Postural Alignment Therapy

What is Postural Alignment Therapy?

How It Began

In 1971, Pete Egoscue created The Egoscue® Method, also known as Postural Alignment Therapy, as a way to help people restore their bodies back to health and function. He discovered how to relieve back, shoulder, neck, hip, knee, ankle, foot and other pain without medications or manipulation.

Now, Postural Alignment Therapy has a proven 95% success rate in relieving tension and chronic pain.

The Goal of Postural Alignment Therapy

A body that is healthy, functional and pain-free comes from proper postural alignment, joint positions and function. When the body is out of alignment it begins to compensate for imbalances causing muscle tightness, decreased flexibility, and eventually the onset of pain. These compensations cause wear and tear of joint degeneration at any age.

Postural Alignment Therapy is designed to carefully look at these underlying causes of pain, instead of only treating symptoms. This provides lasting pain relief and a return to your body's pain-free original design and functioning.

Postural Alignment Therapy Provides Pain Relief for:

  • Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve, Bulging Disc, Spinal Stenosis

  • Upper Back Pain, Migraines and Other Headaches, Scoliosis, Stiff Neck, TMJ

  • Hip problems, Degenerative Joint Pain, Bursitis, Tendonitis

  • Osteoarthritis, Foot and Knee Pain, Foot and Heel Pain, Plantar Fasciitis

  • Shoulder Pain, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Rotator Cuff Injuries, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

How it Works

A series of personal exercises and stretches, practiced regularly, will relieve your pain. Antje begins by carefully evaluating your posture and imbalances. She develops a detailed menu of exercises designed to correct imbalances in your body, along with step-by-step instructions. As you practice the exercises and your posture changes, Antje reevaluates your posture and may make changes to your exercises to continue to build on your progress.

Aligning the Body

The body is in alignment when all load bearing joints (ankles, knees, hips, shoulders) line up horizontally and vertically at 90 degree angles.

Retraining Your Muscles

You can implement new stimulus (movement and action) on a daily basis to change your body's muscle memory. Your bones will do what your muscles tell them! Arlene (above), who is 83 years old, made significant progress to realign her posture within 3 months.

Healing the Root Cause of Pain

Simple but very focused corrective exercises address the underlying root cause of individual pain instead of only treating symptoms. A body that is healthy, functional and pain-free comes from proper alignment, joint position and function.

Corrective Exercises and Stretches to Correct Posture Compensations

The Egoscue® Method is a Postural Therapy program involving a series of specific exercises for each individual. Why individualized excerises? Many people could be in the same room with the same pain, however the way their bodies have compensated for their pain is never the same.

Book a class.

Antje offers Postural Alignment Classes via Zoom every Thursday from Noon to 1pm. You may choose to pay per class or purchase a package of 4 classes. Use the form to get started on booking your class.

Book A Private Session

Antje offers a free 30-minute Posture Screening and Private Postural Alignment Therapy Sessions in-person or via Zoom.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Testimonials
I have had rather amazing improvements in my posture in a relatively short time.

Antje, I just wanted to tell you that I feel I have had rather amazing improvements in my posture in a relatively short time (about 10 weeks). I really do appreciate your caring and helpful approach which I feel has kept me motivated to do the exercises as required. Thanks so much for your help.
Marv Reese, Charlottesville, VA

I could almost put my heels on the floor for downward dog and I've never been able to do that.

I feel really good, notice I am carrying my body differently. What was really exciting to me was going to Yoga, a Wednesday night class I've been missing for your Egoscue class, and how much more flexible I was. I could almost put my heels on the floor for downward dog and I've never been able to do that. Also, I'm more willing to do arm work - I unconsciously held myself back because of the neck/shoulder tension/numbness--it's been a freedom to me to participate fully in arm exercises, and enjoy them.
Rachel Horsley, Charlottesville, VA

Antje brings terrific knowledge of the body and a wide range of exercises to address Dad's challenges.

For more than four years my father has met with Antje on a weekly basis. My dad has late Parkinson's which brings a host of difficulties with it and Antje helps Dad develop practices to battle the different issues. Parkinson's Disease is different for each person, furthermore it can be different for Dad given the day. Understanding how to address the current needs of a person battling PD is quite challenging. Antje brings terrific knowledge of the body and a wide range of exercises to address Dad's challenges. At the end of each session the improvement of my father's posture is visible, the balance of the day is greatly improved. While the physical improvements are significant there are emotional benefits as well. After watching the therapist and client relationship develop over time it is clear that Dad knows Antje is in this battle with him, helping him find tools to maintain his strength and encouraging him to continue the battle when he is just too tired. The care and guidance Dad has received from Antje has been remarkable, we are incredibly grateful.
Kathleen Reese, Charlottesville, VA

Having my own exercise menu which is changed as I progress has made it possible for me to feel success.

For years my yoga teacher said, "Arlene, lift your chest. No, not your ribs, your chest." I had no idea how to lift my chest, pull my shoulders back and down. Trying as hard as I could, all that happened was that my shoulders went up around my ears. And now at the age of 84, with Egoscue exercises under Antje's direction, bit by bit, my shoulders move, my chest lifts. What a great feeling! Having my own exercise menu which is changed as I progress has made it possible for me to feel success – just small improvement to start with, but gaining amazingly as I progress to more vigorous exercises. The excitement this improvement makes in the way I feel, the way I stand, move and present myself would be wonderful at any age. At my age it is truly exhilarating.
Arlene Goodyear, Charlottesville, VA

Before long, I realized that my neck aches had disappeared entirely.

I heartily endorse Ms. Antje Waxman. When I first visited Ms. Waxman, I was living with chronic neck ache. She evaluated me and determined areas of my posture that were causing this condition. She gave me a menu of calisthenics and stretches to perform daily. I started right in and realized immediate relief from the ache. Before long, I realized that my neck aches had disappeared entirely. She carefully explained that I needed to do them regularly to keep the aching away, and I obeyed. Ms. Waxman is a highly competent Egoscue professional who spends the time necessary with clients in order to diagnose issues, prescribe a menu of activities, and ensure that clients understand the appropriate form for each of the activities she prescribes. Try her for yourself!
Karl Ritchey, Northern Virginia, VA