is a combination of factors.

In March of this year Sue Hutton came for her first lesson. She had heard of the Technique through her singing teacher and found my details on the website of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, of which I am a member. Sue has been singing (as a non-professional) for 20 years. She is working towards her first recital, to be given in October. Sue's main reason for coming was to improve her singing, but this was not the whole story.

At the first lesson I asked for some details of Sue's medical history and daily life, in order to form a picture of how she arrived at this point. I learned that Sue had had a hip replaced in the past and that she has one leg shorter than the other, and a spinal twist (scoliosis). Sue told me that she wanted to work on her breathing in relation to singing, that her back ached after standing, but also when sitting (and her work involves a lot of computer work). She told me that she wanted to “feel more comfortable”.

My job, as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, is to help the pupil learn how to change their postural habits. These habits will be present (to a greater or lesser degree) whether a person is walking, talking, sitting or singing. I don't teach a pupil how to sit or how to sing, but how to think . This Alexander thinking can then be applied to any and every activity.

The teaching begins with the pupil lying on her back, knees bent up, and head resting on some books. I use my hands and verbal instructions to help the pupil release tension and begin to let go of habitual pulls and distortions, particularly around the spine. Pupils are asked to lie down in this way for 15 minutes every day. For Sue, with restricted movement in her hip, it made more sense for her to rest her lower legs (still lying on her back) on the seat of a chair, and she has continued with this at home.

Over the course of Sue's 10 lessons since March, we have worked with her standing, sitting, bending, walking and singing, and her postural habits have begun to change. After some working on applying the thinking whilst walking, Sue's old rolling gait (or “waddling” as she called it) changed to a graceful glide. She sometimes reverts to rolling even now but, as long as she uses her Alexander thinking, the “gliding” returns.

Sue now experiences less back pain and has been pleased with the way her breathing has improved, especially when she sings. Recently she mentioned having noticed a new “mental release”.

I hope that Sue will continue with the lessons. Around 20 lessons is a good foundation for most people, giving them the skills they need to continue the process of changing long-term habits of tension, both physical and mental.

Sue Hutton's recital of English song and Italian aria took place on Saturday 1 st October at Christchurch Methodist, Shepshed.