Alexander Technique for People Living with Parkinson’s
The Alexander Technique offers people living with Parkinson’s self-management strategies that can help them gain more control of movement patterns, with potential improvements in balance, posture and walking. It can enable them to participate in everyday activities with greater confidence and minimal interference from symptoms.
The Walter Carrington Educational Trust at the Alexander Technique Imperial Wharf centre aims to further the work of F. M. Alexander and make it more available to people living with Parkinson’s. The Trust supported 4 teachers of the Alexander Technique to receive special training and get more experience in working with this population from autumn 2016. During spring 2017 four individuals who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease were offered the opportunity of having five free one-to-one Alexander lessons. This pilot project was successfully completed and more activities are being planned.
The teachers who pioneered this initiative are:
Liz Dodgson
Loretta Manson
Regina Stratil
Dai Richards
In early 2017 a survey was conducted by Dai Richards with STAT (Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique) teachers to gather information about Alexander Technique teachers’ own experiences of working with people living with Parkinson’s. A collection of this anecdotal evidence can be downloaded here:
Parkinsons Survey of Teachers – Benefits for people living with Parkinsons
Current Workshops
Living with Parkinson’s – Exploring Possibilities with the Alexander Technique
A free workshop in London for people living with Parkinson’s and their carers – Sponsored by the Walter Carrington Educational Trust
Maximum 12 participants
Location: The Constructive Teaching Centre/Alexander Technique Imperial Wharf centre
13 The Boulevard
Imperial Wharf
London SW6 2UB
Date: Sunday 8th October – fully booked! || New additional date: Sunday 26th November
Time: 1.30 – 5.00 P.M., with breaks provided
How to book: Please email constructiveteachingcentre@gmail.com or use the form here
The workshop is free, but booking is essential as there are only limited places.
The Alexander Technique offers people living with Parkinson’s self-management strategies that can help them gain more control of movement patterns, with potential improvements in balance, posture and walking. It can enable them to participate in everyday activities with greater confidence and minimal interference from symptoms. Non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, pain and fatigue can also be addressed using Alexander principles. This will be a participatory workshop and everyone will leave with some new skills to help them meet the challenges of Parkinson’s.
This opportunity is open to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners/helpers. Unfortunately, we are not able to make the workshop available to wheelchair users. If you are a wheelchair user and interested in the Alexander Technique, please do contact us as we might be able to refer you to a teacher or contact you at a later point with an offer suitable for you.
More information on the teachers you will be working with can be found by clicking on the names below. All teachers involved are members of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique and have undertaken special training in working with people living with Parkinson’s.
A compilation of information on the Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s may be found here: http://www.thepoiseproject.org/alexander-technique-for-parkinsons/. We are grateful to Monika Gross, Executive Director of independent nonprofit organisation The Poise Project, for her generous support, advice and expertise.
The main teachers presenting this workshop will be:
Liz Dodgson
Loretta Manson
Regina Stratil
Dai Richards
Watch Canadian AT teacher Caprice Boisvert and Robert Davis explain how the Alexander Technique has helped Robert manage his Parkinson’s symptoms:
