Alexander Technique is a marvellous tool for helping people with Chronic Fatigue improve their health. It needs to be used as part of a package of treatment, which includes effective pacing, good diet and the removal of stressful contributors to the condition.
Why is it so good? It enables someone to ‘unlearn’ the harmful postural habits that may be the cause of stress and pain. People with CFS generally hold an immense amount of tension in their bodies. Their breathing may be compromised through tension held around the rib cage. By learning how to release tension and rediscover balance of mind and body by using your body in an effective, stress free way the Technique provides benefits to a person with CFS in a number of ways.
In the first instance a person learns to use their body more effectively. So if you are using less energy every time you carry out an everyday activity, such as getting out of a chair or picking something up, then the energy you have lasts longer.
Secondly, as an ex-sufferer of severe chronic fatigue, I believe that the Technique actually increases your energy base. Lying down in semi-supine (a classic Alexander Technique position) can empower a person with CFS to rest in a more positive way. Improved breathing helps oxygenate the body more effectively.
For people with CFS who have compromised life styles, having Alexander Technique lessons can help them feel more positive about their medical condition as it empowers them to take some control over the way they use their body.