These are two of the late Patrick Macdonald’s mottos that most influence my own teaching. These phrases embody the essence of the Alexander Technique by focusing on the teacher’s on-going development.

In this workshop we will explore the deeper meaning of Macdonald’s mottos, which clarify the division of the roles of the teacher and the pupil. We will examine how the teacher logically leads the pupil in the process of changing and discuss how the quality of the teacher’s directions effect his/her ability to transfer the right sensations to the pupil in order to change the pupil’s direction from one of contraction to one of expansion. We will focus on our responsibility as teachers to strive continually for our own self-improvement and development in the technique as a never ending process.

While working in pairs, we will ask ourselves questions and try to deepen our understanding of Macdonald’s mottos. Lulie Westfeldt was one of FM Alexander’s first students and I would like to end our workshop with something surprising that both she and Patrick Macdonald heard from FM Alexander himself.