Do you sometimes wake up with a back so painful you can't even get dressed?

• I would always have to physically lift my right leg up with my hands.
• Take pain killers and learn to live with it.
• Stretches and sports massages never seemed to solve the problem.
• Advanced osteoporosis … fractures … lost over 3 inches
• Pain for over five years … such relief in only seven days
• Just a few weeks … running distances and speeds approaching the peak of my fitness
• Double take/amazed at “new” height
• … from feeling an agonising wrench to feeling practically no pain at all
• I used to “pull” my back gardening
• I have had no re-occurring pains in my back

Sylvia Bouqdib

I just didn't see the point, but I went along with it. After about 5 or 6 sessions, not only had the pain gone but I realised problems that I didn't even know I had, had gone.

Whenever I got into the car I would always have to physically lift my right leg up with my hands. One day after about the fifth or sixth lesson I just got into the car and my leg just lifted up of its own accord. I was absolutely astonished. I hadn't even willed it to happen.

Another thing that was quite astonishing: in the shower, I had always turned to my left to wash. I just couldn't turn round to my right. When I got home that night and got into the shower, I just automatically turned to the right without any thinking about it whatsoever.

Sylvia

to “Back in Action”.

Margery Cross

I was very hesitant about walking at all: I could hardly get in a car, I was told that the only thing I could do now was take pain killers and learn to live with it.

It has boosted my confidence tremendously. It does so much more besides just helping you with the osteoporosis. It helps your whole life-style, your whole well-being.

Before I started the Alexander Technique, my family had to come and do various things for me. Now I can drive myself, I do my own housework, I look after my husband. I'm quite independent.

Margery, retired farmer's wife

to “Back in Action”.

Dr Martin Breach

I work as a GP, and much of my working day is spent sitting at a desk, dealing with patients and related paperwork. Prior to starting lessons I was finding that I was troubled with upper back and shoulder tension, and voice tightness.

Although I am physically very active, having run a marathon and competed in a triathlon within the last 12 months, I had the impression that I was starting to become ‘stooped over’, with increasing low back discomfort. Stretches and sports massages were of short term benefit, they never seemed to solve the problem.

My first lessons with Philip were a revelation: my symptoms of muscular tightness and tension settled (and have not returned). I am far from the end of my journey in the Alexander technique, but I am the better for having begun.

Martin

to “Back in Action”.

In the late 70's, I went through an early menopause & took HRT for ten months. The sudden withdrawal of HRT resulted in a diagnosis of advanced osteoporosis at the age of 53! I developed a kyphosis after incurring several vertebral fractures..

I dreaded the condition worsening in the future, I fell frequently and felt ashamed of my appearance. I had lost over 3 inches in height. I had very frequent episodes of back pain; physiotherapists could only offer temporary palliative therapy. Medication wasn't helping, either.

A friend suggested I should try the Alexander Technique, so I booked a trial lesson. Prior to this, I'd taken Zantac, acid suppressant tablets for many years to alleviate gastric reflux, partially caused by my poor posture. After just a few lessons, I was able to discontinue the acid-blocker tablets. After a year's lessons, my height has apparently increased by 2 inches.

Julia

to “Back in Action”.

Tom Higgins

Dear Philip,

A quick note to thank you for the last weeks Alexander lessons.

After suffering neck and shoulder pain for over five years, I would never have believed it possible to gain such relief in only seven days.

I had started to accept the pain as part of my everyday life and now… I don't have to!

Thank you so much and I look forward to the next stage of learning in six weeks time.

Best Wishes,

Tom Higgins
TV Writer: “As If”, “The Bill” et al.

to “Back in Action”.

Steve Wooding

Dear Philip,

I've been giving it a good few months since the last of our two full sets of lessons to let the outcomes of our time together really sink in so I can make some meaningful comments on how effective it has been. My main issue was a recurring pain and stiffening in my right hip after standing still for more than a few minutes.

My posture is more balanced, walking is more fluid, I wake up feeling more flexible in the mornings, my lifting and carrying is more effective and less tiring, driving is less of a chore, sitting is more comfortable and even my breathing seems easier and more natural than ever.

The biggest surprise came only when I returned to running for fitness around a month ago. Having not exercised regularly for over year, I wasn't sure how far or how fast I could go. However, after just a few weeks I'm already running the same distances I used to and at speeds approaching those at the peak of my fitness around 10 years ago, and I'm feeling less strain too.

Yours sincerely,

Steve
Steve Wooding, director, iceandlemon ltd.

to “Back in Action”.

Simon Robson

Why I came for Alexander lessons.

• Viewing photographs of myself covering a period of the last two decades I was surprised just how consistently poor my posture was [Slouching, unconfident]
• Feedback from recent senior manager interviews related posture as part of personal presentation was a factor in lack of progression to more senior roles.
• Growing recent concern that poor posture would lead to health related problems in later life. Already developing sharp enduring pain in upper back following violin playing

After my first lesson:–

• Pain of violin playing disappeared immediately
• Family and work colleagues – double take/amazed at “new” height
• Became more influential in meetings without changing values and personal belief systems

Simon Robson,
Head of Local Provider Servicers, Warwickshire County Council

to “Back in Action”.

Fiona McDavid

I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago shifting around some heavy furniture and it was the application of the Alexander technique that saved me from excruciating pain and speeded up my recovery. Just knowing how to allow my head to move when getting up from a chair made all the difference from feeling an agonising wrench to feeling practically no pain at all. It felt like a miracle, knowing how to relax properly also aided my recovery greatly.

Thank you Philip for all your help. I'll definitely be coming back to learn some more.

Fiona
Fiona McDavid, Massage Therapist, Liverpool

to “Back in Action”.

John Wheeler

I'm an academic in the Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences at Liverpool University. I used to “pull” my back whilst doing activities such as gardening. The technique gradually revealed several postural problems in addition to the one I was most conscious of. I realised that these problems were quite substantial and probably had contributed to physical and mental stress, particularly at work. Now my situation is much improved and I recommend the Technique for its ability to contribute to physical and therefore mental well-being.

Regards

John
John Wheeler, lecturer, Liverpool University

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Alex White

Dear Philip

Since my job is very physical, and being self employed, I cannot afford to be unable to work due to aches and pains.

I have had no re-occurring pains in my back, or even any new pains anywhere else.

Regards,

Alex
Alex White, Alex'll Fix It

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