Alexander Technique Teacher/Coach
Alexander Technique teachers have to coach during Alexander Technique lessons. It is not enough to know and be able to teach Alexander Technique principles; you want to know both how to apply them yourself and show students how to apply them. In addition, encouragement is vital as the student may be changing lifetime habits. This takes energy and dedication from the student, and an empathetic attitude from the teacher. The Alexander Teacher’s job is to increase the likelihood that the Alexander Technique will work, therefore the teacher needs to do some coaching.
Other kinds of coaches (football, baseball, boxing) may have somewhat different objectives. A professional football coach’s objective is winning, period. They think; winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.’ Does Alexander’s ‘end-gaining’ have a negative connotation for a professional coach? Concern about an athlete’s health 20 years down the road might or might not be part of the coach’s consciousness. What he does know is that if the team consistently loses he will be fired.
An Alexander Technique teacher/coach works from a different paradigm. We have to set up conditions wherein the student is calm and is thinking more about the ‘how’ than the ‘what’.
Helping someone free their neck and release excess tension is done with words, touch, imitation and the ‘vibe’ of the interaction. It’s vital that a supportive rapport is established so that the student is less tense and more open, even as they walk in the door. The student automatically releases some tension in their face, and therefore other parts of them, and is more receptive and poised as you ask them ‘how did it go this week?’ They know they won’t be judged.
Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC
269- POSTURE
or (917) 709-4648
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