During the pandemic crisis, face-to-face Alexander Technique lessons are not possible. Manual guidance is the time-honoured method for teaching Alexander Technique and is core to the tradition. While the benefits of physical contact are many, the ultimate goal of Alexander Technique is that the pupil learns to apply the technique independently. Without the teacher’s touch, pupils will not get the full Alexander Technique experience but, using online video communication platforms, your teacher may still give you constructive guidance to enhance your application of Alexander Technique. It wont replace the hands-on experience, but will offer some support for your practice while we remain socially distant.

Online Alexander Technique sessions may be the nearest thing to having an Alexander Technique teacher in your home. You can sit at your computer (which during these times may also be your office) and work with your teacher on applying Alexander Technique in one of the places you may need it the most. There might also be other instruments or tools in your home which you can use in your lessons too. Do you use a home gym, for example? Or ever wondered about how you might improve the way you sit in your couch? The technology enables you to take your lesson wherever you like - all you need is internet reception and your smartphone.

Online communication platforms also have a built-in mirror. The image of yourself is something you can use to your advantage, if you use it well. Learning to do so and practising with your teacher set you up for well-coordinated and mindful online conferencing. For the time being, this is how we communicate even with family and friends, so let’s establish positive use from the start. The quality of video these days is adequate for your teacher to pick up on many patterns of movement which have scope for improvement.

One of the key methods of learning to direct yourself, is hearing and implementing verbal guidance from the teacher. Becoming familiar with the language and syntax of directions, you become able to first replicate the teacher’s directions, then construct your own spontaneously. While manual guidance helps students embrace new ways of moving, it is the directing thoughts that enable independent application.

In an online session, you discuss your practice and progress with your teacher. Together you will work out what is appropriate for the session. It will likely involve many of the same things as conventional sessions - sitting, talking, moving and lying down. As with any time you meet with your teacher, you will be able to talk through your own experiments and challenges, reflect on what is working well and question what might be improved. These conversations give you insight into how you engage in the Technique in daily life and give you direction and motivation to embark on more exploration.

Teaching without physical contact is not the ideal situation, but it is a satisfying second best. It has some drawbacks, but other advantages. The core principles remain as relevant and effective as ever. While the current social distancing rules apply, we need to be innovative in communicating the practice and application of Alexander Technique. To the teacher, online sessions present the context for creating new ways to articulate and teach, and for the student, online learning presents an opportunity to strengthen individual practice. Since we are in this situation, an online session with an Alexander Technique teacher is following a key philosophy of the Technique: using what we have to the best of our ability.