One of the enjoyable things about being based in South London is the contact I have with other local practitioners from different disciplines.  This year, I joined NEST London who are a specialist team of therapists who all work with people who’d like to have a baby, pregnant women and new parents.  By offering a team approach, we can refer to other people we trust if we feel that people would benefit from more than one approach.

In NEST London we have a wide range of skills and experience that will address your health and emotional wellbeing: acupuncture, nutrition, homeopathy, hypnosis, craniosacral therapy, reflexology, psychotherapy, Alexander Technique, pregnancy and baby yoga and more. We also have midwives and doulas to prepare parents-to-be for labour, birth and early days with your baby, as well as a postnatal support and breastfeeding advice.

]]> http://www.artofposture.co.uk/pregnancy-and-new-parents-specialist-team-of-therapists.html/feed 0 http://www.artofposture.co.uk/summer-afternoon-workshop-in-clapham-saturday-1-june-2013-followed-by-party.html http://www.artofposture.co.uk/summer-afternoon-workshop-in-clapham-saturday-1-june-2013-followed-by-party.html#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:39:23 +0000 Tanya Shoop http://www.artofposture.co.uk/?p=578

• This workshop, for people with some prior experience of the Alexander Technique, is a valuable opportunity to make real progress. Held in Clapham, South London, it’s a real opportunity to experience a mental and physical oasis in the city. A great combination of indoor and outdoor space with a wonderful garden.
• Working in a group context, we will explore some Alexander Technique ideas with a variety of activities. Working with others is an interesting way of learning more.  Discussions help develop your own thinking and observation and we will do some activities and games that aren’t possible in a one to one session.
• Most group classes offered are for beginners and so this is a rare opportunity to build upon your existing experience and to meet others and share ideas and experiences.  Sometimes others ask just the right question to open up a discussion.

There will be 3 of us running this workshop – Claire Rennie, Kamal Thapen and me.  It’s a great opportunity to meet others who are learning the Alexander Technique, or would like to do so, and to share ideas and insights.

Afterwards, we shall have a party so that we can let our hair down and chat informally.

Booking details: Book in advance to ensure your place at HITE – click here

Date: Saturday 1 June  2.30 – 4.30pm.  Party to follow!

Cost: £25

Location: Atkins Road, Clapham, London SW12 0AL

Date: Saturday 18 May 2013, 10am – 1.30pm

Venue: Chiswick Pier House, London W4. Easy parking.

Booking: Elizabeth Dodgson   020 8994 9527    www.ATteacher.co.uk

Course details:

• How to apply Alexander Technique thinking to riding your bike
• Make informed choices about your bike’s physical set up
• Work on yourself to improve performance and efficiency
• Increase your comfort on your bike

Suitable for:

• People who already have some Alexander Technique knowledge
• Both casual and more experienced cyclists

Jo Searby is an experienced Alexander Technique teacher and cyclist and is the author of “Live Better – Alexander Technique”.

This week I was exchanging some work with my good friend and colleague, Ann Nussey.  Over the years we’ve spent many hours chatting about our understanding of the Alexander Technique, experimenting with new ideas and working quietly with each other.  This week, Ann’s hands on work with me was better than ever and I feel lucky to have met her.

Here’s the difficult bit.  Ann was diagnosed last year with mesothelioma.  This is a form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and it cannot be cured.  After the initial shock, Ann and her husband, Vaughan, decided that she needed a project.  Something positive to focus on  that Ann and Vaughan feel passionate about.  They love nature, going off to the countryside and seaside as often as they are able.

They have set up a forest school together with the Kent Wildlife Trust.  This aims to inspire young people and their teachers with a love of nature and, in turn, encourage them to protect our natural environment in the future.  These photos show some of the young people developing confidence and new skills and having fun together.  They are working to build up a fund to meet its running costs for 5 years on their JustGiving page.  It is my sincere hope that some miracle cure will be found for my friend and others suffering from mesothelioma and that she will be able to see her Forest School help many young people.

Deborah Criddle who won a gold and two silver medals at the London 2012 Paralympics has been having Alexander Technique lessons as part of her training schedule.  In an interview after the Paralympics she stated:

“For the last year I have been having regular weekly Alexander Technique lessons both on the ground and on a mechanical horse. It has proven so beneficial that I shall continue with them for the foreseeable future.”

Two colleagues, Claire Rennie and Kamal Thapen, and I are  running a workshop for horse riders on Saturday 2 March 2013 in central London.  We’re using static saddles so that riders can experiment with their posture and seat without the horse taking this as a signal to gallop off!

Book now to reserve a place.