Summer 2024: Residential Masterclasses
There are two dates planned for residential weekends at my home in Hampshire this summer:
Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th August
Friday 6th to Sunday 8th September
Time | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
08:00-09:00 | Check-in | Breakfast | Breakfast |
09:30-11:00 | Check-in | Session 4 | Session 8 |
11:00-11:30 | Coffee | Coffee | Coffee |
11:30-13:00 | Session 1 | Session 5 | Session 9 |
13:00-15:00 | Lunch & break | Lunch & break | Lunch & break |
15:00-17:00 | Session 2 | Session 6 | Session 10 |
17:00-17:30 | Tea | Tea | Tea |
17:30-19:30 | Session 3 | Session 7 | Departure |
20:00-21:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Departure |
All the procedures used in the learning and the teaching of the Alexander Technique have a purpose, and being clear about that purpose can help us to decide when and how to apply them in our teaching.
In this three-day residential course, we will examen, discuss and practise the following procedures – which constitute the main physical aspects of Alexander’s teaching.
- Squatting
- Walking
- The Lunge
- Semi-supine
- Baby-bend (Monkey)
- Breathwork: Whispered Ah
- Breathwork: the vowels
- Breathwork: widening the ribs
- Hands on the back of the chair
- Going up onto the toes
- Wall work
- Being at the back of the chair
- Coming forward in the chair
- Leaning forward in the chair
- Keeping the back back
Musicians are welcome to bring their instrument. For pianists, please note that I have a piano.
As well as traditional AT work, we will cook and eat together, discuss the therapeutic, educational and evolutionary ideas of F M Alexander. We will explore ways of integrating “stopping” and “directing” into all aspects of our lives.
Attendance will be limited to seven people; teachers, students and pupils welcome.
The cost for each weekend, including food, accommodation (in single-sex twin rooms) and over 17 hours of tuition is £400. A non-refundable (unless the course is cancelled) deposit of £80 is required to secure a place. The balance is due 28 days before the start date.
If you would like to apply or to get further information, please email me.
For feedback from previous courses see:
Forward and Up into 2024
My next immersive 3-day weekend masterclass at my home in Hampshire (accommodation provided) will take place from 5-7 January 2024.
Travel from London, if not driving, is by train to Bramley, Hants. via Reading or Basingstoke.
As well as traditional AT work, we will cook and eat together, discuss the therapeutic, educational and evolutionary ideas of F M Alexander. Drawing on my work with many first-generation teachers we will explore ways of integrating stopping and directing into all aspects of our lives. For people travelling long distances, overnight accommodation can also be provided at no extra cost on Thursday 4 and/or Sunday 7 January.
These weekends have been very well-received by earlier participants (see First Weekend Masterclass and Second Weekend Masterclass).
Attendance will be limited to seven people; teachers, students and pupils.
Cost, including food, accommodation and over 17 hours of tuition, is £400.
If you would like to apply or to get further information, contact me by email.
The Schedule
Time | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
08:00-09:00 | Check-in | Breakfast | Breakfast |
09:30-11:00 | Check-in | Session 4 | Session 8 |
11:00-11:30 | Coffee | Coffee | Coffee |
11:30-13:00 | Session 1 | Session 5 | Session 9 |
13:00-15:00 | Lunch & break | Lunch & break | Lunch & break |
15:00-17:00 | Session 2 | Session 6 | Session 10 |
17:00-17:30 | Tea | Tea | Tea |
17:30-19:30 | Session 3 | Session 7 | Departure |
20:00-21:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Departure |
The Programme will include:-
- Understanding opposition: the primary postural pulls.
- Connecting legs and back: becoming one piece.
- The “up” along the spine.
- Saying “no”, stopping and finding quiet.
- The whole-self touch: being behind your actions.
- Natural breathing: the difference between chest breathing, abdominal breathing and diaphragmatic breathing.
- Counter rotation – in walking, sport and playing a musical instrument.
- Going into movement: the head leads and the body follows.
- Staying present: be here now!
- Working with energy
- The giving and withholding of consent: letting do
Summer 2023: Immersive Weekend Masterclasses
I am planning two immersive 3-day weekends at my home in Hampshire (accommodation provided). Travel from London is by train to Reading or Basingstoke.
The first one will be 28-30 July and the second one 8-10 September.
As well as traditional AT work, we will cook and eat together, discuss the therapeutic, educational and evolutionary ideas of F M Alexander. Drawing on my work with many first-generation teachers we will explore ways of integrating stopping and directing into all aspects of our lives.
Attendance will be limited to seven people; teachers, students and pupils, by invitation.
Cost for each weekend, including food, accommodation and over 17 hours of tuition is £400 (concessions available).
If you would like to apply or to get further information, contact me by email.
The Schedule
Time | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
08:00-09:00 | Check-in | Breakfast | Breakfast |
09:30-11:00 | Check-in | Session 4 | Session 8 |
11:00-11:30 | Coffee | Coffee | Coffee |
11:30-13:00 | Session 1 | Session 5 | Session 9 |
13:00-15:00 | Lunch & break | Lunch & break | Lunch & break |
15:00-17:00 | Session 2 | Session 6 | Session 10 |
17:00-17:30 | Tea | Tea | Tea |
17:30-19:30 | Session 3 | Session 7 | Departure |
20:00-21:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Departure |
The Programme will include:-
- Understanding opposition: the primary postural pulls.
- Connecting legs and back: becoming one piece.
- The “up” along the spine.
- Saying “no”, stopping and finding quiet.
- The whole-self touch: being behind your actions.
- Natural breathing: the difference between chest breathing, abdominal breathing and diaphragmatic breathing.
- Counter rotation – in walking, sport and playing a musical instrument.
- Going into movement: the head leads and the body follows.
- Staying present: be here now!
- Working with energy
- The giving and withholding of consent: letting do
Tips4Pupils – Means-whereby
When I need to undertake a task of some sort there is an inner activity and an outer activity. The sequence, according to Alexander’s ideas, of “inner events” is something like this:
- say “no”!
- consider my options
- make a decision
- organise myself (head, neck & back etc.)
- work out my “means-whereby” (the best way to do it)
- reconsider (I can still change my decision)
- let my head go forward and up and get on with it
Is it not the case, though, that there is often an assumption that as long as my neck is free (etc.) I am “using” myself well?
Think of any task involving a number of necessary actions. For example, decorating a room: I might need to move all the furniture into the centre of the room or even out of the room all together.
Where am I going to put everything? Which items should I move first? Should I empty drawers or bookshelves before trying to move heavy furniture? Where might I store the contents ? Etc, etc……That’s before I even start preparing the surfaces to be painted.
Unless I work out my means-whereby before I start, I am likely to have to do a lot more work than necessary.
If I start moving a sideboard around with no idea where to put it because I filled the only large enough space with piles of books, BUT….. I keep a free neck – does that mean I have “good use”?
Compare this with the practical man or woman – amateur or professional decorator – who, before starting, thinks things through and works out the optimum sequence of events, BUT….. stiffens or collapses somewhat while doing the practical work.
Whose “use” is better?
Taking a moment or two to consider the means-whereby we are going to carry out an activity (the best way to do it) can bring a new dimension to our understanding of the use of the self.
© 2013 John S Hunter
Tips4Pupils – “Use” & “Self”
According to Erika Whittaker, when one of his students or pupils would complain to FM Alexander about something or other that was going on in their lives, his response was often to say:
“But it’s you! It’s you who’s doing it.”
So Alexander’s concept of “use” was total. It is not just about what you do or don’t do; or whether you do it with a free neck. It is about who you are: not “use of the body” but “use of the self”.
© 2013 John S Hunter
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