Teaching Alexander Technique to Kids
Friday, February 5, 2010 at 5:07PM | Share Article Those who were on the call with Sue Merry were totally inspired by this wonderful lady who has found ways and means to teach kids the Alexander Technique. I'm working on the recording now and hope to have it into the paid subscribers section soon (along with several other recordings promised a while ago, including Tommy Thompson, Lynn Nicholls and Jamie McDowell). I'm sorry these have been backlogged. The aim is to produce them a little more professionally than my older audios, so that you'll be more inclined to share them with others. But this takes extra time with a sound engineer and extra funds, both of which I have in limited supply.
Yep! I don't mind one bit if you share the audios...it's important that we spread this valuable info amongst the teaching community, but also the wider community also.
In every audio is a story of how the Alexander technique teacher found the technique, why they decided to train and what motivated them to pursue their particular niche in teaching. If you have students you'd like to inspire to train, then get them to listen to some of these inspirational people who have decided to make a difference in the world with the Alexander work.
I had a conversation with Gal Ben-Or yesterday afternoon in my "mobile office". I'd just jumped out of the surf at Rainbow Bay...one of the most beautiful right-handers on the Gold Coast and called Gal in Israel. Amazing times.
Anyway, we talked about how he's been working with kids using the Alexander Technique for 20 years and has a book nearly ready to publish. I will be interviewing him later in the month...be sure to tune into that talk to learn how he works with children...I'm looking forward to that interview very much.
The big take-away from my talk with Sue Merry was this...and it's something that every Alexander technique teacher should take heed of; Sue said the main factor getting in the way of the Alexander work reaching kids is Alexander teachers themselves! Teachers are too insecure to just go out there and start working with children. They think for some reason that their knowledge isn't enough, or they won't be able to do it, or children are too tricky to work with etc etc. But if you really do want to try this, Sue has already published a plethora of materials to help you get started. Just go to her website (click here) and navigate your way to the page with all her books...many of which are free to download!
As far as the Schools of Thought issue goes...it's coming together, all articles are in and editing is well underway.
Would you like to know the one thing that NO training school I've contacted includes in their course? Apart from all manner of mind and body education governed by FM Alexander's four books and decades of handed down methods for training teachers, there is one thing that is NOT covered in any training school and it's a glaring omission.
If you would like to win a free subscription to DIRECTION (valued at $97USD), just post what you think is the answer in the comments to this blog. The first correct answer wins. I will publish all answers... but let's just see if anybody is actually aware of the single most important skill in teaching the Alexander Technique that not one training school I've contacted (and there have been a selection around the world of 20!) has even mentioned.
If you would like to receive a copy of Schools of Thought Issue, make sure your subscription is current, otherwise you'll be paying $29.95 for it as a back issue as soon as it is published in mid-March. Please check with me first if you're not sure whether your subs is current before you throw more money at DIRECTION! A few people doubled up last subscription drive and we had to refund their payments. SUBSCRIBE HERE
More soon.
PC
Reader Comments (6)
The teaching of children
Yep! Had a few guesses via email, but you've got it in one Stella. I'll be mentioning this in my editorial for the new issue on training schools. Not one single school I've spoken with has talked about children, skills for teaching children or any work experience etc. It's an amazing omission. Well done Stella, you win a year's subscription to DIRECTION Journal. Thanks for taking the time to respond. PC
I have heard about the Alexander Technique, but I never knew that you can teach it to kids. I know that even children have stress issues, so I'm sure this teaching niche will be well received on a larger scale.
I'd never heard of teaching the Alexander Technique to kids, but it sounds like a great idea. Get them young and teach them right.
Alexander Technique
I had never heard of this technique before but i understand the effects. Where no medical/physical cause can be found you take a look reassess yourself and your physical presence. Its quite deep but if it works then thats absolutely amazing. Local Training Courses