Alternative Medicine for Children

Using the Alexander Technique

One great alternative medicine for children is The Alexander Technique. It is a therapy method designed to change movement habits, to re-educate your mind and body to move differently and thus eliminate pain as well as enhance performance.

A Little History

F. Matthias Alexander is the father of the Alexander Technique and designed this modality in the late 1800s. He created it to help reduce breathing problems he had, which he felt were holding him back as a Shakespearean actor.

Today, practitioners are certified in this modality and it is recognized by the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

However, the Alexander Technique differs from other alternative modalities like chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage in that it isn’t something that is done to you but rather something that teaches you how to move differently.

It’s learned by taking classes with a practitioner or teacher.

Alexander Technique For Children

For example, it teaches children the right way to use their body rather then just accomplish the goal in the way that can harm them.

Young children acquires new skills everyday, however the way they learn to use those skills will determine their habits as adults.

Look back to your school days, they don’t teach you how to properly hold a pencil and how much pressure you should use when you write. This kind of pressure might cause shoulder, neck and back pains when you're an adult.

Basic Principles

There are four basic principles of the Alexander Technique. They include:

• Primary control – The principle is that the relationship between your head, neck and spine determine your overall movement and ability to function.
• Awareness – Alexander practitioners/teachers help you to become aware of how you move and to understand how a body functions optimally.
• Inhibition – Tension and the resulting compression interferes with optimal movement. Alexander teachers teach you and your muscles to relax.
• Direction – The theory is that everyone has the ability to visualize movement and mentally guide flow through their body.

Benefits of Alexander Technique

Proponents of the Alexander Technique say that the most profound benefits include self-care skill enhancement and better mental health, which we all can benefit from. Especially for children, it is important to make them aware that the way in which they use themselves is very important.

Watch this video to learn more about alternative medicine for children the Alexander Technique

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