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I am currently teaching at MBS Academie in Mougins and at the Pole Santé in PSND. This is my fourth year as a member of the ADMR committee. (Association of dance and medical research) and I’m a longstanding member of ATI France and ATI. (Alexander Technique International)
I began dancing at an early age and trained intensely from the age of 11 at pre-professional dance schools until the age of 18. My training was typically both physically and mentally challenging and one that left me lacking self confidence and with an abundance of muscular tension. There is no doubt it impaired my career choices as well as my daily life. For example, I believe it was a factor in the ceasarian birth of my daughter.
However, this experience generated my curiosity in body mechanics and pedagogy. Introduced to the Alexander Technique during my studies at the University of Surrey, it wasn’t until I’d moved to France when I took regular classes. After using this technique to successfully complete long dance tours and overcome a tendinitis injury I realised how invaluable this information was, not only for dancers but the general public. The way we move and think we should move is often misunderstood and can lead to painful physical conditions such as back pain, headaches and inflamed joints. I also found it helps improve technique since I learnt how to work with my system instead of fighting against it. I signed up to the training course graduating in 1999.
One of the visiting teachers to the course was called David Gorman. I was immediately intrigued by his alternative approach to teaching and his unique insights into the structure and function of humans. He was developing his method called LearningMethods™ which evolved from his own teachings in the Alexander Technique. It was an amazing learning curve and helped to clarify some of the issues I had experienced as a dancer, such as the dangers of wanting to be perfect, of trying to please other people and the frustration of ‘under achieving.’
Through Gorman’s work I came to understand more clearly how our thoughts and ideas are indivisble from our physical functioning. His teaching was groundbreaking and at the forefront of scientific innovation. I studied with him as an apprentice for several years before certifying as a LearningMethods teacher in 2007.
Needless to say my work is inspired by both the Alexander Technique and LearningMethods™ work.
About Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique helps you to identify and lose the harmful habits you have built up over a lifetime of stress. You learn to go about your daily life with a heightened awareness and overall sense of well-being. It is a holistic approach to mind-body use and works towards rediscovering the ease and freedom in movement, so noticeable in small children, that we tend to lose over time. Lessons leave one feeling lighter, freer, and more grounded.
You can find out more about me here:
