What Clients Say
These are the comments and testimonials that I have received from clients. As you will see the benefits are wide ranging and sometimes life changing - from reduced pain be it back, neck or shoulder pain, being calmer and less stressed to becoming more active again such as walking further or returning to sports or hobbies.
Gill - Improved posture
Thank you for all the wonderful Alexander Technique lessons I have received. I can’t believe what a journey this has been after initially seeking help with posture issues resulting in back and shoulder pain, who knew I would leave with a newly found self confidence from a whole new way of holding myself and just being. Strong and confident and no pain to boot. I would highly recommend your sessions to anyone and can already see others reaping the benefits of my recommendation!
Gill Stuart Feb 24
Lisa - referred by her neurologist
Helen - Refresher Sessions
Helen Bolton
I have been a student of the Alexander Technique for many years and went to see Kim for a refresher (it’s not always possible to work out how you are misusing your body). Kim assessed where I was, listened and then made many good suggestions. I’ll be back for an MOT next year! Thanks Kim!!
How to get the most benefit from exercise
Exercise and the Alexander Technique:
A Pupil Offers Suggestions
by Bob Kahn, PhD
Bob is a medical writer living in the northwest of England. For the past nine months he has been a pupil of Kim Cant MSTAT.
Why exercise?
As we age, it is important to exercise in order to move efficaciously, avoid falls and keep our bodies and minds in good shape. However, what kind of exercise is appropriate with the guidance of the Alexander Technique? Being over 80 now, this is not a casual question for me nor for many others, but a life-promoting or life-threatening issue. Therefore, I suggest each exercise should be linked to a key question: Is the exercise compatible with Alexander Technique experience? Let’s treat the Alexander Technique as a guide for which exercises are most appropriate given our age and hopes.
What exercise will work best for me?
How we move, sit and stand impacts how well we live as human beings. Alexander Technique teaches clearly that first, we need to learn to stop and inhibit certain habits, and only then begin to consciously develop new healthier ways to link together our necks, heads and spines. Any good exercise should help us to be aware of ourselves, with our feet firmly on the ground, our posture upright, but not rigid, and our muscles relaxed. You should decide for yourself how best to exercise. Whatever exercise you choose, you need to keep asking: Is this exercise (or what the exercise teacher is asking me to do) in keeping with the principles of the Alexander Technique? Is this exercise helping specific parts of my body to be free? Bad habits can arise from bad exercises.
When and where should I exercise?
I do not find that exercising alone works for me. I much prefer an exercise class with a small number of people who support each other, with a teacher who explains which muscles and bones are strengthened or endangered by specific exercises. I know that learning the Alexander Technique is best done on a one-on-one basis between a teacher and a pupil. However, once you have learned the basic principles of the Alexander Technique, you need to apply those principles throughout the day, becoming aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your own muscles and bones. Sitting in front of a computer for more than an hour without moving around is not a good idea. Moreover, when sitting it is helpful to place against the back a rubber ball with spikes, pushing the ball against the back of the chair to reduce pressure and improve posture.
How should I exercise?
Learning to walk properly is a great form of exercise. Aiming for 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day is a sensible target, but such a bold goal has to be approached slowly rather than slavishly. Walking with Nordic poles exercises the top half of the body well, especially the shoulders and arms. I find that one exercise class a week is not enough and the Alexander Technique fits well with Tai Chi and Qi Gong and aerobic exercise generally, if performed slowly.
Go to it!
I have found it helpful to look upon all exercise as a hierarchy with Alexander Technique at the top of the pyramid. For me, that pyramid descends from Qigong and Tai Chi, to aerobic exercise (slowly) and walking. Many years ago, my wife and I found Alexander Technique helped to resolve back problems. But now I have discovered that Alexander Technique is important for the whole body and mind. If we each pause and reflect BEFORE we start to move, we will move differently with fewer bad habits, more purpose and perhaps slower as well.
Yvonne - now takes fewer painkillers for her back pain
On a visit to my GP last summer after enduring chronic back pain for some weeks, she suggested that I try the Alexander Technique rather than serious painkillers. I found Kim's website and made an initial appointment. I had not researched Alexander Technique prior to visiting Kim so went with a completely open mind. I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis but knew that the back pain was not related to the existing condition. I have not looked back and now understand how important posture and balance really are.
Read more: Yvonne - now takes fewer painkillers for her back pain
Richard - improved management of back pain
I have suffered with lower back pain for more than 15 years, caused by a herniated disc.
I had traction, physio and ultimately a spinal injections, none of which provided long lasting relief.
I discovered the Alexander Technique about 5 years after my injury.
This allowed me to live a pretty normal life with much less pain and many more capabilities.
For 10 years I did not require any medical intervention.
Suzy - Long term benefits, less back pain
Suzy came to my 5 week introductory group class & 5 week follow on class over 2 years ago & I recently interviewed her about her ongoing experiences of learning the Alexander Technique
“Better knowledge of anatomy & how I move. Awareness of body movement and posture. How you do things and generating new good habits that are better. You start to feel better and then if you do things that are not in such a good way you notice it as it starts to hurt or feels uncomfortable.
The follow on was a good reminder and practical based on the way I use my body in everyday activities.”
I then asked her the long term benefits:
Ruth - neck pain has improved
Ruth attended evening classes
I have long term neck and shoulder problems, so thought I’d give it a try.
The classes were fun. We did lots of guided practice together, as well as being taught about the techniques.
By the end of the course I had reduced my painkillers, and regained some height.
I would recommend it, even for the fit and healthy, to keep themselves that way.
Glad I did it. The classes were good, and I’m still using what I learned.
Ruth recently attended a refresher evening which was 6 years after her initial sessions. She is now completely off her painkillers and enjoying an active retirement, regularly walking and cycling.
Margaret H - making life easier
I found I was very relaxed after my first Alexander Technique session. The sessions have shown me how to work my body correctly. To hold my head in balance, to take the strain off my shoulders and to lengthen the spine.
Margaret B - problems with walking after accident
August 2015
I was already a student of Kim's when I fell off a bike and broke my
kneecap in February. I was in a cast from ankle to mid thigh and
partially weight bearing on crutches. Kim assessed my walking and guided
me in how to walk on my crutches in a more balanced way.
Over the next few months, the walking techniques Kim had taught me previously, I
was able to re learn how to walk without a limp.
Read more: Margaret B - problems with walking after accident
Lyn - chronic back pain
I have had chronic lower back pain for approx 7 years
Lorraine - healthy backs workshop
I now think about my posture and find myself much more aware of it. I also bought a wedge cushion for my chair at work which helps too.
Lindsay - Improved posture and reduced pain
My particular problems are Fibromyalgia, stress related head and neck pain, jaw pain which caused trigeminal neuralgia on a regular basis. My one to one appointments with Kim have helped me immensely and I am so glad that I decided to go for it and book an initial session.
Frank - knee pain and problems walking
Following a cartilage injury to my Knee and follow up physio I found that I was walking with a pronounced limp, I needed to relearn how to walk . After a few Alexander sessions with Kim my limp has now gone, I am able to walk much further comfortably and my core strength is improving. Highly recommended.
Audrey and Barbara - you're never to old to learn the Alexander Technique!
At 94 and 85 years, we have enjoyed (and benefited from) her lessons in the Alexander Technique. She has sensitive hands to identify trouble spots, energy, resourcefulness in her approach...and a sense of fun! Many folk would have been discouraged by the thought of eighty or so years of misuse!
Read more: Audrey and Barbara - you're never to old to learn the Alexander Technique!
Angela - long term benefits
I recently interviewed Angela 6 years after taking lessons and asked her about the long term benefits:
“I am not in pain everyday like I was and I didn’t know what to do about it. If you don’t know what you are doing wrong you don’t know how to fix it.
David - Long term back pain sufferer
It was only by chance that I saw Kim's Alexander Technique course advertised on a notice board in a local shopping centre. I had suffered from lower back pain for around six years and had been under a chiropractor for that time. Regular chiropractic wasn't really helping me as I would often be left in more pain after the treatment. I was not getting a proper explanation as to what was causing the pain and on my last visit it was suggested that the pain was in my head! To add insult to injury, I had paid around £1600 for it. My AT course was £60 which was such a fantastic investment in myself and considerably less than I paid for chiropractic treatment.
Helen - Improved posture
I approached Kim to help with my general posture and riding seat. Although I don't have any physical ailments, having spent much of the past ten years tied to a desk job I was beginning to feel that my posture was suffering.
Julie
December 2015
I contacted Kim as I had been advised by my consultant that the Alexander Technique would be the best long term help for my bulged disc in my neck. I am so glad that I did as Kim is an excellent teacher, has great knowledge and tailors each session so that it is life relevant to you.
Jon - Long term back pain
"Having suffered from back pain for 12 years I have been through numerous physiotherapy sessions and pain clinics.
Mostly, the advice I have heard is that my injury is incurable and that I would suffer from back pain for the rest of my life.
I came across the Alexander Technique and was naturally cynical that this could work "for me", after all even a surgeon had told me there was nothing that could be done to help.
However, I gave it a try with a discounted first session and an open mind. I've never looked back since.
Brian
I decided to walk across to the retail park today. When I got back and checked my fitbit it said that I had covered 5.4 miles for the day.
Seeing that I had only been pottering about in the house before that including a lot of time at my computer desk, I must have walked near enough five miles.
Roger
My neck pain has gone, I am more aware of my standing, sitting, bending walking and writing, all of which have improved.
So thank you very much indeed. I have enjoyed our sessions together and would gladly recommend you to others.
Wendy
“Kim came to speak to a retirement group I belong to and as the Alexander Technique was something I had thought of learning about for a while I was very interested. Her talk to the group was inspiring so I arranged to take some sessions as an individual.
This proved to be an excellent choice as I both enjoyed the sessions and came away with some ideas and exercises which have made a difference to the way I move. With less effort I am now able to rise from the chair, climb stairs and lift my granddaughter.
Grant
Kim communicates total confidence in the Alexander Technique from the first lesson.
This is perhaps most important in the physical realm because AT is only really meaningful as a lived experience. I felt at ease with Kim from the very beginning and over the course of a year I have much less pain and more ease in movement than I’ve felt in a long time.
