Mind & Body Stress Relief with the Alexander Technique
As the title suggests this book tells you how to reduce physical, mental and emotional stress. Topics covered include worry, depression, insomnia and panic attacks. Like the books above it is also easy to understand and is suitable for those new to the Technique as well as those who have had Alexander Technique lessons. It is the only book to date that primarily deals with how the technique can help emotionally and mentally as well as physically.
F. Matthias Alexander, the progenitor of the technique, developed his unique method not only as a way of improving posture and physical health, but also as a route to freeing people from their 'fixed prejudices' and 'erroneous concepts' which prevent them from being truly happy. Like the great philosophers Socrates, Plato and Hypocrites, Alexander realised that there is an inseparable unity between the body, mind and emotions and he was convinced that mental stress will invariably lead to muscle tension and emotional instability and vice versa. Today, many view the Alexander Technique simply as a way of improving posture or of alleviating back pain. While it can be effective in both these respects, its full potential has still to be discovered by the majority of people.
This book will help you to:
- Increase your self confidence
- Release muscular tension
- Calm your mind
- Improve breathing
- Alleviate symptoms of depression
- Rebuild your emotional health
Chapter titles include:
- Introduction
- Stress and Quality of Life
- Principles of the Alexander Technique
- The Physical Effects of Stress
- Worry
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress and Emotions
- The Breath of Life
- The Freedom to Change
- Useful Addresses
- Further Reading
Illustrations: 21 line drawings.
About the new 2015 Edition
This book was originally published by Thorsons/HarperCollins. Republished in 2015 by the Alexander Technique Centre.
The new edition was updated in 2011 to include a summary of important new research reported in the British Medical Journal in 2008, which showed significant long-term benefits of the Alexander Technique to back sufferers. The useful addresses and further reading sections have also been updated with new websites and book titles.
Review
Western Morning News
"If left unchecked mental and physical stress can erode not only your health, but your overall state of well-being. If you are suffering from stress at work due to endless deadlines then this book is for you. The key to unlocking mental and physical tension is revealed in Mind and Body Stress Relief with the Alexander Technique. By using simple methods explained clearly in this book you can bring about physical relaxation and mental, emotion and spiritual balance."