After living and working in West Wales for some years, Gail is now back in Richmond and is launching her new practice in North Yorkshire and Co Durham. She works principally through one-to-one sessions with her students, which allows her to address each person's needs individually, and she is offering these private sessions at her clinics in Richmond and Northallerton.
In addition, Gail is arranging a series of 'Taster' workshops throughout North Yorkshire and Co Durham in early 2012. There are two different workshops: a general one, and another tailored to the needs of people involved in the performing arts.
Click for a full list of 'taster' workshop dates and locations
NEWS: Alexander Technique Public Speaking courses
Gail now offers individual courses to help people overcome physical, emotional and psychological blocks to their becoming an effective speaker.
More about the Alexander Technique Public Speaking course
What is Alexander Technique?
Unhelpful and unconscious postural and emotional habits can, over time, cause distortions in the body which are often the underlying cause of many back, neck, joint or stress problems. Until we address these unconscious habits, such distortions can only become more entrenched and cause us more and more restrictions as the years go by.
With the help of an Alexander Technique teacher, the pupil/student can become aware of his/her individual habit pattern and can then both 'unlearn' the habitual misuse and 're-learn' the original balanced and effortless posture and good use of the body with which we were all born. For performers, of course, there is the added bonus of improved performance potential, as the body rids itself of the detrimental postural restrictions. For Alexander students, whether performers or not, the usual experience in the body as they progress with sessions is one of more freedom, more balance, more mobility, less pain, less strain, less effort and a general sense of wellbeing. read more...
How can it help me?
Although it isn't appropriate for everyone, the Alexander Technique can help people with a wide range of physical and stress-related problems, not just bad backs. The site includes personal experiences from many of Gail's students of how the Alexander Technique has helped them in various ways, often completely transforming their lives. read more...
Is it effective?
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL REPORT ON BACK-PAIN TREATMENTS AUGUST 2008
Recent clinical trials by Portsmouth and Bristol Universities looked at the effectiveness of the Alexander Technique and were published in the British Medical Journal(BMJ 2008;337:a884). The research covered 579 patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain in England, and looked into the comparative long-term effectiveness of a number of back-pain treatments over a timespan of 12 months.
Treatments tested were:
- normal NHS care (painkillers, physiotherapy, etc)
- massage
- Alexander Technique
- prescription for exercise from a doctor with nurse delivered behavioural counselling.
According to
the results published in the BMJ and widely reported in the news, the group who had undertaken Alexander Technique sessions was by far the most successful group in
terms of eliminating/extensively reducing their back pain and had by
far the the best record for KEEPING the pain at bay once sessions had
finished. They concluded:
"One to one lessons in the Alexander technique from registered teachers have long term benefits for patients with chronic back pain...and quality of life improved significantly."
read the full report. (opens in new window/tab)
After several injuries to my knees and ankles, I had to give up work and was told nothing could be done and I was to curtail my life according to my disabilities... I was close to becoming disabled for life.
Now after Alexander Technique, my life is back to normal!... I felt I was written off but now I feel I have a new lease of life.
Read more testimonials from some of the hundreds of people Gail has helped through the Alexander Technique.
How can I learn the Technique?
Gail offers individual Alexander Technique sessions at her clinics in Richmond and Northallerton. From time to time there are also public courses for small groups, and workplace sessions can also be arranged. read more...
How much does it cost?
The course fee for a half-hour session is £35.
Want to learn more?
Please telephone Gail on 01748 823323 if you would like to discuss how she may be able to help you.
Gail Barlow is the Director of Dolphin Alexander Courses, which she set up in 1990 after completing the three-year full-time Alexander Technique Teacher Training Course and qualifying as a Teacher of the F M Alexander Technique.
Gail is an experienced teacher who has worked with over 2,000 people in the UK, France and Greece.
She is a Member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT), which was founded in 1958 and is the oldest and largest professional body of Alexander Technique teachers in the world.
