Finding Ease in a Body with Cerebral Palsy

I woke up one morning when I was 2 needing a tissue. Like any 2-year-old wanting to blow his nose, I picked one up. However, as a 2-year-old with cerebral palsy, I wasn’t quite sure how to do it. 

I decided to take it one step at a time. I tried to transfer the tissue from my right hand to my left, but my right hand wouldn’t let go. I ripped the tissue to shreds. 

The lesson was obvious to me: my right hand was useless. I vowed never to use it again. From then on, my right side was dead to me. This is the story of how, 33 years later, I started using my right hand again. 

Article by Greg Moomjy for NewMobility

What is the Alexander technique?

The NHS says:

The Alexander technique teaches improved posture and movement, which is believed to help reduce and prevent problems caused by unhelpful habits.

During a number of lessons, you're taught to be more aware of your body, how to improve poor posture and move more efficiently.

Teachers of the Alexander technique believe it helps get rid of tension in your body and relieves problems such as back pain, neck ache, shoulder pain and other musculoskeletal problems.

Evidence suggests the technique has the potential to improve certain health conditions, but there are some claims made about the technique that have not been scientifically tested.

Key principles

The main principles of the Alexander technique are:

• "how you move, sit and stand affects how well you function"
• "the relationship of the head, neck and spine is fundamental to your ability to function optimally"
• "becoming more mindful of the way you go about your daily activities is necessary to make changes and gain benefit"
• "the mind and body work together intimately as one, each constantly influencing the other"

Teachers of the technique say that conditions such as backache and other sorts of long-term pain are often the result of misusing your body over a long period of time, such as moving inefficiently and standing or sitting with your weight unevenly distributed.

The aim of the Alexander technique is to help you "unlearn" these bad habits and achieve a balanced, more naturally aligned body.