Do you have any experience with this as a management / supportive therapy for symptoms related to living with ME/CFS (or any other illness)? There is no reliable evidence to suggest that it treats ME/CFS or removes symptoms. Anecdotally some Internet people (or perhaps, personas) have claimed that it helps with ME/CFS symptom management. As usual a lot (not all) of these anecdotes are from people who have then learned the technique and practice it as a business. A 2010 ME Association publication reported that survey respondents said: https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MEA-Management-Survey-2010.pdf I ask because I have a lot of postural issues, tension, bracing, aches and pains and am considering ways to help directly with those issues (assumption #1 - these are 'issues', assumption #2 - such a technique/therapy would sustainably improve them), and it would be a bonus if that resulted in better energy conservation (assumption #3 - it would reduce energy expenditure, and do so enough to be significant in a very small way). I also struggle to really rest, and they claim to help you learn that. Any news, views, experiences or other comments would be good to hear. I noticed that there wasn't a thread for this, so thought it would be good to have a place to discuss it as a potentially supportive therapy (or not, as the case may well be).
I think the Alexander technique is very useful for becoming aware of yourself physically which people normally aren't. I was ready to abandon my career as a violinist until I was lucky enough to find a teacher who used aspects of it. I suppose if your aches and pains were due to postural tension and you could train yourself to use the technique it would help.
I studied it for a time, but not for ME. I found it tiring and ultimately had to abandon it (I was working at the time, and even once a week it was too much on top of a job), but it was useful in that it helped me understand the postural differences I thought needed correcting were best left alone because they were natural for me.
I met someone many years ago with ME who was an Alexander teacher. She moved very carefully and sat and stood very upright, but it made no difference to her ME. I remember reading about it at the time. I gathered it was popular with actors and musicians.
The only thing I know about the Alexander Technique is that I looked into getting lessons many years ago. I don't remember the numbers now, but they were extremely expensive and way out of my price range.
I tried a couple of classes in the first year when I still thought I just needed to get fit, or something. They were PEM-inducing, probably not so much the classes which from memory included a fair bit of lying on the ground relaxing, but more the getting ready, trying to look presentable, and getting there and back. They certainly didn't help ME/CFS symptoms. I guess a couple of classes wasn't really a fair trial but I didn't think the effort of more classes was worth it.
I find ( self paced ) tai chi is good for posture, balance tension, stiffness etc. It is not a treatment for ME though.
