My Story
I am a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique.
As well as having a private practice, I work as an Alexander Technique practitioner in a chronic pain team in the NHS.
I am extremely passionate and determined about sharing this transformative technique which I discovered after over a decade of debilitating and chronic back pain & sciatica.
How it started
I had tried everything else: physiotherapy; osteopathy, acupuncture; core strengthening exercise and Pilates. However, I found that the exercises made my back feel even tighter and weaker and I found myself in recurring and lengthy cycles of pain cycle of pain which began to dominate my life. Having already had spinal surgery, I was informed that a spinal fusion would be the next step. I decided to give the Alexander Technique a go instead.
My first session
During the session, I found that the muscle tension that I had felt so unrelentingly in my lower back reduced significantly and my whole body felt so much less strained and more at ease. As sessions progressed, I began to see that my patterns of excessive muscular tension and how I was holding myself and moving in general was having a harmful effect on my spine and musculature.
Where I am now
It is now several years now since I started the Technique. I have learned how to have so much more control over my back by gaining a greater understanding of what I was doing (unconsciously) that was causing the problems I experienced for so long.
My musculature has gradually re-balanced so that the muscles that were so chronically over-working are doing less, and the muscles that were not doing enough have engaged. The Technique is not a quick fix. However, my back feels significantly stronger and the positive changes I have experienced have been enduring. In particular, I have not experienced sciatica since I started which has been a great relief. I have also experienced psychological benefits and a positive change in my well-being.
My training
After over 20 years in the civil service and legal roles in the NHS, I was so impressed and inspired by the Technique that I decided to train as a practitioner so that I could share it with others.
I completed my three-year training at the Constructive Teaching Centre in London.
I have also also completed specialised training for people living with chronic pain and for people living with Parkinson's disease.