Bridget’s early years as a certified Alexander teacher in her West Cork community in Ireland has confirmed the practical reasons which led her to work in groups from 3 to 20 people.

FM Alexander’s powerful tool for change was introduced to the general public with demonstrations. This became the avenue for Community Groups of all ages and backgrounds to make contact and explore the Alexander Technique for their relevant, everyday needs and activities.  Workshops developed organically, for all areas and life stages eg from Pregnancy and Birth; Sport and musical preps; Drama school; through to Mental health groups and happiness; to the Active Retired, up to Octogenarians.

This workshop will be about teaching and demonstrating the Alexander Technique in relation to a person’s potential to learn through chosen activities of daily life, in order to gain practical and improved command of themselves. Focus will be practical and for any participant to take part, or just watch, ask questions.

A 15 minute talk on how Bridget begins her teaching process for a new group of students, and some basic AT principles. This is followed by demonstrations of lessons, with priority given to those having a first AT lesson, and then group work for the rest of the time. The aim is to achieve 7-15 live lessons of about 5-10 mins in daily activities of choice (with two ATI colleagues).  If you would like to participate in an experiential, please make a note of three named activities to bring with you that are of a real personal interest to you. No experience or special clothes is necessary – just clothes ‘you do things in’.  First come first served within the workshop timeframe.

Objectives:

• To demonstrate how Bridget goes to work as an Alexander Technique Teacher
• To raise potential interest in AT Group work
• To demonstrate AT and interact verbally with a student
• To demonstrate the use of hands and how this skill has potential for a student to realize what life might be like without ‘that thing’, if they stop misdirecting themselves
• To encourage a student to explore this work further, with a teacher and at home.
• To show how interacting with the student’s thinking can expand the teacher’s future lesson plans to include other principles of the work, to be noted for another lesson or unit of learning as appropriate, and led by the student.To demonstrate why some areas are left for another time, while the student takes in what is being experienced, so that the current learning point and success, is more likely to last.

Q&A’s space can also be offered for anyone interested in working with pregnancy, birth and postnatal women regarding everyday activities, and with regard to an Alexander Teacher’s boundaries.