Alexander Technique in Newton Abbot
Alexander Technique has been established in the Newton Abbot area for decades, with teachers to be found at health clinics and centres for complementary medicine, private practices and several teacher-training colleges into the bargain.
With over twenty-five years experience, I bring to Newton Abbot my own interpretation of the technique for all those who wish to learn this amazingly useful skill set.
Above: Newton Abbot, me and the view from my teaching room
I have a lovely teaching room with views over beautiful gardens, good parking, wifi and even a cat and a dog - one of the many perks of working from home!
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Alexander Technique for Musicians in Newton Abbot
For well over 100 years musicians have made good use of the Alexander Technique. Advocates include:
Madonna, Sting, Dame Julie Andrews, Sir Paul McCartney, James Galway and Yehudi Menuhin.
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I've taught many different instrumentalists with an array of postural challenges, including music scholars at Exeter School, Sherborne School for Girls and Sherborne School.
Also, I used the technique when I was a singer - for training and performing there's nothing to beat it!
These are some of the people I can help:
'The Alexander Technique ”work” with (my teacher) is much more about play and freedom than anything associated with effort. Her vast knowledge and intuitive way of reading her clients is extraordinary and profoundly effective. The changes she helps to facilitate are real, and dare I say life-changing. Her lessons are an absolute joy!'
Joyce DiDonato - American lyric-coloratura mezzo-soprano
Many top sportspeople use the Alexander Technique to improve:
their aim, their game, their speed and their stamina.
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Of course improvements cannot be guaranteed but if you're habitually tense without realising it, that will have a detrimental effect on your performance - optimise your underlying muscular use and you'll remove barriers to success!
I've taught golfers to decrease their handicap, climbers to improve their grade and many athletes to feel more comfortable and energised. I'm even teaching a famous athlete at the moment - ssh!
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Personally, I've enjoyed applying the technique to things like rock climbing, running, swimming and dancing... it's great.
The Alexander Technique in Newton Abbot for Sportspeople
Sebastian Coe,
Olympic gold medalist
'I can definitely say without hesitation that I wouldn't have had the rowing success that I have had the luxury of experiencing in my short time on the water, without finding the AT and the great teachers that I have had the privilege to work with.' Rowing Masters gold medallist - Valerie Thompson Williams
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I am not medically trained and see myself as a teacher rather than a therapist - I refer my pupils to a doctor or an osteopath if needs be. However, if a person has unidentified muscular tension in a problem area, it’s well worth eliminating that tension as it may be causing or contributing to the problem itself.
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I've worked with a huge selection of musculoskeletal problems including RSI, migraines, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, knee pain etc and have used the AT to
cure my own foot pain, back pain and migraines.
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My suggestion is always: try it and see.
People do claim that the Alexander Technique cures certain conditions and evidence to support this has come from a number of clinical trials, including:
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lower back pain - Click here for details neck pain - Click here for details
Alexander Technique for Musculoskeletal issues in Newton Abbot
'We already notice, with growing amazement, very striking improvements in such diverse things as high blood pressure, breathing, depth of sleep, overall cheerfulness and mental alertness, resilience against outside pressures, and in such a refined skill as playing a musical instrument.'
Nikolaas Tinbergen (1907-1988) - Nobel Prize for Physiology/Medicine 1974 (from his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, half of which was devoted to talking about the AT and changes that he and his family experienced from lessons)
Alexander lessons are useful for helping with: the weight and pressure of pregnancy, childbirth itself and all the lifting that comes afterwards.
I've worked with pregnant mothers, parents of young children and I'm a mother myself.
For information about the AT and childbirth I recommend this book
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Alexander Technique for Parents in Newton Abbot
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Stress on students and school-children is at a record high and can effect them on an emotional or a physical level.
Lessons in the Alexander Technique can increase energy levels and support almost any pursuit. It very often helps with stress, exams, self image etc
I've taught lots of students and school kids and used the AT myself from the age of sixteen right through university and beyond.
Alexander Technique for Students in Newton Abbot
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Alexander Technique for Actors in Newton Abbot
All the world's best colleges for the performing arts have Alexander Technique on the curriculum and lots of top film stars have had lessons, including Stephen Dillane, Kenneth Branagh and Lenny Henry
I've taught many actors and performers, including the occasional famous one.
I once witnessed an AT trained actor demonstrate the difference between projecting his voice as Richard III with and without AT - it was very clear - and he pointed out that in spite of playing an emotionally and physically twisted character, night after night, when he used his AT skills he felt no strain.
'In the hands of a good teacher The Technique is invaluable to anyone who seeks to maintain health, physical posture and alignment.'
Ralph Fiennes
'With the best intentions, the job of acting can become a display of accumulated bad habits, trapped instincts and blocked energies. Working with the Alexander technique has given me sightings of another way... Mind and body, work and life together. Real imaginative freedom...'
Alan Rickman
Alexander Technique for Horse Riders in Newton Abbot
The Alexander Technique and can be of huge benefit to both horse and rider, and is widely used.
Horse riders usually relate to lessons very well, as both disciplines requires a similar understanding of muscular efficiency. I use a saddle stand in my teaching which is especially useful.
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I've worked with many riders and I ride myself at beginner level.
I recommend this book for riding with the Alexander Technique.
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Alexander Technique for Businesses in Newton Abbot
Businesses can lose money and time when employees suffer with musculoskeletal conditions - from fatigue and discomfort through to back pain and RSI.
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Many world-leading businesses use Alexander Technique. I currently teach at Packexe in Exeter.
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Alexander Technique can help work-related performance and reduce absenteeism; talks and workshops can provide opportunities for team-building, health and safety or entertainment.
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AT lessons are a really great investment.
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I've taught at Exeter School, Sherborne and Sherborne School for Girls. In addition to coaching music scholars, I helped young people with their self-esteem, deportment, exam nerves, body image and general well-being.
Some pupils had musculoskeletal issues, including sports injuries, dyspraxia, scoliosis and slipped disk, which AT lessons helped with.
I'm DBS checked and parents/guardians are welcome to accompany their children to a lesson - you can enjoy a comfortable chair, wifi, a cuppa and various pets!
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The Alexander Technique in Newton Abbot for Kids
Summary
I regularly give introductory talks about the Alexander Technique in the Newton Abbot area. There's also a lot of information on my website. For an introductory guide I can recommend this book by one of my own teachers, Carolyn Nicholls.
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I've a great deal of experience teaching the technique. I find it interesting and challenging, as every pupil is unique: when I meet a new client, to begin with I’m confronted with the basic human musculoskeletal system and a common pattern of misuse but the process of understanding that person and unravelling their problems is different every time.
It's really uplifting work!
Click here for a detailed guide to the Alexander Technique in general.
BA (Hons)
MSTAT
DBS checked