Alexander Technique Centre Ireland Newsletter, September 2017

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Welcome

Stacked stones in a lake

Welcome to the September 2017 edition of the newsletter. We hope you enjoy it! A special welcome if you are new to the Alexander Technique mailing list. We will not fill up your inbox as you will be only sent an e-newsletter about 3-4 times a year.

Knowledge is learning something new every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.
  — Zen Proverb

Featured in this issue:

New book on Breathing to be published in September

How to Breathe book by Richard Brennan 2017

A new book on breathing by Richard Brennan comes out this month. How to Breathe will show you how to relearn how you can relearn your natural rhythm of breathing which can in turn beneficially alter the way you think, feel and act. This book is filled with practical breathing techniques that you can use at home. By applying consciousness to the action of breathing you can become aware of harmful breathing habits which interfere with your breathing, and will help you avoid them. As we breathe more than 2000 times a day it is important that we breathe as efficiently and effectively as possible.

How to Breathe will also be available in Spanish, French, German, Croatian, Estonian and Latvian.

Details of the Galway book launch will follow shortly. You will be able to order How to Breathe at all good bookshops, Amazon and from www.alexander.ie/books.html.

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A new edition of the Alexander Technique Manual to be published in October

New edition of the Alexander Technique Manual by Richard Brennan 2017

After over 20 years in print and with more than 50,000 copies sold, The Alexander Technique Manual will soon be published in a brand-new edition. While most of the text remains the same there are new photos and a brand-new layout. It will also be available in Spanish and French with other languages to follow.

This is the most comprehensive and lavishly illustrated Alexander Technique book on the market. It has at the same time been written in an easy-to-read style and there are tips on improving posture at work and home, and sections on sports and pregnancy.

The book is suitable for anyone, with or without experience of the Alexander Technique.

Details of the Galway book launch will follow shortly. You will be able to order How to Breathe at all good bookshops, Amazon and from www.alexander.ie/books.html.

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Workshop over 4 days with Glenna Batson (USA/Ireland), September 26th - 29th 2017

Glenna Batson, Alexander Technique teacher

For four decades, Glenna has studied multiple approaches to mindful movement as catalysts for teaching and professional growth and development. Her work is a synthesis of dance and somatic movement studies, human movement science and rehabilitation medicine. Glenna is an internationally recognized teacher of the Alexander Technique (qualified 1989) and has taught in 13 countries. She holds a masters in dance education and a doctoral degree in physiotherapy. At 69 years young, she remains inspired by the many inroads to embodied knowledge – contemplative to expressive, artistic to scientific. Above all, Glenna believes that Alexander Technique practice is essential to meeting today's societal challenges. She currently resides in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Her work will include gaining a deeper knowledge of the Alexander Technique through movement Anatomy and awareness increasing exercises.

For more about Glenna and her work visit www.glennabatson.com.

Course Details

Dates: Tuesday 26th - Friday 29th September 2017
Times: Tuesday 2.30 pm to Friday 12 noon
Venue: The Alexander Training College, Moycullen, Co. Galway
Directions: www.alexander.ie/directions.html
Cost: €200
Suitable for: Those with some experience of AT.
To Book: Please contact Richard Brennan on 091 555800 or email info@alexander.ie

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Workshop over 4 days with Wolfgang Weiser (Sweden), October 17th - 20th

'The ABC Alexander Technique Workshop'

Wolfgang Weiser, Alexander Technique teacher

The ABC workshop is based on the contents of:
A – Anatomy, function and design
B – Balance experience, balance work, balance art
C - Circus skills and new ways of movement

After his last three very successful visits the Alexander Centre is delighted to welcome Wolfgang back for another fun-filled week of learning! This will be a practical workshop providing you with a number of unusual activities. As a follow up, regarding the abilities of participants, we will explore balancing on the floor, on the balance board or on the tightrope. We will also work with juggling and other physical-thinking activities. Participants will gain new ideas and experience about their balance, habits, co-ordination and movement. The basic idea is to use unfamiliar activities to give the participants a chance to work with the Alexander Technique as psycho-physical education.

About Wolfgang Weiser

Wolfgang trained in England and Germany between 1993 and 1997. He is an internationally-recognised AT teacher and has taught the AT at the Theatre University of Stockholm and worked with dancers and musicians all over Sweden, including the Dance and Theatre Festival in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Prior experience includes working as a performer, actor, dancer and juggler since 1984. He also holds a BA in education in theatre and is researching movement formation in educational science as well running a residence project on the Island of Gotland called 'Vibrationplant', where he gives summer courses with Trish Hemingway.

Course Details

Dates: Tuesday 17th - Friday 20th October 2017
Times: Tuesday 2.30 pm to Friday 12 noon
Venue: The Alexander Training College, Moycullen, Co. Galway
Directions: www.alexander.ie/directions.html
Cost: €200
Suitable for: Alexander teachers and trainees
To Book: Please contact Richard Brennan on 091 555800 or email info@alexander.ie

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Public evening workshop with Wolfgang Weiser (Sweden), October 19th 2017

Wolfgang Weiser, Alexander Technique teacher

Improving Posture Balance and Co-ordination without effort

This three hour workshop is open to all and will explore balance and co-ordination in everyday activities such as sitting standing walking and bending. You will learn how to release tension in all these actions and gain greater poise. It is suitable for those with or without previous experience of the Alexander Technique.

About Wolfgang Weiser

Wolfgang qualified as an Alexander teacher in 1997 after a variety of different training. He has taught the Alexander Technique at the Theatre University of Stockholm and worked with dancers and musicians all over Sweden, including the Dance and Theatre Festival in Gothenburg, Sweden. He worked as a performer, actor, dancer and juggler since 1984. He also holds a BA in education in theatre.

Dates: Thursday 19th October 2017
Times: 7pm - 10pm
Venue: The Alexander Training College, Moycullen, Co. Galway
Directions: www.alexander.ie/directions.html
Cost: €25
Suitable for: All
To Book: Please contact Richard Brennan on 091 555800 or email info@alexander.ie

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Workshop over 4 days with Jeando Masoero (France), November 7th - 10th 2017

'Understanding Verbal Directions'

This workshop is a complete lesson of STS – sit to stand without hands on. All levels of Alexander Technique learners are invited. You will learn to provide a student with the conscious guidance and control needed to stand at any point without ever pushing him- or herself out of a chair, or to sit without losing control of the movement or of the central axis (head-neck-torso). The outcome of the lesson should be the possibility to stand in complete non-doing and perfect control. The means whereby this co-ordination can be achieved will include:

  • A new conception of the act, i.e. a geometrical representation of the essential relations of coordinated support and antagonistic action
  • Self-speech orders of various dynamic adjustments of the torso
  • A procedure of co-ordination of these orders that will enable the volunteer to emulate the new conception of the act.

About Jeando Masoero

Jeando Masoero, Alexander Technique teacher

Born in 1959, Jeando studied Maths and Technic, which gave him a strong liking for reasoning and solving problems. By 1986, he was running his own communications company, helping French high tech companies translate scientific concepts into plain ideas.

His interest in the Technique arose in 1980 through reading a scientific paper by a dental surgeon who recommended it as a 'unique solution to the coordination problem'. He subsequently ordered FM's books. In 1992, he moved to England to study with Ray Evans and Ron Coyler (qualifying in 1997), assisting Ray Evans for three more years. During this time Jeando translated and published FM's four books into French. In 2006, He started a training course in southern France and continued to devote his time building a scientific understanding of Alexander's writing and developing psycho-mechanical procedures for working with people with severe psychophysical handicaps (ASD, DCD, epilepsy, brain injuries) and with or without verbal language. Three scientists who influenced his work were LS Vygotsky (pedagogy, methodology), AR Luria (Neuro-psychology) and NA Bernstein (bio-mechanics). Due to this work, his teaching has been transformed.

Course Details

Dates: Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th November 2017
Times: Tuesday 2.30 pm to Friday 12 noon
Venue: The Alexander Training College, Moycullen, Co. Galway
Directions: www.alexander.ie/directions.html
Cost: €200
Suitable for: Suitable for those with some experience of the Technique
To Book: Please contact Richard Brennan on 091 555800 or email info@alexander.ie

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Training Course News

Champagne bottle

New Teacher Graduates from the training course

Congratulations to Neville Shortt who graduated on the 28th June. Neville was the 42nd person to graduate from the course.

He will be moving to Edinburgh to teach the Alexander Technique and we wish him all good wishes with his new career.

Alazne Larrinaga, Alexander Technique teacher

We welcome Alazne Larrinaga back to the training course

After 9 months in Jerez where Alazne was studying Flamenco dance, she re-joins the training course on the 19th September to assist with the training of teachers and will act as the student liaison. We whole-heartedly welcome her humorous, easy-going and gentle presence.

Enrolments

Ever thought of becoming an Alexander teacher? To find out more about this very rewarding career please go to www.alexandertechniqueireland.com

There are no places available on the Alexander Technique Training Course, starting in September (but we have a waiting list in case anyone drops out) and one place in January. You can apply for either term anytime.

Visiting the Training Course

Free Week

If you have ever considered doing further training in the Alexander Technique, either for you own personal interest, or with a view to becoming a teacher of the Alexander Technique, then you may be interested in a free week at the college.

Informal group at Alexander Technique Training Centre, Galway, Ireland

This week is completely free to those who have never been to the college before, and half price (€100) to those who have visited before. This offer applies for any week other than those when there will be visiting teachers and is by arrangement only. It is open to all those who have already had some lessons or who have been to an introductory workshop.

General Visits

Although the Training Course is primarily for those who wish to train to become Alexander Technique teachers, we do welcome those who wish to visit for a day, a week or even a whole term, by arrangement, to improve their own understanding of the Technique. It is an ideal environment for those who enjoy learning the technique in a group. You will receive individual sessions as well as join in group sessions on various subjects including standing, walking, sitting and breathing.

Please see www.alexandertechniqueireland.com for more information about the training. To book a place please call 091 555800 or email info@alexander.ie.

Three month Postgraduate Diploma Course starting in September 2017 in Galway

Anyone who has completed a 3 year Alexander Technique teacher training course is welcome to apply. The course will include one hands-on lesson each day for yourself; working with people who have had little or no experience of the technique; how to start and sustain a successful practice teaching the Alexander Technique; and many other related topics such as neuroscience and how to read MRI reports.

Cost: €995

Please contact Richard for full details 091 555800 or email info@alexander.ie.

Term Dates 2017

Autumn Term 2017

Start and end of term: Tuesday 19th September – Thursday 7th December
Mid-term break: 23rd - 30th October

Course hours: Tues 2.30–6.30pm, Weds 9.30am–4pm, Thurs 9.30am–1.30pm, Fri 9–12 noon

Visiting teachers:
Glenna Batson 26th - 29th September
Wolfgang Weiser 17th - 20th October
Jeando Masoero 7th - 10th November

For full details please visit: www.alexandertechniqueireland.com.

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Short Courses with Richard Brennan

Richard Brennan, director of Alexander Technique Centre, Galway, Ireland

Forthcoming Introductory and Intermediate short courses led by Richard Brennan are given below.

For booking information and further details about the short courses below, please visit our short courses page. Please note that you are also welcome to visit the college for intermediate training. For courses run by other qualified teachers, see also the ISATT course page.

Emmaus Centre, Lissenhall, Swords, Co Dublin
7th - 8th October 2017
Back In Balance: Residential Weekend Workshop
€195 (non residential €145)

National University of Ireland (Adult Education), Galway
14th + 21st October 2017
Change Your Posture, Change Your Life: Two day introductory workshop
€120

Esker Retreat Centre, Athenry, Co Galway
24th - 26th November 2017
Back In Balance: Residential Weekend Workshop
€165 (€90 non-residential)

Emmaus Centre, Lissenhall, Swords, Co Dublin
17th - 18th February 2018
Change Your Posture, Change Your Life: Residential Weekend Workshop
€195 (non residential €145)

Cortijo Romero, Orgiva, Granada, Spain
24th - 31st March 2018
Change Your Posture, Change Your Life: Residential week-long workshop in a beautiful holiday centre in southern Spain £600 (discount price before 3rd December 2017)

Emmaus Centre, Lissenhall, Swords, Co Dublin
14th - 18th May 2018
Alexander Technique Immersion: Residential Five Day Course
€525

Emmaus Centre, Lissenhall, Swords, Co Dublin
6th - 7th October 2018
Back In Balance: Residential Weekend Workshop
€195 (non residential €145)

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