Sit Up and Take Notice
James Power, founder of Find Your Backbone, extols the virtues of the Alexander Technique and how it can change your life.
When did you first come across the Alexander Technique?
I had a severe stroke when I was six, and this left me with muscle pain and weakness down the left side. When I was 15, a lovely teacher told me about the Alexander Technique and how this could help reduce stress and muscular tension. He was totally right, and since then, I have gone from often struggling to walk 13 metres to being able to run 13 miles regularly.
You graduated with a first in English – so how did you end up launching Find Your Backbone?
I wrote speeches for many years after university and have taught presentation skills. I found that the Alexander Technique became the cornerstone of everything I did with clients who were speaking in public, allowing me to teach them how to remain calm and poised under pressure. Most importantly, it helped people improve their confidence and performance in front of an audience. In fact, the Alexander Technique is taught in many of the best acting and music colleges around the world.
In a nutshell, what is the Alexander Technique?
For me, the Alexander Technique is freedom. Freedom to stop and let go of habits and behaviours that cause so much suffering, and freedom to think and move with grace and poise. After having a stroke as a child, the Alexander Technique gave me back the ability to run and walk, and play sports I love. Every day, I see the impact the Alexander Technique has in helping people reduce stress and improve their posture and how they move. The way we use our bodies and minds impacts our performance in every area of our lives.
What happens in a typical session of yours?
I will ask students to carry out a simple task, like sitting in a chair or picking up an object. From here, I’ll help people stop and notice unnecessary tension. I’ll show the students how they can move in a way that is freer and involves less tension. I have special interests in both running and presentation skills, so lots of my clients come to me to help them carry out these activities with more confidence, less pain and less tension.
Back pain is a huge issue in today’s hunched-over-the-desk world, so how does the Alexander Technique help?
Almost every day, I see how effective the Alexander Technique is for back and neck pain. The British Medical Journal published the results of a large clinical trial in 2008, which showed that people who had Alexander lessons had 86% fewer days of back pain, much less incapacity and a better quality of life compared with those who received the usual GP care. A further large clinical trial at the University of York confirmed the effectiveness of the technique for reducing neck pain.
I also do a lot of work at the moment with clients who are struggling with back and neck pain from working at a computer for long hours. Back pain is one of the biggest causes of long-term absence, so I’ve been helping businesses offer training to their staff on how to work in a way that reduces the risk of back and neck pain.
What else do you use the Alexander Technique to help?
I have sung and played guitar and piano for years and have been really fortunate to work with some exceptionally talented musicians, many of whom have been struggling with stage fright or repetitive strain injuries.
Not naming names (unless happy to do so), can you describe two very different case studies of how you have helped clients?
I worked with a partner of a well known law firm. As a solicitor, he worked long hours at a desk and was finding that this was taking a toll on his health. I helped the client improve his posture and reduce stress. We also worked on improving his wellbeing by helping him walk in a more mindful way to experience less knee and back pain.
Another client is a clinical psychologist and because he worked in a caring profession he wanted ways to help improve his own wellbeing. His role could be quite stressful and he suffered from back pain. We approached the Alexander Technique through running and starting with short runs, we built up to completing a 10km run together.
If anyone isn’t sure about contacting you and asking for your help, what would you say to them?
The best thing is to book an initial consultation and talk with a STAT-registered teacher. A teacher will be able to guide you in the right direction and will always work alongside your doctor. Most people will know very quickly whether the Alexander Technique could help them. Very often, students experience moving very differently and with less tension after just a few lessons. They can then decide how far they would like to take the lessons.
