Elke Mastwijk

She has been inspired by two pioneering colleagues.  Firstly, by Hil Boode, who was an Alexander Technique teacher and CranioSacral therapist.  Secondly, by Gitte Fjordbo, who spoke at the 2011 Alexander Technique Lugano congress about early childhood development in a special lecture entitled  ‘When conscious control is not an option’. After graduating from the ATON in the Netherlands in 1996, Elke went on to study CranioSacral Therapy (2005) and Reflex Inhibition Therapy (2014). She is able to translate relevant knowledge from other disciplines to the Alexander Technique.  She combines a special passion for understanding how fascia restrictions affect use with an intense curiosity about early childhood development.  How do we develop from lying on our back as babies to toddlers who can stand up and walk?  How does an early childhood compromised by stress or health issues affect the adult nervous system and motoric skills? Over the last 30 years, Elke has managed to connect the dots as to why some of her pupils make spectacular progress with the Alexander Technique and others do not.  After presenting at Congresses in Lugano, Ireland and Berlin, she has shared her insights in the Alexander Technique communities of Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and the USA. Elke has a busy practice teaching the Alexander Technique as well as providing support through Reflex Inhibition for pupils seeking help with early childhood issues.  She is a CranioSacral therapist for people as well as for horses and dogs.  During the pandemic lockdowns she started to make podcasts about her work which have been very well received.