205  Posture

First impressions are important. Enter the stage with confidence and act naturally.

Stand straight, but not rigid, with your arms relaxed at your sides.

205.1 Exercise

The Alexander Technique emphasises mind-body awareness. Begin by standing up straight, feet shoulder-width apart. Don’t stiffen your body but imagine a string extending from your fontanelle, like a marionette. Let your back settle into its natural S-shape, bring your chest out and stand upright. Practice this posture during the day, not just when giving a presentation.

The key is to feel your body’s posture. Be aware if you have tense muscles, or if you’re slouching.

The Alexander Technique was developed in the 1890s by Frederick Alexander. Alexander developed the techniques to help alleviate breathing problems during public speaking. If you want to dig deeper into this topic, workshops of varying length available.