Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Repetitive
Stain Injury (RSI) refers to repetitive strenuous movements, including
hand-movements, which cause injury as a result. Typing, computer work, playing the piano, are a few examples.
What is the Alexander Technique approach to such injuries?
In the Alexander Technique we
observe HOW the movements are done, in additions to WHAT the movements
are. Are they accompanied with
tension? Is that tension
necessary? Is the tension taking place
in the right places, in the right amount, for the right length of time? Is it
possible to reduce it, or replace it with TONING instead?
Practicing the technique will
first enable you to reduce overall stress and
tightness, which will help you to kinesthetically feel and notice more
closely what's going on with your hand-movement. The way we are able to "do" things - we're also able to undo, and
avoid any tension which is about to appear before it even appears. It requires thought and attention. It's a skill which can be learned.
In addition, with the Alexander
Technique you will become aware of your Head-Neck-Back Relationship. This type of body-awareness will facilitate
self-coordination in such a way that there will be no need to tense
unnecessarily, to over-tense, or to tense in the wrong places. When engaging the Head, Neck, and Back the
way babies or wild animals do naturally - the movements becomes light, easy, and
effortless.
Here are a few questions you
might want to ask yourself when you sit at the computer, or at the piano:
Where are my finger-joints?
Where am I moving my fingers
from?
Where do my fingers start?
How closed is my hand, how open
is it? How tensed is it? How released is it?
What are my wrists for? What's their purpose? What am I doing with them? What can I stop doing? How can I keep them free?
To learn more - contact Shula at
shula.Alexander@gmail.com