I’ve been glued to the latest series of The Apprentice, but not for the reasons you might think. There are some fascinating postural patterns going on amongst the participants.  And one young man is a perfect example of what not to do with your head and neck.  Bless! Read the rest of this entry »

‘What do you do?’

‘I’m an Alexander Technique teacher’

‘Oh’, (person stands stiff and straight, drags shoulders back and gestures above the crown of their head), ‘that’s all about thinking of a string coming out of the top of your head, isn’t it?’

No, no, no.  And whoever told you that should have their legs slapped. Here’s why. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s all go in the garden.  Everything is growing, including the weeds.  Here’s how to bring life to your garden without killing yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

I have just this minute read this quote from F.M. Alexander, founder of the Technique, and I wanted to share it with you:

‘You translate everything, whether physical, mental or spiritual, into muscular tension’.

Sometimes back ache is back ache, and sometimes it’s a different kind of ache as well. I met a woman recently who told me ‘I used to have terrible back pain, but then I left my job and now I’m fine’.

Food for thought.

Let me introduce you to Puerto Rican singer Gabriel Rios. A pair of mysterious hands appear to do some Alexander Technique work as he’s singing. I think it’s strange and fabulous – but then I would, wouldn’t I? (Also rather like the track). Enjoy!

Do you feel like you’re (whisper) getting on a bit? Bit achey on waking? Stiff and sore? Tight, creaky back? And of course, not able to cope with alcohol like you used to?

Sorry, can’t help you with that last one. But you might like to know more about what you can do about that seized-up feeling first thing. Read the rest of this entry »

As today is International Women’s Day, I thought I’d share a video of a remarkable and inspiring woman who is part of the international Alexander Technique community. This is Ann Matthews, she’s an Alexander Technique teacher based in the US and she’s 84 years old. In the video she is working on the floor with a pupil. She’d also recently recovered from Lyme Disease. Ann is living proof that the stooped, hunched posture so commonly associated with older people is not inevitable. The video is just under 8 minutes long. Enjoy!

Every now and then, someone will ask me about the Alexandra Technique.  I even get post addressed to Alexandra Technique with Sarah Chatwin.  But it’s not ‘Alexandra’.  It’s Alexander.  There was a Mr. Alexander, so it’s his surname.  He was Mr Frederick Matthias Alexander, to be precise.  Quite some name.  In the Alexander Technique community we call him F.M., for short.

This is a report I wrote that has been published in the Friends of the Alexander Technique Newsletter.  It’s an account of a workshop given to the group in London on 9th November 2010 by US-based teacher Alex Farkas entitled ‘Receptivity: The Accepting Hand’.

Read the rest of this entry »