My Story
The Alexander Technique, my posture, and my neck pain.
How I came to be a teacher of the Alexander Technique
I had bad posture for decades. I slumped over my musical instrument, and then slumped everywhere else.
On a job in the late 1990’s, I began experiencing pain and numbness in my right hand. The pain continued to worsen over the following days, weeks, and months. An MRI of my spine showed bone spurs in my neck, pinching a nerve leading down to my hand. After seeing several hand surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, acupressurists, a Rolfer, massage therapists, etc., I took an Alexander Technique lesson.
By the time, I walked (slumped) into my first Alexander Technique lesson, my neck pain was debilitating. My neurosurgeon wanted to give it six more weeks before scheduling the cervical spine operation. During that time someone mentioned the Alexander Technique, and I thought I’d give it a shot.
After studying the Alexander Technique for a relatively short time, the pain began to diminish — I was no longer causing it. My body began to heal. Week by week, and month by month, I was feeling better and better. Twenty years after I was Certified as an AT teacher, I wrote “Lighten UP”.
New Book!
“Lighten Up” is a collection of stories, jokes, and Alexander lessons. It is lighthearted, practical, and immediately usable. It was written for people who are new to the Alexander Technique (AT) as well as those more experienced. The AT helped me get rid of my neck pain, and Lighten UP shows how.
My Training
In 2000 I enrolled in the American Center for the Alexander Technique (ACAT) teacher training course in New York City. In addition to my training I dedicated countless hours practicing, studying, and reading about the Alexander Technique. ACAT’s training consists of attending school three hours per day, five days per week, for three years.
I received my Alexander Technique teacher certification from ACAT* and AmSAT** in 2003, and have been teaching the Alexander Technique full-time ever since.
Experience
Professional Certifications
I regularly receive referrals from:
I have taught the Alexander Technique at the following facilities:
- Barnard/Columbia University Department of Physical Education.
- The New York Spine Institute, Garden City, Long Island.
- Step Into Stride Physical Therapy, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
- The Collective School of Music.
- The 92nd Street Y.
- A.R.E. Holistic Health and Wellness Center.
- LifeLabs.
- NeurOasis.