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In
individual lessons, you are working with a teacher to explore
the ways in which you can change to free habit patterns which
interfere with your ease and enjoyment of life. We look at
how the relationship between the head, neck and back affects
muscular and mental health and the relationship between the
feet and the ground affects tension and stress. We also explore
the close relationship between how you think and how you move.
Unlike workshops, individual
lessons give you privacy and the undivided attention of a
teacher.
Often people start lessons for a particular reason: They
may want to ease the pain of headaches, neck, shoulder or
back problems. They may want to improve how they play a musical
instrument or ride a horse or swing a golf club. They may
want help with emotional stress such as anxiety or bereavement.
They may want to use the technique to help during pregnancy
and childbirth. They may want to use their vision more easily.
Lessons in New Zealand
Individual lessons are available at various locations in
the Far North, including Kerikeri and near Mangonui.
Lessons usually last 30 to 40 minutes. You wear any comfortable
clothing; you do not need to undress. You may like to do some
reading about the Technique but this is not essential.
 One
pupil said to me: "I was dreading retirement. I'd
various aches and pains and thought the rest of my life would
be a slide into increasing pain, increasing disability. This
technique is wonderful. It has turned all that round. It has
given me my life back and I can now look forward to the future."
Another pupil wrote:
"I'm
a researcher in the BBC Science Unit, working on radio
programmes for Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. So
you might think that I have a journalism qualification
and many years experience in the media.... Well think
again!
When
I met Jill, I was a mechanical engineer working for a global
energy company, and hating it. I was also about to get
married - one of the most stressful times of my life.
The product of these two elements was excruciating back pain
and me not being my normal happy self.
Through
the Alexander Technique and with Jill's excellent tuition, I
learned to work with my body on two levels; the physical
level - nurturing my muscles and bones to let them do
only what they needed to, and the psychological level - figuring
out what I wanted to do to be happy in life.
Over
the next couple of years, I began to manage my back pain and
devise a strategy (and pluck up the courage) for changing
career from engineering to journalism.
When
my back hurts now, I know it's reminding me to take it easy,
to stop and listen. And when my editor asks me
about the latest energy story, I know enough to comment and
know I don't want to go back to the power industry."
Lessons in England
I intend to return to the UK to teach in Yorkshire every so
often.
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