Lessons

“Change involves carrying out an activity against the habit of life.”
-F. M. Alexander

Free Introductory Session Sunday, September 12, at noon Eastern.

Register HERE

If there is interest, a four-week class will take place later this fall.

The Basics of Hands-on Lessons

In a classic lesson, you will spend some time lying on a table, and some time moving in and out of a chair.

Lying Down:

Time on the table allows you to rest your back and practice your Alexander thinking skills without the complications of balancing. At first it may resemble some kind of bodywork, because you are lying down. But you will soon learn that your active participation is needed, and that will make a significant difference in your progress. You will also learn to lie down and practice thinking between lessons.

 

“It is not getting in and out of chairs even under the best of conditions that is of any value: that is simply physical culture. It is what you have been doing in preparation that counts when it comes to making movements.” -F. M. Alexander

 

Moving in and out of a Chair:

Standing and moving in and out of a chair is a great laboratory for discovering your habits of interference. You will become aware of your patterns, and then learn how to apply your new Alexander thinking skills to create new motor pathways that improve your coordination and balance.

Thinking in Activity

Improve Coordination and Flexibility through:

  • Developmental Movement
  • Daily Life Activities
  • The Performing Arts and Sports
  • Voice and Breathing

How many lessons is right?

Many people have a “feel good” experience even after one Alexander lesson. But long-term benefits require long-term commitment. When planning your course of lessons, here’s a guide:

  • Take 3 lessons before deciding if the Alexander Technique is right for you;
  • Take 5-10 lessons to learn the basic procedures for working by yourself;
  • Take 25-30 lessons to experience improvement you can sustain;
  • Take a lifetime of lessons if you are committed to more than resolution of pain and are interested in the ongoing discovery of the self.

The Basics of Distance Learning through the Internet

You will learn the same principles. You will be a primary agent of your growth and discovery. I will use language to give you precise instructions that engage your thinking and awareness and guide your movement, elicit your feedback, observe you, and ask for you to observe me.

When it is impossible to learn in person – the pandemic, geography, recovery from injury or illness, reluctance to be touched – online Alexander serves as an invaluable resource.

Photographs © Clive J. Mealey