Frequently asked questions

• What is the Alexander Technique
  The Alexander Technique is a profoundly simple, educational process for learning to improve freedom and ease of movement while regaining natural coordination. The Technique teaches the use of the appropriate amount of effort for a particular activity, giving you more energy for all your activities.
• Who was Marjorie Barstow?
  Marjorie Barstow was the first graduate from F.M. Alexander's first teacher training course in 1934 and continued teaching worldwide, until her death at the age of 95.
• What is the Barstow Tradition?
  Marjorie Barstow was an innovative teacher of the Alexander Technique. Her style of teaching was light, precise, and joyful. She asked her students to take an active part in the learning process; to think, to experiment, and to stick to the principles discovered by F.M. Alexander. What she did to help students apply Alexander's discoveries seemed created in the moment, specifically for that student and situation. She always sought simpler, more practical ways to communicate her understanding and love of the Technique, and the teachers at the Barstow Institute feel happily challenged to continue her tradition.
• How will I benefit from studying the Alexander Technique?
  Those who study the Alexander Technique learn how to:         
  reduce tension and stress in everyday activities 
  enhance performance skills (such as dancing, singing, playing an instrument, acting, and athletics) 
  prevent injuries and fatigue 
  help relieve chronic pain 
  produce more efficient movement 
  improve posture, coordination, and self-image 
  increase energy and self-awareness 
  allow for greater efficiency in movement
• Who should come to the Summer Workshop?
  This workshop is designed both for those who are new to the Alexander Technique and for anyone interested in refining their understanding and practical applications of the Technique. The emphasis of this workshop is on facilitating each student's ability to confidently apply the Alexander Technique in all their activities. Each student will gain a greater awareness of how to move efficiently while learning to free themselves of unnecessary tension. The Technique is taught through verbal exchange, delicate hands-on guidance, and observation.