2025: Residential Masterclasses
There are two dates planned for residential weekends at my home in Hampshire in 2025:
Friday 3 January to Sunday 5 January
Friday 15 August to Sunday 17 August
In these courses, we will focus on the work of first-generation teachers Margaret Goldie and Erika Whittaker. They both felt that their contemporaries had focussed too much on the physical aspects of teaching and not enough on the mental aspects:
“The brainwork more dynamic than ever!”
Margaret Goldie
“It is not about the contact between my hand and the pupil, nor about the contact between the teacher’s back and the pupil’s back. It is about the contact between one human brain and another.”
Margaret Goldie
“What Alexander really wanted from his pupils was that they would learn to make their own decisions.”
Erika Whittaker
“FM could feel people’s thoughts with his hands, and this was very disconcerting for a pupil. You could not get away with anything with FM. But he showed us all the time thought is action, and inhibition in his sense is action…”
Erika Whittaker
Musicians are welcome to bring their instrument. For pianists, please note that I have a piano.
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, and how to use touch to influence thought.
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 £420. A non-refundable (unless the course is cancelled) deposit of £84 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: Masterclasses Feedback
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 |
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:
Margaret Goldie Webinar
The video of the recent webinar featuring pupils of Margaret Goldie is now on YouTube.
It is also available on the FMAT Charity website.
Work with Margaret Goldie
Readers of my blog may be interested to know that several of Margaret Goldie’s long-term pupils are holding a webinar on 25 February 2024 at 5pm UK time.
At this event, we will talk about some of our experiences in having lessons with Miss Goldie over many years. Participants will have the opportunity to also ask questions.
If you would like to attend, pre-registration is necessary. Use this link to book a place:
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
Recent Comments