What
Phyllis Richmond's Students Say
Learning to use my body better as I move through the day has
helped me practice and perform with greater freedom. I have also found the Alexander Technique
helpful in a variety of activities , from working at my computer to brushing my
teeth.
Rose Marie C., pianist, accompanist, and teacher
If you read enough books about dressage, you’ll eventually
bump into recommendations for the Alexander Technique as a means to enhance the
use of your body and posture in helping your horse recapture its natural
balance and way of going under the weight of the rider. In my case, I not only wanted to improve my
equitation, but also to release and reverse years of habitual misuse of my body
due to a mild scoliosis and its attendant curves. What I found in practicing this technique
with Phyllis was that through touch and heightened awareness, we found a way to
light up the inner circuitry of my body so that I recovered lost abilities,
improved my posture, and learned more normal functioning, balance and
suppleness. As our sessions progressed,
my capacity to ride with a more independent seat, hands, legs and back improved
noticeably. I learned from Phyllis that
it’s not in the doing, but in the not doing, that unlocks the subtleties of the
Alexander Technique.
Barbara B.,
dressage rider
Yesterday I took an old, heavy sofa downstairs and out to
the curb. I did it by balancing the sofa on one leg, then swinging the other
leg forward, like walking the sofa along. Many of my friends gave up on lifting
heavy stuff because they have bad backs. Some of them have had back surgery and
they are younger than I am. Because of the /Alexander Technique, I knew how to
do these things without injuring myself.
Dinesh T.,
software engineer
Learning the Alexander Technique is like learning to read:
once you’ve learned to read, all forms of knowledge are accessible to you.
Learning the Alexander Technique helps you remove stress from your body as you
go about your daily activities. You become receptive to other forms of physical
learning. You learn how to learn. I didn’t know how to learn before—I had a form of dyslexia
related to body use. Now I can learn better and more easily.
Toby B.,
retiree
I am very pleased to see how much more efficient and
powerful my trumpet playing has become as a result of Phyllis Richmond’s
Alexander Technique instruction. We focused on how to sit and stand efficiently
and even how I lift and hold the trumpet. I’ve increasingly learned “how to be”
posturely to help me while on my job (as a musician), and with my other
activities daily. From my session, I usually see “lightbulbs” of ideas that I
can apply as I go about my life.
Adam G., trumpeter
It’s been over a week that the seminar was completed and
how grateful I am that I was able to attend those 3 days and receive such
wonderful benefit. Your Alexander
lessons and the guidance you gave for keeping the shoulders & shoulder
blades down has been prominent on my mind. I feel much more stable seated at
the piano, more balanced and less anxious, increasingly free from neck and
upper body tension this past week….You have helped me overcome awkwardness,
discomfort, and inefficient movement and I am still in the (lifelong) process
of becoming more aware and more fully integrated.
Janet F., piano teacher
Phyllis taught me how to detect when my muscles were
competing against each other in something as simple as lifting my arm. I’ve been able to improve the efficiency of all my techniques,
from using the kick drum on my drumset to my four mallet technique.
Brandon N., percussionist
To attend an Alexander Technique class is to experience the
exhilarating challenge of releasing a life-long accumulation of restrictive
posturing habits that have kept me from enjoying effortless, flowing movement
not only in my personal time, but especially while delivering massage therapy. Incorporating the Technique optimizes
therapeutic effect for my clients and also minimizes chances of injury to
myself. By learning the Technique, I am
confidently expecting many years of injury-free massage therapy work. Phyllis’ invaluable hands-on coaching helps
one implement the theory with a thoroughness snot possible by simply reading
and viewing text material lone.
Ann H.,
massage therapist
The Alexander Technique has been extremely helpful in my
playing and everyday life. I feel it was a time for tearing down
of old unnecessary habits and building of new positive ones.
Catherine
L., flutist
My body’s been exposed to less tension, so now I recognize
more tension and let it go. but until you’ve had an experience of less tension,
you’ve got no frame of reference.
Helen L., executive
assistant
|