Teacher of the Alexander Technique, Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE
MSTAT ARCM
Parkinson's Disease
So there you have it, the sky is the limit when it comes to the benefits to be gained from learning about the Alexander Technique, as you well know! It just depends on how far you let it enter your life. Any new pupils will be very lucky indeed to be starting on this wonderful journey with you."
"My Alexander lessons with Derrell have been invaluable. My mobility was very limited when I first went to her due to a combination of factors - complications following hip surgery, osteo-arthritis and Parkinsons. Her patience and expertise have enabled me to maintain and improve my mobility and my Parkinson's symptoms are less evident.
B. P. (Mr)
Stress-related Symptoms"I discovered the Alexander Technique through my GP just after I had turned 40 and I had suffered a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) due to stress. This causes symptoms similar to a stroke - but actually lasted for less than 24 hours. I had had a difficult childhood, an unhappy marriage, four teenage children and worked full-time as an IT consultant, I had to do something to break the cycle of continued tension and learn to relax. My GP advised me that I had to be taught how to release the muscular tension which had accumulated throughout my body over the years, probably starting in childhood, and suggested the Alexander Technique could be the answer.
When I first met Derrell I was unable to lie still on the couch for more than a couple of minutes, as the pain was excruciating. I was also very self-conscious about letting my guard down and allowing anyone into my personal space. After the first meeting with Derrell I felt more relaxed and came to trust that the Alexander Technique might help me. Gradually, with her patience and understanding, I began to relax, open my mind to her teachings and recognise the tension in my body, my bad posture and my movements in everyday activities. Through Derrell's teaching I was able to realise the relationship between mind and body.
Initially I attended 2/3 times a week and within the first month I was feeling happy; less pessimistic; I could lie comfortably without pain; I was sleeping better; I had less muscular pain in my back and neck; and had fewer migraines. Within just a few months I was happier, healthier and more 'balanced' in every way. I can thoroughly recommend both Alexander Technique and Derrell King as a practitioner."
When I first met Derrell I was unable to lie still on the couch for more than a couple of minutes, as the pain was excruciating. I was also very self-conscious about letting my guard down and allowing anyone into my personal space. After the first meeting with Derrell I felt more relaxed and came to trust that the Alexander Technique might help me. Gradually, with her patience and understanding, I began to relax, open my mind to her teachings and recognise the tension in my body, my bad posture and my movements in everyday activities. Through Derrell's teaching I was able to realise the relationship between mind and body.
Initially I attended 2/3 times a week and within the first month I was feeling happy; less pessimistic; I could lie comfortably without pain; I was sleeping better; I had less muscular pain in my back and neck; and had fewer migraines. Within just a few months I was happier, healthier and more 'balanced' in every way. I can thoroughly recommend both Alexander Technique and Derrell King as a practitioner."
L. F. (Ms)
ME Symptoms
"I was recommended to have Alexander lessons in 1994 when suffering from ME. The doctor guiding me through it suggested that Alexander would be very helpful, particularly as she said my posture had suffered, probably due to the inactivity involved with ME. My confidence was at a very low ebb. I had general malaise, very variable mood and a recurrence of previous bowel problems. I started lessons in 1995, at first twice a week, gradually reducing over several years to one a month. To begin with I was not sufficiently confident to drive myself to my lessons, but in time I was able to do so. My bowel problem improved, I felt more cheerful and generally better in myself, with more energy. I enjoyed my lessons, found them calming and relaxing and always returned home feeling very much better and stronger."
"I was recommended to have Alexander lessons in 1994 when suffering from ME. The doctor guiding me through it suggested that Alexander would be very helpful, particularly as she said my posture had suffered, probably due to the inactivity involved with ME. My confidence was at a very low ebb. I had general malaise, very variable mood and a recurrence of previous bowel problems. I started lessons in 1995, at first twice a week, gradually reducing over several years to one a month. To begin with I was not sufficiently confident to drive myself to my lessons, but in time I was able to do so. My bowel problem improved, I felt more cheerful and generally better in myself, with more energy. I enjoyed my lessons, found them calming and relaxing and always returned home feeling very much better and stronger."
E.W. (Mrs)
Horse Riding
"You would not believe how many times in a week that I quote you to my riding pupils: "Derrell used to say....." You have so many one liners that just put things back into perspective. Among my favourites is "sticking to principle" and "constancy of purpose". Both phrases are such a comfort when you reach one of those seemingly endless plateaus in training your horse. They are a reminder that with the Alexander Technique you have a path to follow that will lead you out of the tunnel and into the light; even when you can't even see the light!
From my very first lesson with you I recognized a quality in you that my horses would love. You are so grounded, connected, yet light, with an ease of movement and inner calmness. By comparison I felt awkward, heavy, clumsy and over excited. I wanted all your qualities! Also your words were so familiar to me, in that they were just the same as the things I wanted from my horses: Freedom of the neck; lengthening of the spine; release in the joints. Horses are a great catalyst for change. Anyone with a true passion for riding, will explore things that they would not normally give a second thought to; and that's how I 'happened upon' the Alexander Technique. Maybe it could help with my riding..? Help? I can honestly say it revolutionized not only my riding but my teaching, my relationships with people, my whole life.
As you can see you have made quite an impact on me!!! With your help I have developed understanding, tolerance, peace. I could wax lyrical about all the benefits and fill page after page but lets stick to the facts:
"You would not believe how many times in a week that I quote you to my riding pupils: "Derrell used to say....." You have so many one liners that just put things back into perspective. Among my favourites is "sticking to principle" and "constancy of purpose". Both phrases are such a comfort when you reach one of those seemingly endless plateaus in training your horse. They are a reminder that with the Alexander Technique you have a path to follow that will lead you out of the tunnel and into the light; even when you can't even see the light!
From my very first lesson with you I recognized a quality in you that my horses would love. You are so grounded, connected, yet light, with an ease of movement and inner calmness. By comparison I felt awkward, heavy, clumsy and over excited. I wanted all your qualities! Also your words were so familiar to me, in that they were just the same as the things I wanted from my horses: Freedom of the neck; lengthening of the spine; release in the joints. Horses are a great catalyst for change. Anyone with a true passion for riding, will explore things that they would not normally give a second thought to; and that's how I 'happened upon' the Alexander Technique. Maybe it could help with my riding..? Help? I can honestly say it revolutionized not only my riding but my teaching, my relationships with people, my whole life.
As you can see you have made quite an impact on me!!! With your help I have developed understanding, tolerance, peace. I could wax lyrical about all the benefits and fill page after page but lets stick to the facts:
- On a purely physical level, the Alexander Technique teaches body awareness which is invaluable to riders. None of us are deliberately crooked or unbalanced, we are just unaware. Awareness brings with it a power to change. Horses mirror the body patterns of their riders. By changing your own 'use' you bring about instant change in your horse.
- Mind and body are intrinsically linked. Bringing the body into balance, brings the mind into balance. A balanced mind brings peace. Horses mirror our mind images, so it follows that what we do for ourselves we also do for our horses.
- Horses are prey animals, they live in the moment or in their mind they may die. Humans are predators, we tend to live in the past or the future. This unnerves your horse. The Alexander Technique teaches you how to live in the moment and this makes your horse feel safe.
- Teaching riding, AT helps me to teach my pupils to listen to their horses. The horse mirrors the rider, by being aware of their horses patterns of use, the rider has a reliable teacher on hand every time they ride. They just need to learn to read the signposts correctly, by sticking to principle, the frustrations of why this or that is happening disappear. Things become clearer and change happens at the foundation of the problem instead of papering over the cracks with another quick fix, as so often happens with other teaching methods.
- Training horses, I have learnt to observe, notice where they might be tightening and shortening, understand how this may affect behaviour and then lead to so called vices and resistances. By encouraging release and lengthening, you cultivate freedom of the paces, movement and the soul. Equally I have learnt to observe my pupils and recognise the things they may find difficult; also understand why they behave as they do.
So there you have it, the sky is the limit when it comes to the benefits to be gained from learning about the Alexander Technique, as you well know! It just depends on how far you let it enter your life. Any new pupils will be very lucky indeed to be starting on this wonderful journey with you."
A. F. (Ms)
Back Pain/Post Natal Depression
"I had experienced back problems whilst I was pregnant which continued after the birth of my son. I received some physiotherapy treatment and was told that I had a trapped nerve and possibly a fractured rib. The treatment helped to untrap the nerve, but only eased the pain a little. And after a few weeks, the exercises I was given actually made my condition worse than ever. That's when I decided to try the Alexander Technique.
Derrell taught me to do a laying down procedure, which I was to do every day, and various other ways to improve my posture - the way nature intended - by undoing any bad habits (which I had been doing for possibly many years!). This is harder than you may think!! But if you are determined enough, you will achieve great results. These results may not be immediate, but over time you will gradually see and feel your whole body shape changing, and for the better. You will feel less stressed and more patient within yourself. This is because you will become more aware of how you are using yourself, and your muscles will become less tense.
The way you sit, stand and bend was also shown to me during my lessons with Derrell. You will only get out what you put in to this, so it is important to make a commitment to yourself that this will be a part of your daily routine. I always do my laying down for at least 20 minutes when I get up in the morning, and whenever I have a spare 10 minutes during the day. This helps me to relax my mind and it always makes me feel so much more able to continue my day's activities.
There have been times when my condition got worse for a few days, but I recognized this as a 'good pain', because this meant that my body was undergoing positive changes and, as time passed, my back improved more and more.
"I had experienced back problems whilst I was pregnant which continued after the birth of my son. I received some physiotherapy treatment and was told that I had a trapped nerve and possibly a fractured rib. The treatment helped to untrap the nerve, but only eased the pain a little. And after a few weeks, the exercises I was given actually made my condition worse than ever. That's when I decided to try the Alexander Technique.
Derrell taught me to do a laying down procedure, which I was to do every day, and various other ways to improve my posture - the way nature intended - by undoing any bad habits (which I had been doing for possibly many years!). This is harder than you may think!! But if you are determined enough, you will achieve great results. These results may not be immediate, but over time you will gradually see and feel your whole body shape changing, and for the better. You will feel less stressed and more patient within yourself. This is because you will become more aware of how you are using yourself, and your muscles will become less tense.
The way you sit, stand and bend was also shown to me during my lessons with Derrell. You will only get out what you put in to this, so it is important to make a commitment to yourself that this will be a part of your daily routine. I always do my laying down for at least 20 minutes when I get up in the morning, and whenever I have a spare 10 minutes during the day. This helps me to relax my mind and it always makes me feel so much more able to continue my day's activities.
There have been times when my condition got worse for a few days, but I recognized this as a 'good pain', because this meant that my body was undergoing positive changes and, as time passed, my back improved more and more.
I've been going to see Derrell for nearly 2 years now and thanks to the amazing manner of her teaching the Alexander Technique, and my own willingness to do this, I am now able to live a normal life again. So as a student I would definitely recommend the Alexander Technique to anyone who has the determination and perseverance.
Website by : www.wavingmoose.com
Derrell King
2012-19 Derrell King, Teacher of the Alexander Technique, Helions Bumpstead, nr Cambridge
CAMBRIDGESHIRE / ESSEX / SUFFOLK
