Alexander technique skills may help you become calmer, balanced, and controlled during your daily activity and when dealing with moment-to-moment challenges relating to Parkinson’s.

Having lessons may have a positive effect on:

• increasing control of Parkinson’s motor and non-motor symptoms
• improving balance and posture
• managing stress
• reducing anxiety
• increasing independence and overall confidence.

In particular, research studies suggest that AT could be helpful in managing the following symptoms:

• Tremor
• Balance problems
• Posture problems
• Freezing
• Pain
• Rigidity
• Speech problems
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety
• Apathy
• Depression

AT is taught in both group classes and in private sessions. While private sessions may allow greater opportunity for individualised feedback, group learning may provide additional perspectives and a sense of solidarity with others, possibly reducing social isolation. Group classes will usually be more affordable.

Which skills will I learn?

Your AT instructor will help you develop:

• keener self-observation
• the ability to stay calmer and reduce tension from moment to moment during your day
• better ways to approach daily activities.

You may apply these skills in real-life situations, such as, for example:

• standing
• sitting
• walking
• leaning over
• lifting something from the floor
• reaching for something on a high shelf
• using your mobile phone
• having a conversation
• answering questions
• managing a noisy environment.

You may also be able to use these skills during motor activities such as:

• athletics
• exercise classes
• playing a musical instrument
• writing.

Recommended by both the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to improve quality of life.

How will I be taught these skills?

During an AT session, the teacher will provide verbal cues and a non-manipulative, light touch to guide your movement. This may help you become more aware of excessive tension that may be interfering with your balance and potentially causing anxiety and stress.

Another part of AT sessions is Active Rest. Here, you will be lying down on a massage table – Active Rest is aimed at teaching you to:

• deepen your sense of calm
• expand your breathing capacity
• let go of muscle rigidity
• increase the expansion of your torso
• increase the extension of your spine and limbs.

You will also learn how to practice Active Rest on your own at home.

Wear comfortable, loose clothing – tight clothing or thick fabrics like denim will impede your range of motion, which can interfere with your ability to balance, move freely from sitting to standing, and so forth.

Having your partner/carer attend your sessions with you may be helpful – your partner/carer may be able to support your learning with their own understanding of how to apply AT principles.

Consider attending “tune up” sessions – these may help you handle new Parkinson’s-related challenges. As Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, you may find it useful to return to your AT instructor for sessions when you feel the need to reinforce your skills. Your teacher may be able to help you apply your AT training to address a new symptom or challenging activity.

The following links may be helpful for finding certified AT teachers:

• The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique
• AT teachers in the UK
• AT teachers worldwide
• Affiliated societies
• The Poise Project