Well the good news is you can find more time into your busy day by taking more breaks and introducing a real easy Alexander technique procedure.

A parents, we tend to have a hectic lifestyle, running from one pick up to cooking dinners, cleaning, going to work, getting a quick walk in, or trying an exercise class, shopping for the week, before going back to collecting, cooking and whatever else out busy lives involve. Can we pack in any more into our day?

An Alexander teacher, Richard Brennan taught a weekly class to the staff of Bank of Ireland, showing them some of the principles of the technique and introducing them to the lie down procedure. They did this on their lunch breaks for a couple of weeks. At first the management weren't quite sure whether they liked their staff taking some time to rest as they probably saw it as a loss of productivity.

After a matter of weeks, the staff actually increased their productivity and both staff and management were in agreement that taking rest and looking after yourself brings benefits to you and to your work. It sounds quite simple when you read it like this but most if us push on, don't take breaks and generally end up in a hip at the end of a day, collapsing in front of our TV's with no more energy to spare. Having the knock effect into your work or your family life as you are not at your best, always exhausted.

Introducing breaks, like the Alexander Technique lie down procedure will leave you refreshed and with more energy to carry on with your daily chores wether at work on in the home (which is all work). Why not try it for yourself and please email me if you have any queries on how to do this vdruesne@gmail.com

Looking after yourself doesn’t have to be hard work!
The lie down procedure for you and great for kids too! My son likes to lie down with me when I have my breaks.

Lying down is one the quickest and simplest ways of allowing our bodies to come back into shape. It allows the spine to lengthen and widen, allows the neck muscles to relax as they don’t have to support the heavy weight of head (about 5kg-8lb). Allows the pelvis to tilt backward and the lower back to flatten. Spinal and abdominal muscles can release allowing the diaphragm and ribcage to work more efficiently. A deeper breathing pattern happens, and the whole system calms down.

Lying  down in semi-supine for 10 to 20 minutes each day can be calming, restoring, refreshing and alleviate immediate pain. Lying down is advocated by osteopaths, chiropractors and back-pain clinics.

Place some books under your head, notice if your head is tipping back (books too low) or pushed forward (too many books). Lie down on a mat or carpet, (be careful of draughts), bend your knees and place your feet shoulder width apart. Try not to fall asleep, if you feel sleepy you would benefit more from going to bed.

Benefits:
Releases muscles and joints
Allows intervertebral discs to plump up allowing spine to regain its full length
Releases diaphragm giving more rib movement
Allows for more regular breathing
Frees neck muscles
Takes pressure of eyes
Jaw releases
Undlenches hands
Gives time to think and become more conscious
It’s free.

Véronique Druesne, Alexander Technique teacher Cork
vdruesne@gmail.com

The technique also helped me a great deal throughout my pregnancy as balance becomes more difficult and it was a great help to have lessons during this challenging and exciting time.

Low back pain is a common complaint among pregnant women. As the baby grows, a woman's center of balance changes. With increased weight forward, her usual tendency is to compensate by leaning back at the waist. This puts unnecessary pressure on her sacrum and lower back, and can cause excruciating back pain. But no pregnant woman has to accept this as a fact of life. In an Alexander Technique session, her teacher will show her how to protect her back. As her center of gravity shifts, she can learn how to adjust, easily. By decompressing the spine and distributing the baby's weight through her entire body, she can be far more comfortable and pain-free.

As the baby grows and occupies more of her internal space, the woman's heart, lungs and other internal organs become compressed. If she does not capitalize on her body's internal support system, this can result in digestive problems and shortness of breath. With the Alexander Technique, she learns to reduce compression by allowing the torso to expand. This gives her, literally, more room to breathe. And she'll need access to all her resources with the challenges to come.

As formerly easy daily activities become difficult, a pregnant woman can learn a practical, enjoyable way to handle moves as simple as standing and sitting. It is crucial for pregnant women to learn how to bend efficiently. An Alexander Technique teacher will show her how to use her torso as she attempts, for example, the now trying task of tying her shoes. She will learn how to rise from a chair, lie down or sit -- comfortably.

Studying the Technique also helps a woman ride out the profound physical and psychological changes that ripple through her during pregnancy. As hormonal shifts spark mood swings and the nature of home life changes dramatically, this effective form of self care can help in regaining emotional equilibrium.