What the Alexander Technique Tells Us About Athleticism

The Alexander Technique? What in the world is that? My brother introduced me to this concept developed by actor and orator F. Matthias Alexander from Australia early in the 20th century. Basically, he had discovered that his voice was getting tired prematurely and he would have to take extended breaks from his work to recover. He suffered from sore throats and fatigue that was uncharacteristic for him. A very observant man, he set up numerous mirrors so that he could observe himself while orating. He realized that his body was unnecessarily tense while he spoke. This wasn't out of nerves, but out of something more ingrained in him.

Mr. Alexander found that every time he spoke amongst other physiological "misuses", his head would tilt back, creating tension in his neck that caused his vocal cords to become tense and therefore fatigue. Every time he would think about correcting his head position, it would work for a few minutes, but within a short time, he would find that he was back in the tense position on his way to undue fatigue. With a little self-experimentation, he found that when he actually made himself find the optimal positioning of his head and neck reduced tension and allowed him to speak without tension for long periods.

What does this mean for athletes and specifically triathletes? Actually, the implications are substantial. First, F. M. Alexander's thoughts on head position are good for any person. Next time you are sitting at your desk or behind the wheel of your car, see what tucking your chin and extending your neck does for your breathing and overall tension. My estimation is that it would make a huge difference. By extension, I encourage you to watch some video of a track running race finish. Those who finish first are generally going to have their chins tucked and their heads in a natural, neutral position. Those who do not win are showing their fatigue by tightening up the musculature on the back of the neck, which is symptomatic of the tension in the rest of the body.

While running, swimming, cycling, strength training, sitting, walking, etc., make some observations about the tension in your body. Tension is taking energy away from necessary movements, which makes you less efficient and injury-prone during athletic activities. If you find that you have unnecessary tension during your activities, it's possible that you may need a bike fit or some help with your mechanics. However, you may find that you can correct it yourself just by allowing your body to relax.