Praise

“I felt impatient, and see AT is really helping.  I’m sitting better.  It feels right and odd.  I feel more positive too.”  Carol

“Balance is not a position!  Now I’m not trying to straighten my spine through effort, it goes that way – its a big difference in my shoulder tension and breathing” Simon

“The Alexander Technique was recommended to me when I was diagnosed with an anxiety and panic disorder.  Lucy’s AT tuition at Bodywise has been key in getting me back to full time work.  Using these techniques has helped me reduce the day-to-day tension I’ve developed over a lifetime of anxious habits and hypersensitivity.  It’s been amazing to re-learn how my body works, and how to swap out the survival mechanisms that got me so far, for habits more in keeping with how my body is happier to work.  I’ve noticed more ease in my movements.  I really enjoy the regular lesson; I’ve been better coping with anxiety, have less pain and feel more awake.  Lucy is great and has helped me feel safe in what could be a vulnerable environment, she is both calming and great fun.  I always leave my lessons happier and having learned something useful.  Very much recommend for anyone.”  Alex Booer

“I’ve been doing the Alexander Technique with Lucy over the past few months and my posture has improved enormously.  I have a greater awareness of how my body functions and can recognise the signs of when I’m falling into bad habits.  Lucy has provided me with many useful tools as how to deal with this and consequently I feel more relaxed.”  Paul Tolton

“I feel present.  Nice to feel here, not racing ahead.  I have a more measured, calm approach.  I’m less reactive and am learning to look after myself and choose my responses.”  Rosie

“No more turtle neck, or contracting when I’m cold – I can keep my length in my upper body, I’m not scrunching my neck.  I’m learning to trust my body and the support of gravity.  Its so much easier.”  Ian

“I had a traumatic accident a few years ago.  After you ‘wriggled’ my head it felt weird – and really good.  I could walk evenly for the first time in years!!  I’m making friends with my body.”  Zoe

Julian Davis, Retired Professor of Medicine

“I started seeing Lucy for Alexander lessons about 2 years ago, following the recommendation of a friend. I am an amateur pianist, and have had back and neck problems for some time, exacerbated by an accident 10 years ago. Initially I was a little hesitant: through musician friends I had been vaguely aware of the Alexander technique for many years, and wasn’t sure quite what I might expect from it. As a biologically trained doctor I had the feeling that it might be too ‘fringe’ or pseudosciencey for me to accept its way of thinking. However I have been aware of tension in my shoulders and neck for many years, and now that I have more time for serious piano practice I was keen to do something to help myself.

I have been happily surprised and have learned a lot about how my muscles and spine behave when I let them. I rapidly realised that AT is not in the least pseudoscience, rather it teaches one to be aware of how the body is holding itself. I find it hard to summarise what Alexander Technique actually is, but from my experience it combines elements of what’s currently called mindfulness, coupled with an insight into anatomy.  A lesson is not about teaching good posture! I’ve found that Lucy’s lessons involve calm talking, with guidance from her hands, through one’s awareness of the neck, spine and limbs as a connected whole, and the encouragement to allow one’s body to ‘be free’. As much as anything, I find that the self-awareness and quiet recognition of one’s body seems to allow a sense of space and alert relaxation.
At the end of a lesson I find myself feeling taller, wider, and calmer.
Practising at home is quite hard, without the constant guidance that one has in a lesson, and I’m not as assiduous as I should be… but even so I have slowly started to note benefits as that self-awareness seeps into everyday life, in how I sit and move, and especially when sitting at a desk or playing the piano. To my delight I’ve eventually found myself able to summon that awareness and sense of space and calm even at the start of a concert.  Despite the evidence of MR scans of my spine, somehow I even have less back and neck pain! 

Lucy has been patient, encouraging and sympathetic, and it has been a pleasure being guided by her as I learn a about the Alexander approach.”  Julian Davis, Retired Professor of Medicine