Alexander Technique
February 28th, 2007 | By Ian in BabiesMrs C is out tonight for the second consecutive Wednesday night (the cheek!). She’s gone to a one-to-one session with an Alexander Technique (AT) teacher. In short the AT is a way to relieve aches and pains by improving your posture. The AT teacher pokes, prods, bends and twists you to show you how to improve the way to stand, sit, walk, run, well just about do anything and it can genuinely stop back, neck and shoulder pain. In our former lives (well, when we lived in Birmingham) Mrs C went to a group class to help her with her posture when out running. I was a little dubious as to its actually benefits but after 6 weeks of classes it had fixed her problems and she was hooked.
During her pregnancy Mrs C is hoping that the AT will make her pregnancy more comfortable and less stressful. So we have a book from the library - with some quite frankly pornographic pictures (if I understand the picture correctly, the birth itself could be very enjoyable for me) - and she has booked two trials with local teachers.
Last weeks lesson was with a teacher in Lichfield in what Mrs C described as “quite literally her living room”. Sadly the lesson made Mrs C feel very uncomfortable. She’s, unsurprisingly, very sensitive to anyone touching her tummy and the teacher went straight for it as she tried to correct Mrs C’s posture. This began a chain of events that culminated in Mrs C “quite literally being sick in a strangers living room”. The teacher felt so bad that she told Mrs C that she didn’t need to pay (Mrs C insisted that she took the money anyway).
This week she is trying out a different teacher that’s further away but hopefully wont induce quite so much vomiting. Anyway, we’ll see how she gets on but anything that makes her feel better even if it’s just psychologically then it can only be a good thing.
October 4th, 2007 at 7:08 am | Christine Rapley Said:
Unfortunately this blog is written in total ignorance of what the Alexander Technique is and how it is taught. What is set out by Mr C is a total exaggeration, and also contains two total fabrications. The pupil paid the normal fee, and there was never any suggestion of her not paying for the lesson. I know this because I am the Alexander teacher referred to. The pupil was in the early stages of pregnancy, and nausea is a common symptom. Since Mr Covey has seen fit to place his opinions on this Website, I wish to place my own comments on record here.
Mrs C attended one lesson of the usual duration of 40 minutes. I placed my hands with sensitivity and skilfully - without pressure. I have been teaching for 14 years in private practice. I have taught the Alexander Technique to hundreds of people, and many have transformed their lives and overcome enormous problems with the aid of this remarkable Technique. The gentle re-coordination work that I did with my hands did not induce any vomiting. Mrs C was not sick, and did not vomit. New Pupils (in a first lesson) can sometimes be overcome with their own reactivity to a one to one session - irrespective of pregnancy. I will not divulge anything about the individual pupil, other than what I have already said - which merely comments upon what Mr C himself has chosen to write about. I therefore am not breaking any confidentiality.
With regards to the comment about the lesson taking place in a living room. Many Alexander Teachers work from home - many of them from their living room. This is perfectly normal. My living room is adapted to serve perfectly well for the purpose of teaching Alexander lessons. It is a very nice room.
The worst thing about unfounded negative comments as expressed by Mr Covey (who is entitled to his opinions) is that the written word can influence others. The Alexander Technique is remarkably effective for health and wellbeing and self-development.
It is also known to be of considerable help with pregnancy and childbirth.
I am a fully qualified, and experienced teacher of the remarkable Alexander Technique.