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To benefit from the Alexander Technique, pupils need a series of regular lessons.
30 lessons taken over the course of a year will give you all the tools you need to continue through life with good use and the least wear and tear on your body. Many people continue to take lessons for several years to maintain their improved use.
All pupils are invited to come for an introductory lesson and then I suggest pupils give a commitment to completing a series of 10 lessons over a period of 10 – 16 weeks.
Lessons are divided into blocks of 10, for convenience and affordability.
Regular lessons help to improve learning and to keep your learning fresh.
If you are new to the Alexander Technique the Introductory Lesson will cover an explanation of the Technique and its benefits, a brief history of the Technique and some basic chair and table work.
For new and experienced pupils this first lesson gives us the opportunity to get to know each other and for me to find out about any particular problems or wishes.
The Introductory Lesson costs £30 will last about 50 minutes and is obligation-free.
Lessons 1-10 Prevention - the introductory series
Lessons 11-20 Right Direction – taking the Alexander Technique into movement
Lessons 21-30 A New Experience – putting the Technique to use in every day life
Throughout lessons Alexander’s key principles are followed, and you will be invited to choose your own areas of concern to work on.
The aim of regular lessons is to give you the skills to use and develop the Technique for yourself, and many pupils like to continue to take lessons to maintain their new use and freedom.
An Alexander Teacher’s job is to teach good use. Any activity can be used as a stimulus to learn Alexander’s principles of Inhibition and Direction and to discover our particular habitual way of going about things. Often the teacher will start with the simple activity of going from sit to stand and back again just because this is a movement we make so frequently. Other activities will include walking, speaking, writing, housework and can also include playing an instrument or your favourite sport.
Much of what is learned is learned through direct experience. The teacher will use her hands as a stimulus, and to guide you through new patterns of movement which enhances your primary control. The teacher also uses her hands to help you become aware of unnecessary tightening and shortening, helping you learn to recognise this and to let it go so that you can continue to lengthen as you think of your Primary Directions.
Learning the Alexander Technique is an incremental process, and discoveries come little by little as your use improves. Once a habit is recognised, you may then become aware of the habitual thinking that leads to this habit, and then the habitual pattern underlying that thought and so on.
The goal of a course of lessons is to teach you how to develop good use, how to inhibit and direct, how to stop end gaining, and how to change your postural and neurological habits of use because everything is interconnected. Your teacher wants you to become responsible for yourself and to develop the skills of Inhibition Direction and Good Use that will be with you for the rest of your life.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Mrs Sarah Tovey