Tag Archives: spine

Group Courses

6 WEEK INTRODUCTORY ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE COURSE IN SKEEBY NEAR RICHMOND NORTH YORKSIRE

Do you have backache? Are you stressed?

Worried about your posture? Do you have tired eyes?

Then come along to a practical , experiential course to learn how to ease backache, de-stress and relax your eyes helping improve your posture and vision.

Starts on TUESDAY 12th SEPTEMBER at SKEEBY VILLAGE HALL SKEEBY, RICHMOND, NORTH YORKSHIRE

10 am to 11.30 am

Book for the course cost £80

Drop in spaces subject to availability £15/week

Payment by cash or BACS at the time of booking.

Bring along a mat and a few paperback books and wear loose fitting clothes trousers or leggings. Also bring a bottle of water.

This course is suitable for everyone from beginners to students who have some experience of the Alexander Technique

Group Courses, Taster Workshops

INTRODUCTORY ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP AT ROMALDKIRK Nr. BARNARD CASTLE CO.DURHAM

Do you have backache ? Are you stressed?

Worried about your posture?

Then come along to a practical and experiential course to learn how to ease backache, de-stress, helping you improve your posture and move in an easy way with less effort

TUESDAY 18th APRIL 2023

at Romaldkirk Reading and Recreation Rooms

Romaldkirk Nr. Barnard Castle Co.Durham

10.30am to 12.30pm

Cost £20 including refreshments (payable when booking)

HILARY COOK MSTAT

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER

For further information and to book a place

please contact Hilary

Tel.01748 824160 Mob.07941 526662

Email:teacher@hilarycookat.yahoo.co.uk

 www.hilarycookAT.co.uk

Hilary is a fully qualified, experienced and insured Alexander Technique Teacher having completed 3 year’s full time training in 2000. She is a Professional teaching member of The Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT)

Group Courses, Taster Workshops

INTRODUCTORY ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE WORKSHOPS AT THE STATION RICHMOND NORTH YORKSHIRE

Do you have backache ? Are you stressed?

Worried about your posture?

Then come along to a practical and experiential course to learn how to ease backache, de-stress, helping you improve your posture and move in an easy way with less effort.

MONDAY 17th APRIL 2023

at The Station Richmond North Yorkshire DL10 4LD

9.20am -10.50am

11.05 am-12.35 pm

Cost £15/session (payable when booking)

HILARY COOK MSTAT

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE TEACHER

To book a place please contact Hilary

Tel.01748 824160 Mob.07941526662 Email:teacher@hilarycookat.yahoo.co.uk

Group Courses

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.

 

Presentations

Presentation to Bedale Cookies W.I.

I gave a presentation about the Alexander Technique to 20 members of Bedale Cookies W.I. on Wednesday 8th June.

They were intrigued when I started with 3 scenarios asking 2 members of the audience to participate.  Firstly one lady had to pretend to use a mobile phone and walk to a table and write down a message, secondly I sat playing my guitar and thirdly a lady stood and sat a couple of times.

What was the connection between these activities??

It is how you use your body, your use as F.M. Alexander called it. Alexander discovered that there is a connection between your head, neck and back and they have to be coordinated for your body to move in an easy effortless way.

The talk was very successful with people asking many questions and showing lots of interest in lessons and my Introductory Alexander Technique Day Workshop at Old Sleningford Farm North Stainley near Ripon on 31st July.

 

 

 

Daily reminder

Noticing your body and expanding your awareness!

In standing just stop and notice your body thinking down your spine through your pelvis, down your legs to your feet. Feel the floor below your feet. Then think back up your body growing up like a tree. Your head is like a ping pong ball floating at the top of your spine.

Now expand your awareness all around you. Look ahead being aware of your peripheral vision, think above your head up to the sky, think behind you (if this is difficult place a hand on your low back and notice it) and then think out to the sides.

Expanding your awareness in this way enhances your nervous system.

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Daily reminder

How is your head balancing on your spine?

Notice how your head is balancing on top of your spine imagine it’s like a ping pong ball just floating.

Look straight at a mirror then  put a finger in the hollow at the back of  each ear and slowly nod your head. Notice where the movement is happening, this is your head neck joint. If this joint is tight it will affect your overall use, the way you move. Imagine space in the joint and fill it with oil. Doing this regularly will help you get more awareness of the atlanto occipital joint (head neck joint).

Daily reminder

Lying in semi supine

Semi supine
Semi supine is a daily practice that helps to improve your posture and calm your mind.

Why lie in semi supine? What are the benefits?

Your spine will re align itself

If you are stressed with adrenalin in your bloodstream semi supine gives your body the opportunity to remove it and let your body return to normal.

You stop which really is a challenge in the busy world everyone lives in .

You can practice your Alexander Technique Directions, Preventative thoughts.

When you get up in the morning your discs you have between most of your vertebra are fully pumped up but by lunchtime because of gravity all the liquid from the discs moves to the surrounding tissue. Lie in semi supine for 15-17 minutes and the liquid is reabsorbed. Remember to drink enough water because if you are dehydrated your discs will suffer.

Doing daily semi supine is a good way of helping to look after your back.

How do I do semi supine? It’s also known as Active Rest

Lie on a mat on the floor with your knees bent and you hands resting gently on your hips elbows out to the sides. Your head is resting on books so it is in line with your body. Be aware of the room, daylight, noises, the smell of flowers in the room using your senses. Keep your eyelids open.

Notice the contact of the floor below your feet, shoulder blades and pelvis and notice the books below your head.

Think the Alexander Directions as you lie there :-

Your neck is sinking down, the top of your head is moving away. Think along your spine asking it to lengthen and widen. Imagine your elbows are moving away from each other.

Think along your collar bones ask them to go out to the sides as you widen across the tops of the arms.

Think up thighs and shins to knees then up strings which go up from your knees to the ceiling.

Lie for 15 minutes daily.

Slowly get off the floor with awareness, standing and let 60% of your weight go through your heels. Scan your body and notice how you feel.