Sports men and women at the top of their league have known about the Alexander Technique for years. Often combined with Pilates instruction, the Alexander Technique helps to alleviate problems with Repetitive Strain Injury and other sports related injuries and ailments, helping to deal with muscle fatigue, recuperation and general competitive focus. The technique also helps a sports person to move with maximum effectiveness and efficiency - decreasing the likelihood of future problems.
One of the trickiest aspects of the technique for a sports person is in allowing themselves to 'come to quiet'. The competitive edge in a sports person's life often spills over into their whole approach to everything, and this is sometimes the only real block that causes any difficulties. In an Alexander Technique lesson, the student is forever being stopped from jumping into their next habit, given space to pause and consider, and to wait to see if something easier happens of its own accord. This is as equally revelatory to a sports competitor, who can suddenly find that there are foundation movements and approaches to their sport which can be cleaner, meaner and more efficient.
My times became faster as I looked at the readouts on my displays while training using the Alexander Technique. It was a real boost to my mental training to have the Alexander Technique in my back pocket when I placed ninth in the 1999 Canadian women's Open Lightweight Erging Championships and when I rowed in the Masters Nationals (5 gold) and World Lightweight Championships (2 gold) and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta (1 gold). I was thrilled with my placings in these events and I can definitely say without hesitation that I wouldn't have had the rowing success that I have had the luxury of experiencing in my short time on the water without finding the Alexander Technique and the great teachers that I have had the privilege to work with. - Valerie Thompson Williams, Rowing masters gold medallist
Tennis and the Alexander Technique
There is a pilot program currently underway to bring the AT work to the tennis court, with players from the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) already taking part. The program also incorporates vision co-ordination skills and other aspects of conventional sports training. As with all applications of the Alexander Technique, the baseline concept is:
It is not what you do that makes the difference, it is how you do it.
Alongside improved efficiency on the court, the core movements are relearned from more instinctive and primal perceptions; working within the design of the whole self, providing support for recovery from injury, and crucially, prevention of injury as you learn to release any habits that have had you working hard against your self.
If you are interested in taking part please do get in touch at the following contact form on the seeing.org website:
