Balance is the key to health and wholeness on many levels. The Alexander Technique develops a dynamic, inner balance that “in-forms” the outer form of whatever activity you are engaged in at the moment. Thus you move more freely, sense more deeply, and think more clearly. It works most apparently with the musculoskeletal system, but differs from forms of physical development such as weight training in that it works from the INSIDE OUT: the mind is engaged in observing unconscious habits, inhibiting those actions, and giving directions that are more closely allied to the body’s natural coordination. The result is awareness of the HOW as well as the WHAT of your activity and the ability to CHANGE habits that are actually interfering with your well-being. Any activity can benefit from Alexander’s work, from sitting, standing, walking to more complex tasks like working at a computer, performing in public, engaging in athletics.

Instruction is both verbal and hands-on, using a gentle, non-manipulative touch. Many have found it relieves pain in areas of chronic tension such as the back, neck, and shoulders, and relieves stress as well.

I trained to teach the Alexander Technique at The Alexander Alliance in Philadelphia, Bruce and Martha Fertman, directors, with additional study at the Sweet Briar Summer Course. I am certified to teach Alexander's work by Alexander Technique International. My previous training was in music: B.A.from Salem College (North Carolina) and M.A. from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a certificate from the Franz Schubert Institut (Austria) for the study of German Art Song (Lieder). I have taught music at the college level for over thirty years, and performed as a soprano soloist in recitals and in oratorio and symphony concerts. At present, I am composing music and performing my show, "In truth, I'm Emily" which features spoken excerpts from the letters of Emily Dickinson and musical settings of her poetry by well-known American composers of the twentieth century. I have a private studio where I teach Alexander's work, and I also teach it at Vanderbilt University and Belmont University. I have given introductory workshops at various universities in the area. I also teach Alexander's work at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville.

A Seeker of Truth, I seek also to lead others to their Truth. The Alexander Technique is one of the tools I have used for personal transformation, and I offer it to others as well. Since Alexander's work deals with the body/mind connection, it functions on various levels. If you wish to find a way to go through your daily activities with less pain, using less effort, then your focus would be on the mind's relation to the physical body in particular. Some choose only this level. But if you are open, you may find, as I have, that the Technique works on the mental, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual levels as well. This should be no surprise, if we really believe in the body/mind/spirit unity. Yet I am often delightfully surprised to find that body/mind/spirit unity is actually functioning in my daily life! By working on our thinking in a very specific and practical way, Alexander's work can have far-reaching results and prove transformative in often surprising ways.

In addition to the Alexander Technique, I also offer energy work. I have finished the three-year Auric Healing Course at the School of Healing Arts here in Nashville, and received training in Healing Touch as well. My spiritual background includes grounding in theology and biblical studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School as well as more esoteric learning. Above all, I believe in anchoring belief in the present moment, and stress the wisdom of reflection on our own experience, rather than appropriating the experience of others.

Group lessons (2 to 6 students @ $30 per student per hour) occur regularly on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM and by arrangement. Individual lessons in the Alexander Technique are also available. I also love to do introductory workshops to groups of up to about 50 people. Most recent workshops include "What Every Runner/Walker Needs to Know about the Body" and "Made in God's Image: Honoring the Body as an Instrument of Faith." Contact me directly for any additional information, or check out my website. Since the Technique is often unfamiliar, I offer free demos in my local area.