Carl Trimmer MSTAT

Teacher of The Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique

Lessons

In a lesson the teacher uses explanation and a guiding touch to help you re-discover

balance and become aware of  habitual tension patterns.

The teacher will most often use a mixture of table work, chair work and horse work to

help highlight these patterns and allow you to begin to change the way you react to the

stimuli of movement and gravity.

Chair work

Chairwork is not just a case of learning to stand and sit properly.

The movement contained in these seemingly simple actions incorporates most of the

movement that we use in all other activities.

Chairwork highlights how we react to gravity, and the tension patterns that hinder the

body's natural mechanism for moving in it.

Table Work

Tablework allows you to become aware of  muscular tensions and habitual patterns

whilst not having to concern yourself with balance.

The contact points of your body on the table give you excellent reference points to

become aware of  these overall patterns.

Horsework

Horsework allows the teacher to work on a pupil whilst the pupil is still having to

consider balance and gravity and yet receiving different stimuli from the legs not being

weight bearing. The pupil becomes more aware of the tension held in the legs and the

part the back plays in supporting the shoulders and arms. The lower back especially

is encouraged to support the body in an active and 'lively' way, different from the

gripping and holding that is common there.