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Email: teacher@hilarycookat.co.uk
Tel. 01748 824160
Mob. 07941526662
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Walking with the Alexander Technique Course in the Lake District
Friday 25th July – Monday 28th July 2025
to be held at
The Glenthorne Guest House and Conference Centre Easedale Road Grasmere Cumbria LA22 9QH
www.glenthorne.org
Would like to stay in a beautiful location having some time out for you? De-stressing slowing down and noticing nature again as we go for gentle walks in the Lake District. Learning how to walk in an easier way with less effort.
Then come along and join Hilary in the stunning scenery of the Lake District to explore the Walking with the Alexander Technique. The course starts at 5.30 pm on Friday 25th July and finishes at 12.00 noon on Monday 28th July.
We will look at our skeleton through anatomy and movement discovering a more accurate map of ourselves. In addition we will look at the Principles of the Alexander Technique in a practical, fun and experiential way helping you improve your posture, de-stress, ease back ache as well as moving with less effort and tension. The course will run in the lovely spacious Conference Centre as well as in the beautiful garden.
This Walking with the Alexander Technique includes short low level walks in the mornings in the area around Grasmere.
Hilary will be offering 20 min one to one sessions on both Saturday and Sunday from 4 pm at an additional cost.
There will be free time to enjoy the area and just relax and unwind. Glenthorne is just a few minute’s walk from Grasmere village.
This course is suitable for beginners and as a refresher for students of the Alexander Technique as well as Alexander teachers and trainees.
Bring a mat to lie on, a few thin paperback books, walking boots, waterproof jacket and trousers and a rucksack. If you have any walking poles bring them along too and learn how to use them using the Alexander Technique.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:-
All Alexander Technique sessions with Hilary Cook MSTAT a fully qualified, experienced, insured and CRB checked Alexander Teacher teacher.
Three night’s accommodation in twin rooms with full board including tea and freshly made cakes. There is always a vegetarian option available and special dietary needs can usually be catered for but please advise at time of booking.
Most rooms are ensuite but there are a few non-ensuite rooms as well as single rooms available .
12 places available
Cost £435
For further information about the course please contact Hilary
teacher@hilarycookat.co.uk
tel.01748 824160
mob.07941526662
To book a place
please go to www.glenthorne.org
email info@glenthorne.org
tel.015394 35389
A £40 deposit is payable at the time of booking and the balance is due when you are on the course.
Alexander Technique ,Vision and our other senses
Do you ever notice your eyes ? Probably only if they are achey , feel dry or maybe if your vision is blurry.
Do you expect to have 20/20 clear vision all of the time ? If you just stop and think about it this is unreasonable. If you have an illness, are very tired or stressed why should you have 20/20 clear vision. Your eyes are part of your body. You cannot expect to have clear vision all of the time.
Start noticing what you are seeing. Your eyes want you to consciously see what you are looking at not think about something else. look at the photo of the roses really notice each leaf and the petals of each flower. It is very easy not to look at the details of what you are looking at. At the same time be aware of your body, your feet on the ground and your surroundings.
Blurry vision happens when the eye muscles are stressed and when this happens people get their eyes tested and they get some glasses. Your eyes then rely on the glasses and the following year you will probably have to have stronger glasses.
Would you like to change this and work towards weaker glasses or even get rid of glasses? To start with only wear your glasses when you really need them. Notice if you have the habit of putting them on every morning without even thinking do I need to wear them. Obviously only do this in a safe place and not when driving. Notice if there is a change in your vision. It may be blurry to start with but this may change over time.
It is also important to use all of our senses seeing, hearing, touch, taste and smell. It is helpful to be aware of all of them. No one sense is more important than another. When you go for a walk be aware of your body moving, feel your feet on the ground and expand awareness all around you. Also feel the wind on your face, see the leaves on the trees, hear the birds sing and smell the flowers.In the Alexander Technique we call this the means whereby being fully present being aware of our body, our senses and our surroundings.
Workshop for the Woodwind MUSICIANS of the Teesside Orchestra and the Silverwood Band
I taught another workshop with a lovely group of people from the Teesside Symphony Orchestra and the Silverwood Band. They played the flute , clarinet, oboe , bassoon and saxophone . We explored the Alexander Technique and how it helps you play in an easier way with less tension and helps you connect to the audience and reduce stage fright.
Workshop for Stringed instrument musicians fromTeesside SympHony Orchestra
I ran a half day workshop with a lovely group of people from Teesside Symphony Orchestra who played the violin ,viola and cello. Everyone became more aware of how they were sitting, where they held tension, noticing their feet on the floor and expanding awareness around them as they played.
Walking and the Alexander technique
How do you walk? Do you ever think about it? It’s quite a balancing act . We all start to walk at about 1- 1 1/2 years old usually with the odd fall along the way. It is very helpful to notice how you walk start being aware of what you do.
So this is what to do :-
Stop Inhibit and Direct.
Expand awareness around you, feel your feet on the ground. Think up your body.
Notice which leg you usually start with – and try starting with the other one.
Fall into a walk – lead with the top of your forehead.
Swing your arms as if you are power walking.
Twist the upper part of your body not your pelvis
Think of the diagonal connection – your left arm and your right leg go forward at the same time. If you swing your arms faster your legs automatically move faster!
Look ahead, not down on the ground.
Use your peripheral vision and think behind you.
When you turn, move the head first look at something ahead like a curious child and allow your body to follow head leads body follows.
Use your senses feel the wind on your face smell the flowers and hear the rustle of the leaves.
Enjoy walking and moving your body.
1/2 day workshop with 3 Army bands
I taught the Alexander Technique to 21 soldiers who are members of 3 Army bands. Namely The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps, The Band of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Reme Band. The Alexander Technique is taught worldwide in Music Colleges e.g Royal School of Music to help avoid creating pain when playing, improve technique and quality o f playing, having more stage presence and connecting with the audience, gain more control of breathing, and help performance nerves.
The first part of the workshop was looking at the Principles of the Technique in a experiential , practical fun way including Inhibition and Direction, Primary Control and Expanded Awareness
Everyone lay in semi supine and found it very beneficial as it helped them relax and ease any back ache.
We then looked at how people stand or sit when playing their instruments which included a bass trombone, trombones, bugles, trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, electric guitars, tuber, and a flute .
Comments about the workshop:-
Great workshop . Lots to think about and do. Thank you.
I feel relaxed. Have a greater understanding of how my body works.
It was helpful to be conscious of how I move standing and sitting. I found it beneficial having corrections to my posture whilst standing holding my instrument.
Did you know that the Alexander technique can help you during pregancy, childbirth and looking after a new baby?
As you get bigger the centre of gravity goes through your body differently pulling you forward and it can result in low back ache, breathlessness and tiredness.
The Alexander Technique helps you cope with the weight of the growing baby , backache, breathlessness and tiredness. You also learn movements and positions to help and ease natural labour. It also helps your body recover quicker after the birth. Be more balanced by standing with one foot in front of the other .
Being aware how to sit is important as you will probably be sitting more than you usually do. Are you aware of your sitting bones and how your spine is aligned?
It is good to keep exercising as long as you can. Going to a gym and sitting on a bench press using weights is a good way to exercise. A gentle swim or walk in the swimming pool would also be beneficial.
If you are pregnant give Hilary a ring mob. 07941526662 to book a lesson to help you with your pregnancy.
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Residential Alexander Technique and Walking Course in The Lake District 2019
Monday 3rd June – Friday 7th June 2019
to be held at
The Glenthorne Guest House and Conference Centre Easedale Road Grasmere Cumbria LA22 9QH
www.glenthorne.org
Come along and join Hilary in the stunning scenery of the Lake District to explore the Alexander Technique and Walking. The course starts at 5.30 pm on Monday 3rd June and finishes at 12.30 pm on Friday 7th June.
We will look at our skeleton through anatomy and movement discovering a more accurate map of ourselves. In addition we will look at the Principles of the Alexander Technique in a practical, fun and experiential way helping you improve your posture, de-stress, ease back ache as well as moving with less effort and tension. The course will run in the lovely spacious Conference Centre as well as in the garden , weather permitting.
We will also apply the Alexander Technique when we go for gentle walks in the beautiful garden and countryside around Grasmere.
Hilary will be offering one to one sessions on Tuesday 4th June and Wednesday 5th June in the afternoon at an additional cost.
There will be free time to enjoy the area and just relax and unwind. Glenthorne is just a few minute’s walk from Grasmere village.
This course is suitable for beginners and as a refresher for students of the Alexander Technique as well as Alexander teachers and trainees.
Bring a mat to lie on, a few thin paperback books, walking boots, waterproof jacket and trousers and a rucksack. If you have any walking poles bring them along too and learn how to use them using the Alexander Technique.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:-
All Alexander Technique sessions with Hilary Cook MSTAT a fully qualified, experienced, insured and CRB checked Alexander Teacher teacher.
Four night’s accommodation in twin rooms with full board including tea and freshly made cakes. There is always a vegetarian option available and special dietary needs can usually be catered for but please advise at time of booking.
Most rooms are ensuite. There are a few non-ensuite rooms available at a discount of £5 per night.
12 places available
Cost £440
For further information about the course please contact Hilary
teacher@hilarycookat.co.uk
tel.01748 824160
mob.07941526662
To book a place
please go to www.glenthorne.org
email info@glenthorne.org
tel.015394 35389
A £40 deposit is payable at the time of booking and the balance is due when you are on the course.
Alexander Technique and Running
Did you know that you can use the Alexander Technique when you run? It will help you move with ease , improve your performance and prevent injury.
Steph Cook Personal Trainer and Rollerski Instructor taking part in an Ultra Marathon in Berkshire running with ease and poise completing 50.6 km in 5 hours and 50 minutes in 30 degrees. She has had regular Alexander Technique lessons and uses it whilst running leading with her head. She has had no injuries having completed another Ultra Marathon, 6 Marathons and runs regularly.
When you run you really have to move your arms to help your legs move and remember do not hold anything in your hands it will interfere with your use. ( The way you move ).
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