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Susan Sears, Computer Programmer
After each lesson I feel taller, more relaxed, and my posture is better. These lessons have helped me to be aware of the muscles of my body, how I am using them in different activities, and how I should be using them. I used to carry my shoulders hunched inward and didn't realize it. Alexander Technique helps alleviate tension that you don't realize you are holding on to.
Karen Greenstein, Interior Harmony LLC, Acupuncture for You, Feng Shui and Organizational Support for Your Home or Office
Before my Alexander Technique session I check in with myself - 'tight, pain, constriction, ache, on autopilot, tired, efforting' comes to mind. After my session I check in with myself - 'deeper breathing, ease, expansion, freedom, balance, awareness, space, more energy in my hands, release, taller' comes to mind. I appreciate Cinda's skill, presence and studio. My sessions help me remember how to live in my body with more grace and ease.
Jonathan Moyer, Organist, Pianist, and Conductor
Since beginning Alexander Technique, I have noticed a slow but steady shift in
my awareness of how I use my body, allowing me more ease in my playing, calm in my thoughts, and efficiency in my use of energy.
Ann Bracken, M.Ed., CAPF, Expressive Arts Consultant~Writer~Educational Program Design
In addition to Alexander Technique relieving some of my back pain, the meditative frame of mind also helped me get more in touch with where I hold tension in my body. Cinda's patience and calm demeanor made every session relaxing and fruitful.
Andrea K. Smith, Sign-Language Interpreter/Singer
My work as a sign language interpreter causes a great deal of physical stress on
my arms and shoulders. I didn't realize how much until I started working on the
Alexander Technique with Cinda. The immediate and continued relief I've
experienced while on the job and the freedom that the training has added to my
singing has been a blessed surprise. The concepts of Alexander Technique are applicable to so many areas in life.
Jo Morrison, Celtic Harper, Composer, Teacher
Alexander Technique has allowed me to dramatically reduce the stiffness and pain in my hands, back, shoulders, and overall body, after just a few lessons. As a musician, this has allowed me to have more freedom of movement and to survive longer practice sessions and performances without hurting for several days afterwards. I have seen a measurable physical change since beginning lessons — I lost full pronation in my left arm following breaking my arm and related surgery more than 10 years ago. I never fully recovered the movement. After a few lessons with Alexander Technique I had recovered full pronation, with ease! I’ve also had noticeable reduction in pain and trouble with carpal tunnel and other nerve-entrapment issues. It’s amazing how simple it is to affect changes if you simply work to remember to do it.
Betsy Graff, Music Teacher
I first encountered Alexander technique 25 years ago as a singer, endeavoring to find a way to free my body from tension in the pursuit of easy and good vocal production. Subsequently, I have had some Alexander Technique coaching while studying choral conducting. The purpose here was (again) to release tension in myself as the conductor, thereby sending a nonverbal message to my singers to release their tension.
More recently I have studied Alexander Technique as part of my effort to recover and rehabilitate my body after surgical replacement of my left hip, right and left knees with approximately a year between each surgery. In January 2008, I started a six-week group class with Cinda. I hoped it would help me prepare for rehabilitation after my second knee replacement in May, 2008. Based on my prior experiences with Alexander Technique, I hoped it would enable me to improve my posture after two years on crutches with severe arthritis in several joints.
In each group class every student had about 15-20 minutes of individual work with Cinda. At the end of the first class, I was amazed to find that much of the muscular tension I usually felt was gone, and I was no longer “aware of” the implant in my right knee joint. Pain in my left foot from a bout with shingles the year before had also disappeared. As the course continued, I found the individual work continued to help me. Even though my symptoms described above were not permanently gone, I experienced some improvement each week.
When the group class was over, I decided to pursue individual lessons with Cinda until and following my left knee surgery. Now, two and a half months after the surgery, I am walking without the aid of a crutch, cane or walker for the first time in years. I am convinced that my Alexander lessons have had a very positive role in my recovery and rehabilitation. On several occasions I went to a lesson after a physical therapy session. The PT sessions involved strenuous physical movement and exercise, and I would often find I was sore and exhausted afterwards. On the occasions when I followed them with an Alexander lesson, I would find I had increased strength and energy to use my muscles to walk with better posture and ease. As I continue my quest to resume a normal level of activity, I am conscious that releasing and lengthening helps me establish good balance, a healthy and normal step, and the confidence to move ahead.
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