Sleeping Well

Sleeping Well with the Alexander Technique

Sleep is essential for physical recovery, emotional regulation, and cognitive clarity. Yet many people struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking feeling rested — even when tired.

Sleep difficulties are rarely just about the bed or the body alone. They are influenced by stress, pain, habitual tension, breathing patterns, and how safely the nervous system can settle.

The Alexander Technique offers a gentle, practical way to address these underlying contributors, supporting the conditions needed for deeper rest.

Why tension and stress affect sleep

Modern life trains many people to remain alert long after the day ends. Habitual muscular holding, mental overactivity, and unresolved stress can keep the nervous system in a heightened state — even when the body is lying down.

Common patterns include:

• Neck, jaw, or shoulder tension in bed

• Holding the breath or shallow breathing

• Difficulty settling after busy days

• Pain or discomfort that disrupts sleep

Alexander Technique lessons help people recognise and soften these patterns, allowing the body to settle more fully.

Nervous system regulation and rest

Sleep depends on the nervous system’s ability to shift into a restorative state.

Alexander Technique supports this shift by:

• Reducing unnecessary muscular effort

• Improving breathing coordination

• Encouraging a calm, attentive awareness rather than mental “switching off”

• Teaching skills that can be used at bedtime or during night waking

Practices such as supported lying down (semi-supine) are often introduced, offering a reliable way to rest the system and release accumulated tension.

Pain, comfort, and sleep quality

Persistent pain, stiffness, or restricted movement can significantly interfere with sleep — particularly with ageing, injury history, or long-term stress.

By improving overall organisation, posture, and movement habits during the day, Alexander Technique lessons can help reduce night-time discomfort and support more comfortable rest positions.

This approach recognises pain as a whole-person experience, influenced by stress, habits, past experiences, and nervous system sensitivity.

→ Read more about persistent pain

Applying skills beyond the lesson

One of the strengths of the Alexander Technique is that it offers skills you can rely on independently.

Many people use what they learn:

• at bedtime

• during night waking

• when changing position in bed

• to reset after poor sleep

• to support rest during the day

Over time, many people report improved comfort, ease, and confidence around rest.

“A revelation — the calming effects of supported lying down.”
— Colleen, Melbourne

→ Read more Reviews

A practical, complementary approach

The Alexander Technique does not treat sleep disorders. It offers practical education that can complement medical care, psychological support, or sleep hygiene strategies.

All of this work is underpinned by the principles of the Alexander Technique.

→ Learn more about the Alexander Technique

Suitable for people experiencing:

• Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Waking with stiffness or pain

• Stress-related sleep disruption

• Sleep issues during life transitions (including perimenopause)

• Feeling tired despite adequate time in bed