Alexander Technique offers
relief from chronic pain.
improved posture.
*recovery of freer movement.

 Deborah Cranston:   FM Alexander:   Testimonials

Deborah is a Bristol trained member of STAT, the original professional body and has been teaching the Alexander Technique for nearly twenty-five years.   With her background in the arts, many of her pupils  take lessons to improve their performance skills .  Other pupils come to learn how to get help managing or overcoming pain.  Common complaints are tension headaches, pains of the neck, back and arthritic pain.

So how does it work ?
The Alexander Technique is designed to heighten our sensory awareness, becoming more conscious of our tensions and mindful of our body use. Once aware of these tensions we can use the technique to help stop them or at least lessen them, thereby making our every day lives more comfortable.

Most significantly , the technique places great importance on learning to be sensitive to the natural balance of the head on the spine as the tensions held in the back of the head and the neck create tensions in the body which can be the cause of many physical pains.

Deborah`s role as Alexander teacher is as a guide and facilitator, "I always work from the perspective of the student – always asking and listening and gauging their understanding."

Your learning experience

Deep relaxation
Your first experience will be on the "practice table`, a professional, padded, table height couch. Here, full dressed, you will be lulled by Deborah`s subtle hand contact and calm voice, bringing about the experience of deep relaxation.
 
Discovering freedom in movement
Once in this relaxed state of body and mind, Deborah, with her skillful hands, will give you the experience of moving effortlessly when standing and sitting and walking.  At. this point you will possibly become aware of the potential freedom of movement you can learn to achieve.

Learning to unlearn
Strange but true, contrary to most roads to self improvement, developing this life skill is more to do with unlearning than learning. Your attitudes and life experiences can affect the way you think and move. This technique helps you recognize the unhelpful habits you`ve developed subconsciously over time.  Slowly but surely you can unlearn these habits and replace them with helpful habits.


The origin of the technique    -    Fredrick Methius Alexander

The Alexander Technique was developed by F.M. Alexander (1869-1955) a young Australian actor who suffered from a vocal problem that interrupted his burgeoning career as a Shakespearean actor. Frustrated by this limitation, he studied his physical use in order to discover the root cause of his problem. He did this by setting up mirrors in order to observe himself from all angles.

In his exploration he discovered that there is balance between the head, neck and spine and that when this is activated there becomes a freedom in breathing, movement, and strangely, quality of thinking.   The impressive side effect of this dynamic is improved posture.   Alexander named this relationship between the head, neck and spine, the primary control because he perceived it as being of primary importance in controlling our balance and coordination and clear thinking.

Committment for positive results
Being able to apply the Alexander Technique after a couple of lessons is no more possible than being able to drive a car after a couple of lessons. It takes time but is worth the effort. As this learning skill requires committment, as well as the understanding that it will be a very different learning experience from any other, it is important to enter into the learning process with an open mind.
 Sceptics welcome.

Some testimonials

“ Every year I hurt my back, my hips and shoulders picking up windfalls.  This year I didn`t! Thank you. ”  singer      
“I can feel my back pain ease off as my tensions let go.  Lessons make me feel more lighthearted as well as being lighter in my movements.” hotel manageress  

     “The AT inspires me – to learn more, to take one step forwards and then another.   … It is slightly scary – there is no end point.”        saxophonist

 “I can hear the difference in my voice when I let my head release. The tone is warmer. It’s strange”  singer

 “The Semi Supine position is firstly very comfortable and secondly a great relaxation. It is a healing and meditation position. I will use it often.”   IT programmer

“Such simple logic.”          pianist / mathematician  

 “Lessons with Deborah changed my life. They’ve made me look differently at how I use my body. I am much more comfortable now.”        retired businessman  

   “After a lesson everything feels less of a strain both physically and mentally. Thank you.”     guitarist

". . learning to let thinking work out how to make movements instead of anticipating and tensing everything ready for action has been a major part of the process!
 I can't thank Deborah enough for her patience in coaching me this far. " P.A.