The first thing you will learn in an Alexander lesson is to quiet your system, to slow down and come present in the room.  An Alexander student is often not sure what to expect in coming to their first lesson, but he is quickly directed, by means of the hands-on gentle touch of the teacher as well as her words,  to bring attention to himself.  What does that mean?  Usually one is running fast just to stand still!  With all of the things there are to do in a day, and all of the pressures facing him, the Alexander lesson is an hour of release from all of that.  Refreshingly, the student is asked to slow down, to take time to notice his breathing, his sense of the floor beneath his feet, as well as any excess tension that could be reduced or eliminated.  Quietly, almost magically there is a qualitative shift of awareness and attention.  Physical as well as emotional tension patterns begin to ease.  Often the letting go of tension is accompanied by a letting go of negative thoughts, worries, and concerns as well.  The student begins to experience himself in a more holistic way, where awareness and experience of being embodied are an intertwined fusion of mind/body unity.  This is an extraordinary occurrence in this day and age.  It is what Alexander teachers call coming present to your Self, the use of which restores a more reliable sensory register so that everything you do is more efficient, more easeful and more pleasurable.  Now doesn't that bring with it a sigh of relief!