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Lessons
What To Expect in Alexander Technique Lessons
“The only thing I fear more than change is no change.” Twyla Tharp Lessons direct you toward an unraveling of tension, a heightened state of attention, and they are often playful, with lots of laughter. The goal of these lessons is that through your increased awareness, you will learn a process that you can continue to use on your own.  Because the Alexander Technique is an educational process, you are an active participant. As a student, you should not expect to receive any treatment. Rather, during each lesson I help you find a balanced and comfortable way of moving, and I teach you a process for re-creating this ease as you perform your daily activities. You learn how to re-engage your innate balancing reflex so that you can change physical habits in which you may be using excess muscular effort. It is through your own awareness of your habits, and with your practice of the principles of this technique, that you will experience a release from tension. Alexander Technique lessons are 45 minutes long. Each person studies the same principles, yet the lessons are individualized, dependent upon your needs. During those 45 minutes there is some discussion of your experience applying the work outside of lessons; we’ll review the basic principles of the technique, and we’ll apply these principles to activities. You learn through activity. During each lesson I gently place my hands on you to guide you toward more fluid and effortless movement. We explore some common activities such as sitting, standing, bending, walking and climbing stairs. We also address those activities that you find difficult to sustain without discomfort or tension such as typing, speaking a presentation, swinging a golf club, reading, gardening, playing a violin.   I recommend a couple of lessons, so that you can get an idea about this method of learning and you can see if I’m the right teacher for you. Most students need a series of 10-30 lessons to be able to apply these principles on their own.
Lessons cost $75 and work best if taken once a week. Students frequently begin with lessons once a week and then might switch to bi-weekly and later once a month. The first lesson lasts an hour so that we can talk about your concerns and I can give you more time as I introduce you to this process. I charge you the same amount for the initial lesson as I do for your subsequent lessons. Some people like the idea of beginning lessons in Alexander Technique in a small group of 3 or 4 individuals. They find that as they see changes in others, they become clearer in their own thinking about movement. I’m glad to discuss the possibility of a small class with you. You are not given physical exercises to practice. This technique is not learned through exercises, but I will provide you with some simple and relaxing movements to practice outside of lessons. You will also receive hands-on work as you lie on a table. During table work, I guide the movement of your arms, legs, and head as I talk to you about what I am observing in your movement. Also, I question you to learn more about what you are experiencing. Then I talk about how you can change your thinking to encourage release on your own. There is always dialogue in our lessons. I tell you what I observe and what I feel in my hands and I listen to what you tell me about your experience. The number of lessons needed is variable. The principles of this technique are simple, but most habits have developed over many years and they do not disappear in a flash. You learn at your own pace and discover for yourself how this technique impacts your life. I know that as you begin to apply what you learn to your daily activities, you will experience profound changes in yourself.  |
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