Fibromyalgia - "Excellent Results" Nick T

Fibromyalgia manifests itself as muscle and connective tissue pain. Tender points may be in the shoulders, front and back, in the crook of the elbows, lower back, knees. There may be widespread pain, fatigue and even joint stiffness.


It is thought that this may be related to stress and in Alexander Technique we help our neuromuscular system out of the stress reaction pattern.

The stress pattern is similar to the startle reflex pattern (Fight or Flight), which naturally happens when we hear an unexpected loud bang. We also go into this pattern without realising it when we are stressed.

The head may well pull back, the spine will shorten, the back and tummy will pull towards each other and the shoulders come up and in, the legs come up and in and even the heels pull up.

We can become “Stuck” in a start of tension and this tension cycle exacerbates the situation.

Semi supine or Constructive rest in Alexander Technique can really help. It gives us time to stop and realise what is going on. We can safely learn to ungrip the body and start to move in a freer way.

There is a way the body likes to move and a way that it doesn’t. Getting into better balance helps also and freeing up the neck on top of the spine can give great relief.

In Alexander Technique we give preventative thoughts (Directions), which are the opposite to the startle reflex pattern:

“Let our necks be free so that our heads can go forward and up so that our backs can lengthen and widen. Out and away across the upper arms, knees forward and away, heels dropping”

Using our minds in this way our muscles start to respond in a much freer way.

Here are a couple of comments from my clients who suffered from Fibromyalgia and which the Technique has really helped.



"Mark is an excellent Alexander Technique Practitioner. I had no knowledge of the technique before visiting him, but hoped that he would be able to help my fibromyalgia/permanent pain syndrome.

Mark worked wonders with me, using his knowledge of the technique to help me develop it's practical application in my day-to-day life, with excellent results, and at a very reasonable cost.

I will certainly be using Mark's services again, at the very least to refresh my use of the technique, and have no hesitation in highly recommending him to anyone seeking help with problems such as mine"
Nick Titchener



"I have recently had a debilitating post-viral illness with, among other symptoms, muscular pains in my limbs: again I found that the basic Alexander exercises have been immensely helpful for my well being. I am profoundly grateful for his directions and help."
Dr David Mellor

All I ask for when someone comes to lessons is that they are willing and open to change. Why not try an introductory session for yourself this month. (£10 off). You maybe surprised at the results.

www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com

ARE YOU FINDING TRYING TO HAVE GOOD POSTURE AN EFFORT?

Working with a client this morning, it reminded me of how I used to be. I spent alot of time TRYING to Do GOOD POSTURE! From my personal experience I can say it didn't work, I was just tense and my back and neck still hurt. This client was having the same problem until i got them to start to ungrip and they realised they would not fall to the ground or even slouch.
There is a lot of talk about the importance of good posture these days. You hear it in gyms, yoga sessions, Pilates and even the very popular barefoot running.


However when you say to people “Think about your posture” they tend to TRY and stand up straight, possibly holding onto their legs , heaving up their chests and even tensing their necks and pulling in their backs in the attempt to DO good posture.

We have a strange idea of what good posture is. We try and DO IT by putting ourselves in a position and fixing ourselves. Unfortunately most of the time we cannot maintain this and we tire and we might even injure ourselves doing exercise, as we are moving this tense body around.



So what is good posture ?



In Alexander Technique lessons I firstly state that one should never fix themselves in a position, whether sitting, standing or even lying down. If you do, you are fixing and probably tensing your muscles.



The force of gravity on us encourages our bodies to lengthen and widen and we have the potential to release and lengthen into activity eg: the movement from sitting to standing. We did this as a toddler and we can get back to it by thinking in a different way. See how good sportsmen and women use there bodies, they lengthen into activity in a very natural way.

Having good posture shouldn’t be a struggle and we should definitely not be using extra effort. With our minds we can change things and we can start to move in a more lengthening and widening way which will encourage freer breathing.



Firstly we must recognise if we are trying too hard. Are we gripping with our legs/buttocks? Holding our tummies in? tucking our tail bones under? Thowing our heads back?



If we can choose NOT to do those things we are half way there.



We then choose to lengthen and widen, not by DOING it or even using muscular effort but by thinking and allowing our bodies to move in a natural way.



In a way we are allowing gravity to take us up and be more springy like a toddler.



Why not get an Alexander Technique teacher to show you how.



For more information or to book an introductory session go to:



http://www.alexandertechniquebrighton.com/