What our pupils say
I suffered debilitating back pain through most of my thirties. It prevented me from enjoying most outdoor sport and many day to day activites were painful to undertake. I had some Alexander Technique lessons whilst considering the surgery option. I have never looked back. Within weeks there was a noticable reduction in pain. I now no longer sufffer from back pain and excercise freely. I am more in control of my body and feel much more elegant. My Alexander lesson is a vital part of my week – I could not do without it.
Clare Shields
The first time I saw myself reflected in a shop window, I began to suspect I looked a little odd. It’s a trick of the glass, I thought. I don’t really look like that. Do I? Apparently, I did. Not only was I lopsided but crumpled. Not good. My body was doing things without my consent, it seemed. Alexander lessons introduced it to a new shape. I straightened. I became aware. This is good, I thought. Today, I’m a different person, more relaxed, less tetchy. My arms are a bit odd in that they won’t straighten, mind, and I have ‘talking feet’ but I’m not scrunched. And I’m probably a couple of inches taller. Through the Technique, I’m in greater harmony with my body. We still argue from time to time, of course. But the disagreements are less serious these days. And I don’t tilt any more. That’s good.
Anthony Saunders, Writer
Seeing the wonders worked on a fellow rider attracted me to the Alexander Technique. Within weeks I was sitting up in the saddle rather than perching. Then I noticed I was looking up, too, facing the world rather than staring at the ground beneath my feet. The effect it’s had on my riding is measurable, on my life, incalculable.
Frankie Wynne, Editor
I first came across the Alexander Technique at drama school. As an actor with a scoliosis condition (having worn a Milwaukee back brace for two years as a teenager), my first exposure to the technique was a defining moment in my life. The semi-supine position, despite its apparent simplicity, gave my twisted spine the feeling of coming home to rest, and, as an actor, allowed my organic whole to centre itself in a way I had not experienced before. The technique informed my daily life and my approach to preparing for performance from that time onwards. Twenty-five years later, I remain absolutely committed to the technique. It is an essential part of my work as an actor and a vital part of my daily life as my scoliosis deteriorates with age. Doctors have been surprised by the improvement in the curvature; they have themselves acknowledged the benefits which have, so far, allowed me to avoid any invasive surgery. My first teacher at drama school was trained by this Alexander school; when I travel throughout the country in my work, I am able to refer to teachers who have passed through the school and be certain of the supremely high level of teaching that I have come to rely on for the most of my adult life.
Louise Bangay, Actor
Three years ago I became conscious that in order to ride my horse more subtly I needed to discover ways to improve the use of self and self-perception. The Alexander Technique was suggested to me by my mother, a classical dancer. I discovered with amazement that in addition to helping my riding – bringing me closer to understanding the classical seat – it has also transformed the way I go about my daily tasks: the ‘day-to-day’ tasks have become seamlessly easier to accomplish without the uneccessary depletion of vital energy. I highly recommend the Technique to anyone wishing to further their understanding of the sophisticated mind-body connections that quietly guide our daily lives, thus improving efficiency and well-being.
Silvia Doria, Designer