Bristol Alexander Studio

Working with international soloist Guy Johnston, on the ESTA summer school. I also did a week of presentations to delegates - a fantastic opportunity!

Before and After shots during an Alexander Technique session with Henry George at the European String Teachers Association (ESTA UK) summer course yesterday. I was amazed to see and feel the difference after 45 minutes. We talked about lengthening and widening, exploring the space in my lower back, width in the shoulder blades and opening up my awareness. The aim was to be aimless and to let things happen simply by letting go. Imagine rather than do. Breathe. Today we will be integrating the playing as well.

The Alexander Technique is helpful for people with hypermobility. Here's a short introduction.

Hypermobility and the Alexander Technique | Bristol Alexander Studio Among healthcare professionals, the Alexander Technique is recognised as helping people with hypermobility. More information on this is available on the

Did you know that REVERSING your movement has all sorts of benefits? Find out more here!

Alexander Technique and reversibility | Bristol Alexander Studio The Alexander Technique (AT) is about how we look after ourselves in the face of the stimuli around us, and reversibility is a useful framework for seeing how

Here are some details on how to 'remap' yourself for ease and balance in movement.

Why your map matters: body schema and postural tone | Bristol Alexander Studio Consider for a moment a top athlete, dancer or musician, and you'll realise that humans have the potential for incredibly accurate and coordinated movement.

Parkinson's Disease is in the news, with Jeremy Paxman calling for more action. Many people don't know that there's a body of evidence for the beneficial effects of the Alexander Technique for People with Parkinson's (PwP); here's a summary.

Alexander Technique and Parkinson's Disease: the research | Bristol Alexander Studio Both the NHS and Parkinson's UK recognise that the Alexander Technique (AT) is useful for people living with Parkinson's Disease (PwP). In fact, there has

'Direction' is a valuable Alexander Technique skill, and will enhance your quality of life. Find out all about it here.

Demystifying Alexander's 'Direction': a guide | Bristol Alexander Studio The Alexander Technique community is a broad church and yet there is one thing it can agree on: the importance of ‘Direction’. The best introduction to FM

What's missing from the Guardian newspaper's focus on back pain?

Back pain epidemic: missing the point? | Bristol Alexander Studio Almost a million people in the UK are now too sick to work because of back or neck pain, according to a recent Guardian article. This number has apparently

A summary of how Alexander Technique can address pain, in the light of modern pain science.

Alexander Technique and pain | Bristol Alexander Studio Mari Hodges, pain management therapist and Alexander Technique teacher, wrote recently that ‘many people living with persistent pain have felt unvalidated, unheard and stigmatized in their encounters…

This summer course for string players is going to be fantastic! Excited to be involved European String Teachers Association (ESTA UK)

‘Seven wonders of wellbeing’ - for musicians | Bristol Alexander Studio It’s a privilege again to be on the faculty at the European String Teachers Association (ESTA) summer school, this year held at Dean Close School in Cheltenham. Check out their page for…

A new perspective on family relations during Christmas!

Dealing with family during the holiday season | Bristol Alexander Studio A recent article about the emotional challenges during the Christmas season – and how we tend to revert to our childhood selves – caught my attention. It reminded me of some insightful writing on how…

This is why actors love the Alexander Technique!

Why Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) loves the Alexander Technique | Bristol Alexander Studio Most professional actors have come across the Alexander Technique. The list of famous names endorsing the Technique is long and includes actors such as Judi Dench, William Hurt, John Cleese…

My Alex Tech intro for anyone new to Alexander Technique!

Alexander Technique: “giving Nature her opportunity” - NCIM - National Centre for Integrative Medicine Why might you try the Alexander Technique?Those that have come across the Alexander Technique often say it’s ‘something to do with posture’. However, it’s actually something deeper: a pro-active way of dealing with the stresses and strains of everyday life.So why might you try the Alexander ...

Here's some useful evidence-based info about why mattresses matter for back pain.

Beds, mattresses and back pain | Bristol Alexander Studio m sometimes asked for advice on beds, mattresses and pillows. My standard reply is that it can be beneficial to practise active rest immediately before sleeping and/ or first thing in the morning.

Some science behind the Alexander Technique - in two minutes!

How does the Alexander Technique work? Towards a scientific model. The Alexander Technique is an educational method for changing long-standing habits of tension. Research suggests it results in improved movement, balance and...

See what's possible in a group Alexander Technique introduction!

Alexander Technique for early career musicians | Bristol Alexander Studio Last week I was working with young professional musicians in Bucharest as part of the Ad Musicam programme run by the Romanian Cultural Institute. It's a real privilege to be spreading the word about…

Time to un-do your to-do?

Yes, your to-do list will outlive you | Bristol Alexander Studio Oliver Burkeman, well-known for his critiques of psychology and the self-help industry, published a new book last year entitled Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.

Got knee pain? Good evidence on how Alexander Technique can help.

Alexander Technique reduces knee pain | Bristol Alexander Studio A research study published in 2016 provides clear evidence that the Alexander Technique is beneficial for people suffering from knee osteoarthritis. On average, following 20 lessons in the Alexander…

Interested in understanding the link between posture and pain? Here's a summary.

Posture and pain linked? It’s complicated. | Bristol Alexander Studio A couple of months ago, New Scientist magazine published a feature which challenged the idea that there is a link between posture and pain. 'If you worry that slouching is causing you long-term…

The actor William Hurt, who passed away last month, was a huge Alexander Technique fan.

William Hurt and the Alexander Technique | Bristol Alexander Studio Many people are familiar with William Hurt, the American actor who sadly passed away last month. Not so many people know, however, that Hurt, along with many actors – Dame Judi Dench…

Interested in dealing with your back pain? I suggest taking an evidence-based approach.

Back pain - follow the evidence | Bristol Alexander Studio Would you like to go from experiencing back pain every day to 3 days a month, or fewer? That's the startling evidence of what the Alexander Technique can do, according to a large-scale clinical trial…

Musicians - check this out! A great way to learn to play with less tension.

Tension-free playing for musicians: instrument-specific help | Bristol Alexander Studio One of the challenges facing all musicians is how to avoid unnecessary tension. There are two main reasons tension is so limiting for musicians: Firstly, tension causes discomfort, pain and injury…

If you're a musician, you might consider practising for half the time. Here's why.

Could less practice be more effective? | Bristol Alexander Studio Mark Morley-Fletcher is an educator who, according to his website, teaches the skills and mindsets musicians need for effective practice and performance. He notes that this kind of big-picture…

Ever wondered why perfectionism lets you down?

The Alexander Technique and self-defeating perfectionism | Bristol Alexander Studio Perfectionism is a personality trait that is on the increase. Back in the 1980s, psychiatrist Dr David D. Burns rather eloquently defined perfectionists as: people who strain compulsively and…

I was interviewed recently for a fantastic wellbeing podcast; check it out below!

How to Heal podcast with Will Shipp | Bristol Alexander Studio Last month I was really pleased to be interviewed about the Alexander Technique by Will Shipp for his How to Heal podcast. Will is a coach who focuses on holistic wellbeing…

Connections revealed between Alexander Technique and psychotherapy

Alexander Technique, Carl Rogers and person-centred psychotherapy | Bristol Alexander Studio This month, Nicola Hanefeld was the lead author of the paper 'Women's experiences of using the Alexander Technique in the postpartum' published in the journal Midwifery. As part of her research…

Lots of benefits for guitarists who practise the Alexander Technique!

Alexander Technique and the Guitar | Bristol Alexander Studio The Alexander Technique is invaluable when learning a musical instrument, and the guitar is no exception. As part of the Alexander Technique Music Conference 2021, two professional guitarists created…

Review of a book relevant to the Alexander Technique.

‘How to do nothing’ by Jenny Odell | Bristol Alexander Studio Non-doing' is an aspect of the way the Alexander Technique nurtures wellbeing: whether that's mental, physical, emotional or spiritual. In FM Alexander's own explanation of the term from the 1940s…

A short introduction to how the Alexander Technique can help violinists.

Alexander Technique and Violin Playing | Bristol Alexander Studio It is no secret that violinists often suffer from discomfort and pain. The combination of an awkward holding position, the incredible intricacy of the movements involved, and the many hours of…

This is the largest publisher of books on Alexander Technique, with an amazing archive of additional resources.

New Mouritz website now live!

www.mouritz.org

The new site brings together the old sites (mouritz.co.uk and mouritz.org) into a new platform supported by a more powerful Content Management System on a faster hosting service.

The front page provides short-cuts to the main sections and the new system provides more comprehensive search facilities.

The Mouritz Shop, Companion, Bibliography, Library and all other Mouritz resources are now all on www.mouritz.org. The shop is the only part which has not changed and your log-in details stay the same.

If you have used www.mouritz.org recently please be aware you may need to clear cookies and refresh your cache for the new site to work properly. Thank you.

Does changing how you pay attention change your life? There's good evidence for it.

What is ‘the Open-Focus Life’? | Bristol Alexander Studio Over a decade ago, Les Fehmi and Jim Robbins published The Open-Focus Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention to Heal Mind and Body. They popularized the approach known as 'Open Focus'