I am a qualified teacher of the Alexander Technique registered with STAT. I completed my three-year training course at Brighton Alexander Technique College, graduating from CCARE Centre for Constructive Awareness and Related Education, Totnes in 2017.
Prior to training as an Alexander Technique teacher I worked in the NHS as a nurse and health visitor. I trained in Leeds graduating in 1988 with Bsc Hons Nursing RGN and in 1998 with Bsc Hons Specialist Community Public Health Nursing / RHV.
I have experience of working with people in all stages of life and with a wide range of health conditions. I have always been interested in health promotion and health education. I discovered the Alexander Technique when searching for a solution for painful Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) which I came to realise stemmed from tension habits formed when learning the violin and piano as a child.
Applying the skills I have learned through the Alexander Technique to my hobbies helps me enjoy the things I value most in life: promoting health and wellbeing, singing and playing musical instruments, cycling, hill walking and playing tennis.
I had heard of the Alexander Technique and I was aware that it helps with Repetitive Strain Injury, back and neck pain, stress, breathing and vocal problems and can help restore natural posture. As a young nurse I struggled with sciatic back pain from the heavy lifting of patients. Later in life I developed a stiff painful shoulder that was stopping me being able to work. This was RSI and as I went on to discover through starting Alexander Technique lessons was linked to my habits of muscular tension ,such as clenching my teeth and jaw, going right back to childhood intensive practice of the violin and piano.
My recovery and re-education journey had begun. The RSI improved very quickly, I started to breathe more freely, I noticed I was laughing more freely, I felt happier, calmer and my confidence increased especially in challenging situations. I decided to leave my full-time NHS role and train for three years to teach the Alexander Technique myself. I found the experience of learning this skill of changing how we use ourselves in everyday life, to have far reaching and unexpected benefits.
Anyone can learn the Technique; I enjoy teaching people of all ages. Primary school age children can learn to approach education with less pressure, adults in later life can benefit from finding increased confidence and mobility.
I continue to enjoy regular professional development courses and have recently trained to teach in primary and secondary schools. I have completed training with The Poise Project so I can bring the benefits of learning Alexander Technique to people living with Parkinson’s. Through my practice at Natural Spine Health I offer individual lessons, run workshops for musicians in the UK and abroad, deliver six week courses in NHS workplaces for staff and also sessions for antenatal and postnatal groups