Barrie Hope MSTAT*

Alexander Technique Teacher

Learning the Alexander Technique was a life-changing experience for Barrie.  He was a computer consultant and the many years of sitting in front of a screen resulted in severe chronic neck pain.

After successfully applying the Technique to his own problems, he decided to undertake the three year full-time training course to become an Alexander teacher. 

He now has experience of working with many enthusiastic Alexander Technique pupils who use what they have learned to gain:

• freedom from pain
• freedom of movement
• improved alertness
• better health.

Barrie has a particular interest in teaching those who want to deal with their own symptoms effectively.

*MSTAT – Member of the Society for Alexander Teachers.
All MSTAT certified teachers have successfully completed a three year full-time training course and are bound by STAT’s Code of Professional Conduct.

Michelle Benjamin

Alexander Technique Teacher

• MSTAT* Member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique
• Eutokia post-grad certificate for Pregnancy and Childbirth

Michelle graduated from Brighton Alexander Training Centre in 2003. Since then she has taught the Technique in Spain and the UK. 

She started having lessons in 1997 whilst recovering from an injury and found the lessons so beneficial that she decided to train as an Alexander Technique teacher. 

She also has a post-graduate qualification in “Eutokia” Alexander Technique for Pregnancy and Childbirth.

In addition to offering individual lessons she runs introductory group workshops and talks on the Technique throughout Shropshire and Powys.

*MSTAT – Member of the Society for Alexander Teachers.
All MSTAT certified teachers have successfully completed a three year full-time training course and are bound by STAT’s Code of Professional Conduct www.stat.org.uk.

Barrie and Michelle teach the Alexander Technique at the Shrewsbury Clinic.  Michelle is here on Mondays and Tuesdays

For an appointment, further advice or information contact:

• Barrie on 01686 668 262
• Michelle on 01686 668 262 or 07776 451 489

Michelle can be reached on email:

Alexander Technique

Private, individual lessons last for approximately 45 minutes, but allow an hour for the first lesson.  Please wear loose comfortable clothing.

About the lessons...

You learn the Alexander Technique through one-to-one lessons with a qualified teacher.  This setting provides the best opportunity for your individual needs to be met.  The number of lessons you take will depend on your particular needs and goals and these can be discussed with your teacher. 

Please note that Alexander teachers, although highly trained, are not medical advisors and do not make medical diagnoses.

Learning the Alexander Technique involves changing long-standing habits, so improvement relies in part on your active participation.  A course of 10 regular lessons can provide a good foundation for on-going self-discovery for most people.

You could treat your symptoms forever...

• Are you highly stressed?
• Do you have a painful back or neck?
• Are you worried that your problems are getting worse?

Undoubtedly you have tried to solve your symptoms with various treatments and therapies.  If you are reading this they probably haven’t worked for you, or the problems keep returning.

The difficulty is that however effective the treatment, if you are unconsciously, habitually creating the problem, it will remain and probably get worse.  The body will try to protect itself by limiting your energy and flexibility which produces a downward spiral as new habits of tension are added to cope with the problem.

Wisdom finds a better way…

Learning the Alexander Technique can:

• Help you to prevent or alleviate conditions associated with undue tension or poor posture.  These include many difficulties with co-ordination and movement; joint and muscle problems; breathing disorders and stress-related conditions.
• Enhance rehabilitation after operations, injury or illness and provide support during pregnancy and preparation for childbirth.
• Improve management of stress and pain, and provide coping skills for chronic illness and disabilities.
• Help sports people improve flexibility, timing and efficiency, to be on form more consistently.
• Assist performing artists to improve stamina, increase clarity of perception, free up spontaneity and manage stage fright.
• The Technique can add a new dimension of creativity to your life and lead to on-going self-discovery.

The Alexander Technique offers you a method for life-long learning. You can use it to develop self-awareness and self-reliance.

Experience of the Technique has led to praise from George Bernard Shaw, Aldous Huxley, Prof. John Dewey, Sir Charles Sherrington, Julian Bream, John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Roald Dahl, Robertson Davies, Julie Andrews, Sting, Sir Colin Davies, William Hurt, Jeremy Irons, Paul Newman, Lynn Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Robin Williams and many others.

In addition, many famous music colleges and drama schools provide Alexander Technique lessons for their pupils.

It is taught at the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York, at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, The Stratford Shakespearean Festival, Boston University, Brandeis University and many other centres.

Nobel Prize-winner for Medicine and Physiology, Nikolaas Tinbergen, from his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, said:

"The Alexander Technique is based on exceptionally sophisticated observation, not only by means of vision, but to a surprising extent by using the sense of touch. I noticed with growing amazement, very striking improvements in such diverse things as high blood pressure, breathing, depth of sleep, overall cheerfulness, mental alertness, resilience against outside pressures and also in such refined skills as the playing of a stringed musical instrument."