Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique

I find myself referring to this book again and again. I always recommend it as an introduction to the Alexander technique. It assisted me greatly when I was first taking Alexander lessons. It is still valuable years later as I refresh and review. Easy to read, entertaining, cogent, and reflective. It reads almost as though you were having conversation with Mr. Gelb. If I had to use one book to introduce a new person to the Alexander technique, theory and understanding, this would be the one.

I am a music major, and I am now in my third semester studying the Alexander Technique. This study has been the most important event in my musical life, and thankfully, it carries over into every other aspect of my life, as well. This book is the required reading for the course. Not that we get a grade on it. It's just immensely helpful. It's not a substitute for a trained Alexander teacher, but it provides another view point, a new way of putting things, of phrasing things, and can help the early AT student grasp the concept of it all a little better. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn more about the Alexander Technique, and improving the quality of your life.

The other intro book at this level is Chris Stevens' "Alexander Technique."I used to rank Stevens ahead of Gelb, but the new edition of Body Learning has expanded coverage on practical matters like finding teachers and the nature and purpose of lessons. The two books are dead even now.Some readers may be frustrated because the book (and its subject) are so radically different from the usual self-help dreck. One of the best new passages is one where Gelb explains that, at his publishers insistance, he will include a do-it-yourself Alexander 'exercise.' The exercise consists of picking up the telephone and scheduling a lesson!Deciding to study the Alexander Technique may be one of the smartest decisions you ever make. The clear explanations in this book should help you before and after this decision.

Gelb's book is clearly written and easy to understand - something much needed with the Alexander Technique as there is so much mis-information about it around. If you have any stress-related condition, I'd certainly suggest finding an Alexander teacher and giving the Technique a try. I'd also suggest getting this book and/or Fitness Without Stress by Robert Rickover, which is also an excellent introduction to the Technique.

One of the two best books I have found to assist one in learning the Alexander Technique (along with Richard Brennan's introductory book). The writing is accessible, frequently penetrating, and precise without being overly technical. Gelb also succeeds in avoiding the two major pitfalls of Alexander books: the esoteric extreme ("Isn't the Technique subtle and complicated? How are you ever going to learn it?!") and the how-to extreme ("Now here's the right way to do A, B, C, etc."). I find it ideal for maintaining a productive "beginner's mind" in my Alexander practice.