IN ENGLISH

“PREVIOUS TO ALL DISCOVERIES THERE EXISTS THE DEMAND FOR DISCOVERY”

Vertti Pöllänen

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER (1998)

OSTEOPATH (2006)

MASSEUR (2001)

PHYSIOTHERAPIST 2015

Alexander teachnique lessons:

The Alexander Technique is a taught practical method for self care and improvement of postural muscle activity and balance, and for reduction of unwanted responses to pain, stress and life in general, with the consequent benefit of standing, sitting and moving with less strain and greater ease. Alexander teachers use both verbal and hands-on guidance to engage their pupils as active partners in their own recovery.

The Alexander Technique is a method for changing stereotyped reaction patterns. It is thought to affect posture, breathing, relaxation, coordination, movement, wellbeing and health.

Strong evidence exists for the effectiveness of the Alexander Technique lessons for chronic back pain, moderate evidence in Parkinson's associated disability. Preliminary evidence suggests the Alexander Technique may improve general chronic pain, posture, breathing, coordination, work related repetitive strain injuries, stuttering and improve balance skills in the elderly or older adults with visual impairments. At psychological level improved body awareness, relaxation, psychophysical balance, ability to change movement habits and one’s outlook on life have been reported.

The Alexander Technique seems to give results in chronic low back pain that compare well against interventions considered evidence based. Especially promising are the results remained or improved in over a one-year follow-up period as long term effects are rarely reported in studies. The Alexander Technique could benefit physiotherapy especially by helping gain long term results in chronic low back pain by reducing pain and disability. It could potentially also be included in rehabilitation of Neck pain, Parkinson’s disease, balance and coordination practice, breathing physiotherapy, work physiotherapy and psychophysical physiotherapy.

http://www.alexandertechnique.com (links open to new tab)

Scientific reasearch finds promise in the effects of Alexander technique

One to one lessons in the Alexander technique from registered teachers have long term benefits for patients with chronic back pain.

Video introduction to Alexander technique

What people have said about Alexander technique

Over all listing about scientific research in to Alexander tecnique.

Nikolaas Tinbergen Nobel Lecture 1973 includes his view and his familys experience about Alexander technique (from 32.40 onwards)

Osteopathy:

About osteopathy (wikipedia)

Description of osteopaths training (Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences)

MY TRAINING:

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER

3-year full time STAT approved course in Essex Alexander school. Graduated in 1998.

Private tuition from first generation teachers and heads of Alexander teacher training courses (Walter Carrington, Marjory Barlow, Erica Whittaker, Peggy Williams, Elisabeth Walker, Frank Ottiwel, Ken & Angela Thompon, Paul Burge, Dick Gilbert, Misha Magidow, Peter & Eleanor Ribeaux, Giora Pinkas, Jerry Sontag, Margaret Edis, Ruth Murray, John Nicholls, Tommy Thompson, Karen Wentworth, Shoshana Kaminetz, Ted McNamara).

CLASSICAL (swedish) MASSAGE and Dr. Aki Loikkanen methods

1-year full time training. Training included some aspects of personal training like gym and nutrition. Graduated in 2001.

MD. Aki Loikkanen, author of two books (more to come), was the main teacher of medicinal subjects and nutrition. Aki has developed his unique and holistic approach to healthcare for over 30 years and trademarked many of his methods. Developer of Mekostenon method of muscle lenghtening, Kollageeniterapia(collagen therapy) for changing fascial position manually, nutritional approaches including Minevita, Hexalimit and Indiego. Massage and personal training aspects were taught mainly by Markku Leppänen, who has worked with top finnish athletes.

The way I do massage is unique and personal mix from different elements. It has influences from osteopathy, collagen therapy and rolfing for example. I regard fascias very important, the connective tissue, that unites parts to a bigger continues whole. My goal and hope is to create more lasting effect than ordinary massage. For this reason I often work totally without massage oil.

I also pay attention to using my self according to alexander technique to create a quality of touch that helps the nervous system to relax, even when I work on more structural level.

OSTEOPATHY:

4-year full time training in metropolia(stadia) college. Graduated in 2006

Courses in European School of Osteopathy (ESO), Maidstone, UK) 2-5.10.2005

I have also attended courses of Dr. Michael Kuchera (Professor or Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine):

The Challenge of Osteopathy 18.4.2005

Efficient and effective models for osteopathic care 17.12.2005

Integrating Osteopathy in the Cranial Field into Common problems of the Head and Neck 10.2.2006

Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment

Clinical problem solving and OMT 18.12.2006

PHYSIOTHERAPY:

I studied physiotherapy in the Helsinki applied science university of Metropolia since 2010 and graduated 2015. In my thesis I collected research about Alexander technique that relates to physiotherapy and rehabilitation field. I also attempted to compare Alexander techniques effect in chronic low back pain to other rehabilitation. My conclusion was that AT looks as or more promising that exercise, massage, manipulation, education and manual therapy. The long term (one year) results on reducing pain and disability are especially encouraging and unique.

OTHER INFLUENCES:

I had longer period of practicing martial arts in my youth that also brought interest towards calming mind (zen) and acupoints. Later I became interested in yoga, chi kung and energetic practices like reiki, quantum healing, pranic healing, touch for health and the kind of belief systems where human is seen to be also energetic. Some of those ideas have started to became clearer as inner experience. Even thou those kinds of experiences might be neuro-physiological in nature I have come to experience that they can be useful in creating more freedom in the normally palpable physical body. Our mind (nervous system) affects our body and its influence is starting to get more credit also in osteopathy and physiotherapy even thou it has been inseparable part of Alexander technique for a century.

In mind level I have looked most in to NLP (neurolinguistic programming).

I have been very interested in spiritual self enquiry and teachings around that kind of investigation of consciousness and awareness. Since teenage years those teachings have travelled along with me and I have also used the opportunities to meet teachers in that area when possible. I have found this helpful also in finding freedom in body-mind-spirit. Here are some examples of teachers from that area:

Gangaji:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YcGAwBUxk&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-wX7KWOYGs&feature=share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUtH0DDJorM&feature=share

Adyashanti:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZXGayXKx5s&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/user/Adyashanti/videos

Mooji:

https://www.youtube.com/user/moojiji?feature=results_main

Dave Oshana:

http://enlightenment-now.com/index.html

Echart Tolle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KopmSpe33Eg

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9fPezLH1HUh7mSo-tB1Mg

I have also found very helpful the teachings of reiki TUMMO which is centred around heart based meditation.

For all my individual work I have a slightly sliding fee so you can pay 10€ more or less according to your income and how much help you feel you received:

45min 50€ (±10€)

60min 60€ (±10€)

75min 70€ (±10€)

90min 80€ (±10€)

LINKS

Alexander and chronic back pain study (BMJ)

BMJ video of the study part 1