Chronic Pain Ireland (a charity) give talks and workshops around Ireland. Their aim is to provide support and advice to those who are suffering from chronic pain (defined as pain lasting more than three months). It may take up to three years after a referral before a client may see a member of a pain [...]
Thank goodness for cranio-sacral therapists! Last week I cracked a tooth and saw my dentist for some emergency treatment. Forty five minutes and four injections later my tooth had a temporary dressing. But my jaw ached as the anaesthetic wore off and, unusually I was having headaches. Luckily I already had a session booked with my cranio-sacral therapist. She [...]
Sometimes dancers come for Alexander Technique sessions with painful knee problems and flattened arches. Paul Blakey’s ‘The Muscle Book’ is a small but very useful anatomy book for dancers (and others). On page 31 which features the Posterior Tibial muscle, he says ‘Turning out the feet from the ankles rather than the knees causes this muscle to [...]
At my Pilates class today the instructor, Suzanne Griffin said that the muscle that kicks in first works the hardest. We should try to initiate the movements from the smaller muscles first (the ones closest to the torso) so that they come into play to rather than trying to do it all with the bigger more superficial (furthest from the [...]
There are two articles on-line at the moment of interest to parents. Go to www.cuidiucork.net to the Irish Childbirth Society’s newsletter Spring 2013 edition to read Veronique Druesne’s account of how the Alexander Technique helped her with postural pains and RSI on page nine. Entitled ‘Why I Love Alexander Technique’, she says she benefited so much she went on to [...]
Following the talk that I gave as part of the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival, I’ve had requests for a book list (mainly from those who couldn’t attend on the day). ‘Playing with Posture’ by Sue Holladay published by HITE www.hiteltd.co.uk ‘Edukindness’ by Sue Merry and Judith Kleinman www.ed2k.org.uk/resources_and_links.htm ‘The Labyrinth of Gar’ by Sue Merry www.ed2k.org.uk/resources_and_links.htm [...]
In a recent article in the Health supplement of the Irish Times (by Sylvia Thompson) Glenna Batson talked about her preliminary studies on the beneficial effects of the Alexander Technique on older people. You can read the article by following the link below. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/alexander-technique-helps-poise-and-balance-in-older-people-1.1343292 It’s quite exciting to think that the stooped posture and uncertain gait we associate [...]
EDUCATING FOR POSITIVE LIVING Check your Sitting Position Sit at the front of the chair, two feet on the ground. Place a hand under one buttock and feel around until you find the sitting bone. Slip out the hand and notice that you are now aware that the sitting bone is making contact with the [...]
For ideas on how the Alexander Technique can help you with you cycling and your bike in general, read this interesting article by Barry Collins. One of my cycling clients found it very helpful and recommended to me. http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=147 Cycling clients of mine usually come for lessons because they are in pain. One problem is [...]
This is taken from issue no. 22 1996 and expresses the Alexander teacher’s view (Andrea McLaughlin) so well that I’ve trancribed the opening and closing paragraphs. “The Alexander Technique provides a way of feeling more at home with yourself, in your body. I think this must be particularly appealing to sufferers of M.E./CFS, who have [...]