Benefits of the Alexander Technique...some personal testimonials
A.T. for the Performing Arts
Actors
Joan M, Theatre Director / Fellow in Voice and Performance
Having had some Alexander Technique in Cardiff, I had a wonderful sense with Gail of being 're-bodied' how you should be - a sense of release, particularly in the spine and joints plus a recovering of an awareness of the mind/body connection, which is normally lost in the stress of life and unconscious bad habits.
The nice thing is that the muscular and mental adjustments necessary are terribly small to have a very large, deep and lasting effect. In the end, Alexander Technique is great value for money; people don't think twice about spending money on their car or their hair, but this has a lasting effect on the body and mind forever, saving pain and distress and lost time.
Over many years of teaching and directing, I realise that many students, as well as professional actors and singers I have worked with, have postural and movement difficulties underlying their breathing and voice problems. If they attend Alexander lessons, then we have a mutual understanding of structural problems and can make very swift progress with voice development.
For the kind of performances I direct, I need performers who have a real understanding of the coordination of body, breath, emotion and voice. I can usually tell if they have studied Alexander Technique, as this flexibility and awareness is evident. The wear on the body-system for performers is much greater than in 'everyday life' - and the extra support Alexander Technique offers is very helpful in preventing or reversing bad physical or vocal habits, whether as a musician, singer or actor.
I find Gail's teaching creative, sensitive and very focused and I have no hesitation in recommending her work, especially for performers.
Ceri, Actress
I love the way the body thinks for itself.
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Musicians
Nick A, Drummer
Alexander Technique changed everything I did. Here's how I used to sit to play drums and here's what changed! As part of my general Alexander Technique course, I learned how to play comfortably and found I could also play faster like this!
Neil, Guitarist
My long-term elbow injury hurts less already. After three very short group sessions with Gail, I could feel the difference and continuing with it now, I can feel it undoubtedly makes my life better and more enjoyable.
Adrian, Drummer
I can finally sit up straight without it hurting. I am no longer slumping to play and it feels so much more natural now. Gail's sessions worked really well for me.
Will, Pianist & Singer
It was excellent. Gail is very positive and clear, not at all wishy-washy. The differences are instant, in that you can apply them straightaway to playing and singing. It was an all round very good start and I look forward to learning more.
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Singers
Caroline J, Retired Social Worker
I always wanted to sing but I was under-confident, especially about the deeper notes. I had no confidence, my voice was thin and reedy, I couldn't keep in time, I couldn't always keep in tune and I felt out of breath all the time I was singing.
As part of my Alexander Technique sessions for my slipped disc and stiff neck, I wanted to apply the Technique to singing. Because of Gail's belief in me and because she built up my technical and performance skills, I can now sing in tune, in time, my voice is much richer, including the deep notes and my breathing just comes naturally.
The improvement and Gail's encouragement built up my self-belief, so that recently I performed solo and unaccompanied in our local show in front of 60 people! It was a great success and people still stop me in the street to say how much they enjoyed it.
Gail is a relaxed and friendly teacher. She teaches with good humour, is welcoming and has an infinite capacity to explain, which suited my personality.
Linda CJ, PR/Marketing Consultant
Alexander Technique has made a difference to my life in all sorts of positive ways. But in particular it has improved my singing voice considerably and has enabled me to develop into a confident main lead member of the B Natural Barbershop Chorus.
Linda G, Homoeopath and Music Teacher
I got lots from my one session with Gail. I've noticed a huge difference in relation to posture and particularly in the quality of my singing voice; the posture had really affected my vocal cords. Also, I had a couple of headaches coming on, but when I carried out the procedures Gail had shown me, they went!
She is very clear and informative and I would certainly recommend her work.
Jane M, Aromatherapist and Ex-Radiographer
With Alexander Technique, there's a huge difference in my speaking voice and in my singing voice and that's increased my confidence as well.
Gail is a highly skilled teacher who brings humour and sensitivity to her sessions.
Jo, Teacher
I had a general tightness everywhere but particularly in my throat. After Alexander Technique with Gail, my throat is less tight now and my singing is much better and more enjoyable. I don't feel I'm going to run out of breath or sound squeaky or feel strained. It has helped my breathing and when I'm singing I concentrate a lot on that. The result is that my back feels stronger and my singing feels supported, which is great.
Lynda, Computer Science Lecturer
I feel much more relaxed and centred in my body. Gail's teaching is informative and fun. I would recommend her sessions generally and for singers; I found there was a dramatic difference in my singing as we worked.
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Dancers
Jess, Contemporary Dancer
Alexander Technique has helped me to start correcting things before I got into bad dance habits. Posturally, I always have a strong neutral position to start from and it has helped me hugely with the mind/body connection, which is so important in dance. I use the Technique all the time to inform my dance training.
Since studying Alexander Technique, I find that over time my body has taught me how I need to sit, stand and move and if I don't do that, I feel uncomfortable. It's a kind of 'constant learning', in that I didn't used to be aware of it and now I find slouching, etc is actually uncomfortable.
With Alexander Technique I have learned that I can re-learn good habits and that it is all connected, e.g. tension in the neck and in the jaw affects the whole body. Alexander Technique has taught me to be more connected and to maintain alignment; I think about the head, neck and spine as a lengthening unit now rather than as disjointed disconnected bits.
Gail is a very open, fun and exuberant teacher with a genuine passion for Alexander Technique who uses great images and loads of enthusiasm to share her knowledge of the Technique. She makes everything clear and uncomplicated and has taught me how to apply Alexander Technique to everyday tasks as well as to more specialised areas of my life, including dance and horse riding.
Nigel, IT Consultant
My back had stopped me from dancing altogether. I had lost my flexibility and finally my back had seized up in terms of dancing. Now with Alexander Technique I am dancing again! I'm lighter on my feet, have more flexibility than before and I'm really enjoying it again.
Gail is an effective, personable and friendly teacher who is easy to follow.
Suzanne, Reflexologist
I love to dance but before Alexander Technique with Gail and a new hip it had become impossible. I have now taken up African dance which is testingly energetic, but by putting into practice the principles of Alexander Technique I am amazed how easy it has become and how much more energy is available as a result! And I am far from being in the first flush of youth!
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Martial Arts
Sue, Counsellor & T'ai Chi Instructor
The principles of Alexander Technique I learned with Gail are compatible with T'ai Chi as it has helped me to move more fluidly in the T'ai Chi movement sequences and to free up my breathing.
Jo, Teacher
Alexander Technique helps me so much with Kung Fu, T'ai Chi and Chinese Dance. I have learned from Gail how to have a strong back, to be connected and flexible, to be able to lower my centre of gravity, to be able to focus on my breathing and to understand that all movements are connected in every part of the body, e.g. a simple hand movement might originate from the back.
In the Chinese Dragon Festival procession, I was carrying the head of the dragon, which is extremely heavy. Without Alexander Technique this would have been very hard work and I would have over-used my shoulders. By using Alexander Technique, however, it was manageable and I could still enjoy the dance as the procession moved through the town.
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Yoga
Zilla, Yoga Teacher
I have done a little Alexander Technique with Gail and it has made me even more aware of my body and my posture, for instance, I'm sitting comfortably upright now. I would definitely recommend Alexander Technique.
Gail is an excellent, cheerful and happy teacher. She really does put it across well and is always smiling. It makes such a difference!
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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.
