THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE CENTRE IRELAND

The centre offers a wide range of training from individual lessons to a three year teacher training programme.

It has two aims: firstly, to train Alexander Technique teachers by providing the required three year course, and secondly, to provide an opportunity to those who benefit from the Technique to visit for shorter periods to deepen their understanding of it, without necessarily qualifying to be a teacher.

The Alexander Technique Training Programme is the first and still the only one in Ireland. The college was set up in 1998 and is approved by the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) and the Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (ISATT).

The Director of Training is Richard Brennan, and the Assistant Director is Glenna Batson.

A completely different kind of education

"It is now possible to conceive of a totally new type of education affecting the entire range of human activity, from the physiological, through the intellectual, moral, and practical, to the spiritual... The Alexander Technique gives us all the things we have been looking for in a system of physical education; relief from strain due to maladjustment and consequent improvement in physical and mental health; and along with this a heightening of consciousness on all levels. We cannot ask more from any system; nor, if we seriously desire to alter human beings in a desirable direction, can we ask any less?"
Aldous Huxley

What is the Alexander Technique?

The Alexander Technique is used throughout the world for a great many reasons. For example you may be one of the millions of people who suffer regularly from backache, a stiff neck, headaches, arthritis or other symptoms for which there seems to be no answer. The Alexander Technique does not set out to cure specific symptoms, but it does help you to uncover and change the harmful and unconscious habitual patterns, which all too often are the underlying cause of your problem.

Or you may be suffering from stress as a result of work, or for domestic reasons. The Technique will help you look more closely at your reactions in everyday situations, and enable you to see for yourself how you contribute to the build-up of excessive tension in your life. By changing the way you react to various situations you can drastically reduce your stress levels, thus reducing the likelihood of high blood pressure, stomach ulcers or even heart attacks and strokes.

Perhaps you have pain or discomfort without knowing why. The technique can help you to see that it could be your postural habits which are the root cause of your problem. You may be pregnant and want to look after your body in order to give your baby and yourself the best chance of a healthy pregnancy and a natural and easier birth.

If you are a musician, actor, dancer, singer or sports person, you rely on your body to function at its peak efficiency. The Alexander Technique will provide you with a means of releasing excessive tension, enabling you to perform much closer to your maximum ability with minimum effort. It is interesting to note that many of the main music and drama colleges now include the Alexander Technique as part of their curriculum. In fact the Alexander Technique can improve your performance, whatever your chosen activity.

Even if you are in good health, you can use the Alexander Technique to increase your awareness and take more responsibility for your mental and physical wellbeing. You can use it to discover more about yourself, make more conscious choices, and prevent ill health later on in life.

These are only some of the more common applications, and in fact the Technique can be used by practically anyone to improve the functioning of the entire body. The benefits are enormous - not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. In short the Technique will help you to be more aware of any action you perform thus enabling you to live in the present moment.

The Three-Year Teacher Training

"I couldn't have hoped for better people or a better place to have trained. Thank you so much."

Brian MacNamara, now an Alexander teacher in Dublin

"I have found that everyone on the course without exception has been touched in a profound way. It has given me great respect of myself."

Frederico Betti, now an Alexander teacher in Clare

"Definitely the best three years of my life!"

Sarah Compton, now an Alexander teacher in Leitrim

"This course has been a life saver for me. I had tried lots of different remedies and ways, but somehow life had closed in. The support and friendship that I have received on the course has been invaluable. The technique has also freed me from backache, something I would not have believed possible."

Pádraig Ó Fátharta, now an Alexander teacher in Connemara, Galway

"I have had the most interesting three years of my life."

Maria O'Neill, now an Alexander teacher in Kildare

"The course has made me stronger in myself."

Caroline Martin, now an Alexander teacher in Roscommon

"Congratulations on your 100% success rate in training Alexander teachers. It is a wonderful achievement and a testimony to the outstanding quality of the teaching at the college. I am so grateful for the unconditional support that I have received during the course, thank you so much for giving me the space to be me."

Niall Kelly, now an Alexander teacher in Limerick

"I have learned what it means to be truly present, I have learned to let go of the feeling that I need to achieve something or think that I am right, or better than my fellow human beings in order to have a sense of self-worth. But most of all I have learned not to separate myself into segments and now I feel whole again. I have also learned that there is much more to be learned and am now enjoying the journey of self-discovery."

Stephanie McDonald, now an Alexander Teacher in Clare

"I love the work - it is so refreshing."

Veronique Druesne, now an Alexander teacher in Cork

"Best three years of my life, special place, special people. Learnt more than I ever expected, simply life changing. Keep up the good work. As a job it is also one of the most rewarding, to see people change over a course of lessons or on a weekend workshop is very special."

Martina Maloney, now an Alexander teacher in Mullingar.

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Ireland's only Alexander Technique Teacher Training Course

The fundamental purpose of the course is to facilitate learning the Alexander Technique in an atmosphere of enjoyment and exploration, so that you can develop the skills to be able to teach the technique confidently to others. This is a hugely enriching and rewarding experience.

It is also possible to join the course for a day, a week or a term if you do not want to teach, but just want to learn for your own personal benefit.

The course and certification is internationally recognised and the aim of the directors is to make this course the best in Europe, so we invite the most experienced and stimulating teachers from all over the world. This gives a rich mixture of experiences and teaching techniques over the duration of the course. As a result, students from many different countries are attracted to study here, including so far: Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, UK, and USA. People who live outside the EU who wish to do the course can contact the centre for details about how to obtain a visa.

As well as learning the fundamental principles of the Technique such as awareness, choice and freedom of movement, you will learn practical anatomy and physiology, voice work, and how to improve breathing naturally. Throughout the course there will be an interesting discussion each week on a topic drawn from Alexander's books.

Other books on the technique and related subjects will also be studied and discussed. Interaction between the individuals in the group is also used as a preparation for presenting and speaking about the Technique in one's own individual style, with confidence and openness. Students will gain awareness of the possible emotional effects of Alexander work, and how to deal with them. The student's progress is assessed in an on-going way, both practically and by means of some written work. Many musicians and performers are attracted to this course because of the dynamic and lively atmosphere.

As part of their study second and third years students attend a week long residential course in Dublin where they work on members of the public who are new to the technique. There is also a weekly student clinic where third year students work on members of the public with little or no previous experience of the Technique.

The course runs for just over three years and each year consists of 30 weeks, divided into three terms - autumn, spring and summer. The college is open from Tuesday afternoon until Friday lunchtime.

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