Alexander Technique Forums

1. • CommentAuthoralan
   • CommentTimeSep 25th 2007

    # 1
   I have been working with an AT teacher for about 6 months and have had approximately 25 lessons, to help with lower pack pain and pain in the upper spine believed to be related to posture.
   
   In that time I have not progressed much at all, as a result I am thinking of doing Pilates to complement the AT lessons.
   
   However, my AT teacher warns against doing pilates becuase he says it only stengthens and therefore shortens the muscles in the stomach area, and long term pliates practice can lead to kyphosis. Surely this cannot be true !
2. • CommentAuthordod
   • CommentTimeSep 25th 2007

    # 2
   Hello Alan,
   
   If you haven't already, maybe you should take a look at this site
   
   http://pilatesandalexander.com/
   
   and follow a few of the links to see if that helps clarify matters.
   
   When you say you haven't progressed much after 25 lessons, do you mean you're still in the same amount of pain?
   
   Nicholas
3. • CommentAuthoralan
   • CommentTimeSep 26th 2007

    # 3
   Hi Nicholas
   
   Yes - I am still in pain.
   
   I did review the papers on the web site you mentioned, and they seemed to support that pilates and alexander technique work well together. I guess what I am looking for from my question, was do any indivdiduals have direct experience of pilates somehow affecting posture in a negative way ? Any feedback appreaciated.
   
   best wishes
   Alan
4. • CommentAuthordod
   • CommentTimeSep 28th 2007

    # 4
   Hello Alan,
   
   I think the way you live your 'ordinary life' holds as much, if not more, danger to your posture than any amount of Pilates.
   
   As you will know from having Alexander lesssons, the key isn't so much what you do as how you do it.
   
   Having said that, if you're wary of overdoing things, I've found the 'effortless' exercises at this website remarkably helpful over the years.
   
   http://www.flowingbody.com/
   
   Nicholas
5. • CommentAuthorMatty30
   • CommentTimeApr 6th 2009

    # 5
   I found Pilates really painful but AT brilliant so I stopped Pilates a long time ago- no intention ever to do again!