Alexander Technique Studio (Graz) is planning to start a three-year teacher training course in April 2020. The course provides all the training required to be come a fully qualified Alexander Technique teacher, with certification recognised by the the Austrian Society of the Alexander Technique (Gesellschaft für FM Alexander-Technik Österreich). The training provides over 1,600 hours, with a minimum 1:4 teacher:student ratio, running Mondays to Thursdays.

The emphasis throughout the course is on learning the means-whereby for exploring your own use. The purpose is to develop sensory appreciation through inhibition and direction and to apply this process to hands-on work.

The Director of Training is Jean M. O. Fischer (teaching since 1987), assisted by Regina Stratil (teaching since 2014).

Details about the training course – our approach, the structure, term dates, how to apply – can be found on Teacher Training > Overview.

The Wiener Ausbildungszentrum für Alexander-Technik (WAAT) has invited Jean Fischer to teach at the teachers training course in Vienna approximately once month. Jean will also have some slots for private lessons available, if you are interested, please contact Jean directly.

The next dates are:

• Monday 23rd September 2019
• Wednesday 23rd October 2019
• Tuesday 19th November 2019

The new “Batwoman” series features the Australian actress and model Ruby Rose, who uses the Alexander Technique. In answer as to how she differentiates Kate Kane (Batman’s Gotham-dwelling crime-fighting cousin, Kate Kane, who is, notably, a lesbian) from Batwoman, she replies, “When I do fight sequences and stunts as Batwoman, I do the Alexander Technique, where we study the bat and study the movement. Even the head movements are kind of batlike, so it feels like two different people.”

The full article is in the New York Times.

Thursday, 3rd October 2019, 7.00-8.30 pm or
Saturday, 16th November 2019, 10.30-12.00 noon

The Alexander Technique is about moving, sitting, standing more easily and freely in everyday life. Frequently we are using much more tension and effort than necessary in many day-to-day activities, and many people end up with aches and pain, for example back pain. The Alexander Technique is a very different approach, yet ultimately very simple. It is not a treatment, there are no exercises nor do you need any special equipment. We are retraining how we are using ourselves – our body and mind – in everyday activities. In this short workshop we will introduce some fundamental principles of the Technique via some practical demonstrations; we will look at some basic movements, and you will learn about a different way of sitting which is better for your back.

Who
Jean Fischer, assisted by Regina Stratil
Language: predominantly English

Fees and booking
Fee: €20 (per person and date)
Booking: jean@atstudio.at (Tel.: 0316/319468)
Max. 5 participants

When
Thursday, 3rd October 2019, 7.00-8.30 pm or
Saturday, 16th November 2019, 10.30-12.00 noon
(same workshop on two different dates)

Where
Alexander-Technik Studio Graz
Harrachgasse 4/2 (1. OG rechts)
8010 Graz
Styria
Austria

This Autumn (from 9th October) Regina is again offering an introduction to the Alexander Technique at VHS Graz. This is a ten week introductory group course, which will run (if there are enough enrolments) on Wednesdays from 6:00-6:50pm in the new VHS building in Köflacher Gasse 7, 8020 Graz. Everybody welcome!
More information and how to book at the VHS website.

In Spring 2020 the course is scheduled to be repeated, starting 12th February 2020.

A nice article on the Alexander Technique has just been published in the print version of Medico no. 3, 2019, with one of our colleagues at GATOE in Vienna giving a short introduction.

There is also an online article article which includes a 3-minute video at www.kurier.at.

In the San Francisco Classical Voice Mezzo J’Nai Bridges talks about the varied demands on an Opera singer for a role like Carmen. “I knew that this role was a vocal marathon, but I did not quite anticipate how much of a physical marathon it is as well.” She says in this production “I am bending down, rolling on the floor, being pushed, and dancing — all to be very conscious of, because the voice is affected by these movements.” Bridges credits the Alexander Technique for “improved posture and movement, which is believed to have helped reduce and prevent problems caused by bad habits. This also tremendously helps me sing with less tension.”

Read the full article here.

The physical and mental demands on professional musicians are similar to those of athletes. But this is rarely acknowledged. Musicians frequently turn to the Alexander Technique to adapt and cope with these demands.

This article reports on the University of Colorado’s Musicians’ Wellness Program which has been running since 2003, using the Alexander Technique.

KUNC news station online.