How the Alexander Technique can help during Pregnancy

by Joan Arnold and Hope Gillerman with Terry Zimmerer

The Alexander Technique is useful during each phase of becoming a parent. Study of the Technique gets body and mind working together to unlearn old postural habits, solve movement problems and improve balance and coordination. It helps women understand and compensate for the many bodily changes that happen. And it can help both parents, as they are suddenly called on to lift at awkward angles and carry small, precious bundles, bouncing and cooing for sustained periods.

Pregnancy
Low back pain is a common complaint among pregnant women. As the baby grows, a woman’s centre 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 centre 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.

Find your inbuilt support through pregnancy and labour. During pregnancy your body is constantly changing. Instead of thinking that pain and discomfort are an inevitable part of pregnancy, Alexander Technique helps you to engage with the process of change in order to positively respond to this amazing journey.