Hello,
The Center for Campus Life and Culture at Seoul National University is offering the July-August Alexander Technique program (online) as detailed below. We appreciate your interest and participation.
This program will be conducted online via ZOOM.
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* If you have difficulty reading the image, please refer to the detailed description below.
* Application Link: https://docs.google.com/
* The July-August 2025 Alexander Technique is a continuous program (4 sessions) rather than a one-time session repeated weekly. Please apply only if you can attend all sessions.
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Proper Posture for a Relaxed Mind and Body – ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
The Alexander Technique teaches "conscious use of the self," helping participants learn how to use their bodies effectively in everyday movements such as sitting, standing, and breathing. The program focuses on minimizing unnecessary tension, conserving energy, and improving overall well-being. Additionally, it provides a moment of stillness to pause overwhelming thoughts and emotions, promoting mental and physical relaxation.
■ Class Schedule: July 1 – August 5, Every Tuesday, 21:00 – 22:00 (6 sessions)
■ Instructor: Choi Hyun-mook (President, Korean Alexander Technique Association)
■ Eligibility: All members of Seoul National University (faculty, staff, instructors, graduate & undergraduate students)
■ Location: Online (via ZOOM)
■ Application Method: Google Form (link above) or QR code
■ Application Deadline: June 27 (Friday) at 14:00
■ Participation Confirmation: Individual notifications by June 30 (Monday) at 14:00
■ Cost: Free
■ Inquiries: kiw7355@snu.ac.kr
Program Details
1. Training Conscious Body Awareness
① Awakening sensory perception
② Developing spatial awareness
③ Chair-based practice. Participants learn the most efficient sitting posture and explore how to release shoulder tension while seated, offering ways to ease physical strain without lying down—integrating relaxation into everyday life. They also develop awareness of unnecessary movements while standing and practice self-regulation to reduce them.
④ recognizing and correcting unconscious habits in standing, walking, and the "monkey position" (semi-squat posture) using mirrors to improve mobility in ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders
2. Finding Proper Body Alignment Through Breathing
① Practicing the semi-supine position (lying down with bent knees) and the whispered "Ah" breathing technique
② Hands-on work focusing on neck-head-spine coordination for better grounding and natural posture
③ Applying hands-on techniques while lying down, sitting, and standing to improve relaxation and breathing control
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How is the Alexander Technique (online) class conducted?
The Alexander Technique is a hands-on workshop where participants follow guided exercises to become aware of their body’s tension and release it in a healthy way. Each session lasts 50 minutes, offering an opportunity to unwind accumulated stress. Participants are encouraged to prepare a quiet space where they can comfortably lie down.
2. Is this a one-time class or a continuous program?
This is a multi-session program that runs for one to two months, consisting of 4–6 progressive classes. Since the curriculum builds on previous lessons, participants should attend all sessions.
3. Is there a participation fee?
No, the program is free and fully funded by The Center for Campus Life and Culture.
About the Alexander Technique
1. What is the Alexander Technique used for?
The Alexander Technique is a training method used to overcome chronic musculoskeletal pain, enhance holistic well-being, and improve stress management. It has been widely applied in healthcare settings, and also embraced in the performing arts—such as music and drama—at institutions like the Juilliard School, Royal Academy of Music, and Yale School of Drama, as well as in the field of sports (Eldred et al., 2015; Little et al., 2008; MacPherson, 2015; Preece et al., 2016; Glover et al., 2018; Gross, 2019).
2. What are the benefits?
Studies have shown that the Alexander Technique can help alleviate pain in individuals with physical pain-related conditions and enhance performance in specialized fields such as sports and the arts. In addition, theoretical research is being conducted to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the technique.
Specifically, studies have shown improvements in self-regulation of postural tension (Loram et al., 2016; Gurfinkel et al., 2006; Cacciatore et al., 2011), enhancement of motor control (Cacciatore et al., 2011; Gurfinkel, 2009; Ivanenko & Gurfinkel, 2018), and reduction of chronic tension in instrumental musicians (Austin & Ausubel, 1992; Cacciatore et al., 2011, 2014; Cohen et al., 2020; Hamel et al., 2016; O’Neill et al., 2015). Additional findings include relief of tension and emotional regulation through changes in body schema (Gilpin et al., 2015; Moseley & Flor, 2012; Dum et al., 2016); improvement in chronic pain (e.g., neck, back, and knee pain, mobility issues in Parkinson’s disease, and repetitive strain injuries) (Little et al., 2008; MacPherson, 2015; Preece et al., 2016); better breathing function (Klein et al., 2014); and reduction of stress and various negative emotions (Glover et al., 2018; Gross et al., 2019; Klein et al., 2014; Valentine et al., 1995; Zhukov, 2019).
3. Is this similar to meditation?
The Alexander Technique is closely related to posture correction through exploring and checking various movements. When poor posture leads to unconscious musculoskeletal tension, the body becomes strained and may develop physical pain. Prolonged poor posture can also increase psychological stress.
Through everyday movements such as sitting, standing, and breathing, the Alexander Technique helps individuals become aware of their movement patterns, reduce unnecessary actions, and cultivate healthier physical habits. The sessions aim to create space for participants to focus on the “here and now,” promoting emotional release and gradually reducing overall tension in daily life.
While the instructor’s verbal guidance offers support during class, the ultimate goal is to help participants develop the ability to recalibrate their own muscles and nervous system independently.
- Austin, J. H., & Ausubel, P. (1992). Enhanced respiratory muscular function in normal adults after lessons in proprioceptive musculoskeletal education without exercises. Chest, 102(2), 486-490.
- Cacciatore, T. W., Gurfinkel, V. S., Horak, F. B., Cordo, P. J., & Ames, K. E. (2011). Increased dynamic regulation of postural tone through Alexander Technique training. Human Movement Science, 30(1), 74-89.
- Cacciatore, T. W., Gurfinkel, V. S., Horak, F. B., & Day, B. L. (2011). Prolonged weight-shift and altered spinal coordination during sit-to-stand in practitioners of the Alexander Technique. Gait & Posture, 34(4), 496-501.
- Cacciatore, T. W., Mian, O. S., Peters, A., & Day, B. L. (2014). Neuromechanical interference of posture on movement: evidence from Alexander technique teachers rising from a chair. Journal of Neurophysiology, 112(3), 719-729.
- Cohen, R. G., Baer, J. L., Ravichandra, R., Kral, D., McGowan, C., & Cacciatore, T. W. (2020). Lighten up! Postural instructions affect static and dynamic balance in healthy older adults. Innovation in Aging, 4(2), igz056.
- Dum, R. P., Levinthal, D. J., & Strick, P. L. (2016). Motor, cognitive, and affective areas of the cerebral cortex ifluence the adrenal medulla. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(35), 9922-9927.
- Eldred, J., Hopton, A., Donnison, E., Woodman, J., & MacPherson, H. (2015). Teachers of the Alexander technique in the UK and the people who take their lessons: A national cross-sectional survey. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 23(3), 451-461.
- Gilpin, H. R., Moseley, G. L., Stanton, T. R., & Newport, R. (2015). Evidence for distorted mental representation of the hand in osteoarthritis. Rheumatology, 54(4), 678-682.
- Glover, L., Wolverson, E., & Woods, C. (2022). ’I am teaching them and they are teaching me’: Experiences of teaching Alexander Technique to people with dementia. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 56, 102200.
- Gross, M., Cohen, R., Ravichandra, R., Basye, M., & Norcia, M. (2019). Poised for Parkinson’s: Alexander technique course improves balance, mobility and posture for people with PD. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(12), e193.
- Gurfinkel, V., Cacciatore, T. W., Cordo, P., Horak, F., Nutt, J., & Skoss, R. (2006). Postural muscle tone in the body axis of healthy humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 96(5), 2678-2687.
- Hamel, K. A., Ross, C., Schultz, B., O’Neill, M., & Anderson, D. I. (2016). Older adult Alexander technique practitioners walk differently than healthy age-matched controls. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 20(4), 751-760.
- Ivanenko, Y., & Gurfinkel, V. S. (2018). Human postural control. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 171.
- Klein, S.D., Bayard, C., & Wolf, U. (2014). The Alexander technique and musicians: A systematic review of controlled trials. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14(1), 414.
- Little, P., Lewith, G., Webley, F., Evans, M., Beattie, A., Middleton, K., Barnett, J., Ballard, K., Oxford, F., Smith, P., Yardley, L., Hollinghurst, S., & Sharp, D. (2008). Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. BMJ, 337, a884.
- Loram, I., Bate, B., Harding, P., Cunningham, R., & Loram, A. (2016). Proactive selective inhibition targeted at the neck muscles: This proximal constraint facilitates learning and regulates global control. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 25(4), 357-369.
- MacPherson, H., Tilbrook, H., Richmond, S., Woodman, J., Ballard, K., Atkin, K., Bland, M., Eldred, J., Essex, H., Hewitt, C., Hopton, A., Keding, A., Lansdown, H., Parrott, S., Torgerson, D., Wenham, A., & Watt, I. (2015). Alexander technique lessons or acupuncture sessions for persons with chronic neck pain: A randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 163(9), 653-662.
- Moseley, G. L., & Flor, H. (2012). Targeting cortical representations in the treatment of chronic pain: A review. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 26(6), 646.
- O’Neill, M. M., Anderson, D. I., Allen, D. D., Ross, C., & Hamel, K. A. (2015). Effects of Alexander technique training experience on gait behavior in older adults. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 19(3), 473-481.
- Preece, S. J., Jones, R. K., Brown, C. A., Cacciatore, T. W., & Jones, A. K. (2016). Reductions in co-contraction following neuromuscular re-education in people with knee osteoarthritis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17(1), 372.
- Valentine, E. R., Fitzgerald, D. F. P., Gorton, T. L., Hudson, J. A., & Symonds, E. R. C. (1995). The effect of lessons in the Alexander technique on music performance in high and low stress situations. Psychology of Music, 23(2), 129-141.
- Zhukov, K. (2019). Current approaches for management of music performance anxiety. An introductory overview. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 34(1), 53-60.