Jonathan Drake

Intro to Tai-Chi

Most of us need to move more - but move better. If that happens, exercising becomes pleasurable in itself and health benefits accrue without any forcing of the process.

As I have got older, I have been drawn to exploring a wider range of forms of exercise.

Alexander pointed out the problems of mindless, repetitive exercising, but of course AT principles can also facilitate a constructive approach to the development of fitness. AT can take you a long way.. but it doesn't have all the answers.

JP Gloria

What Is an Exercise?

From an AT perspective, the very term "exercise" is a bit loaded. Some folks within the AT community see all exercise as a form of 'end-gaining' and go so far as to discourage it in their pupils. Others have a more liberal perspective and incorporate some form of exercise in their daily lives. Is exercise incompatible with basic AT principles?

JP Gloria, will talk about what exercise is and why it is NOT the most important part of any fitness program… WHAT?!

He will explore the question:

Can exercise hinder your performance?  Answer: yes.

Can exercise improve your performance?  Answer: yes.

According to JP, it all depends on how you use it. In his presentation, he will redefine exercise and help you understand how to use it to your advantage.

Robin Simmons

Practical Introduction to the Dart Procedures

FM. Alexander is concerned especially with our reactions to what life is bringing to our attention. Can we avoid shortening (by refusing to retract our head back), and narrowing (by refusing to round our shoulders inwards & pull down in front)? In contradistinction to these forward and backward considerations Dart, who had lessons in 1943, developed a series of “procedures” that help us to appreciate our sidedness and related them to both evolutionary development (phylogeny) and to our human growth and development (ontogeny).

In this session, we will work with practical procedures that can help us appreciate and value our bilaterality. In appreciating our surface contacts, our fulcrums for rolling and our anti-gravity progression from infant to upright human, we can gain new knowledge that can be brought into all our Alexander Technique work. Dart brings to our attention the significance of the Medial Longitudinal Bundle and the Cranial nerves – especially the trigeminal. Knowledge of these features enhances our Alexander Technique understanding to improve our practical work.

Penelope Easten

The Thoracolumbar Fascia & What is Core Strength?

Session 1: The thoracolumbar fascia is the key to integrate and strengthen the lower body for bending and lifting.

Session 2: The mysterious psoas is the deepest muscle in the body, and it is so dense that it is the only muscle to show up on X-rays! It is a key part of standing upright on two legs, but its healthy functioning is impeded by too much sitting and slouching on chairs.

Michael J Gelb

BodyLearning: Life Energy Genius

A noted executive coach and keynote speaker, Michael Gelb is the author of 17 books, including the international bestseller “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci” that have been translated into 25 languages and sold more than one million copies. Michael is well known in the Alexander community for having written the first 'popular' introductory book on the AT, "Body Learning", now in its 40-anniversary edition. His lifetime passion to understand the integration of body, mind and spirit is reflected in his training as an Alexander Technique teacher and his study of Aikido in which he holds a 5th dan, and his skills as a teacher of Taiji and Qigong.

In this session, Michael will lead you through an engaging practice to elevate your consciousness and creativity based on a synthesis of Alexander Technique, Aikido and Taiji-Qigong.

Mary Derbyshire

Aerobics for the 50+ Generation

Cardio dance is a fun, fast-paced energizing workout. In this class, you will learn 10 basic cardio dance steps. By the end of the class, we will add music and you will be dancing! Wear clothes and shoes that you can comfortably move in.

How You Move Matters! You can learn how to move better with my Amazon bestselling book "Agility at Any Age: Discover the Secret to Balance, Mobility, and Confidence."

David Moore

Smart Yoga For Strength, Flexibility, And Coordination

Smart yoga involves the very precise application of the Alexander technique to yoga practice. In yoga, particular muscles or areas may be targeted for strengthening or stretching, but the most beneficial results and the least possibility of injury come about only if the poses are being practised with a clear understanding of the overall body coordination (primary control).

In his sessions, David will identify common coordination errors in a range of poses, look at how to modify poses to allow for individual differences, and will show how to develop strength, flexibility and balance in a manner that works with our innate coordination rather than against it.

Helen Hall

The Joy of Movement

I analyse posture and movement, I write, I run, I learn and I coach, and my passion is to understand – and then help folk find – joint-friendly, efficient motion, especially in the context of walking and running.

Using the latest in movement science and gait analysis technology (DORIS), I help people find solutions for their pain and injuries and showrunners how to find more speed for less effort incurring fewer injuries in the process. I call it Perpetual Forward Motion; I’ve written a book about it called ‘Even With Your Shoes On – Discover your Natural Path to Smooth, Efficient, Enjoyable Running’, and I’ve created an online video movement resource called ‘The PFM WujWum Series of 6’.

MY MOTTO IS “IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT – YOU PROBABLY CAN.”