Mark and Alexander

My girlfriend Laura gave me an Alexandertechnique lesson with Ariane for my birthday-present. The only thing i new about Alexandertechnique was that Laura was very enthusiastic about it and that she sometimes was lying on the ground with a pile of books under her head, while i was doing the dishes. For me it was something weird, but because i had serious trouble from my neck and my shoulder, i was open to give it a try anyway.

I am working as a sound-man, which means that i have to stand often in uncomfortable positions for long periods with this long microphone-stick in my hand. At the same time there are hanging 9 kg recorder-device around my neck. Very often i had headaches coming from my neckmuscles, where massages didn't help but only increased the problem. At one point in time I had even more troubles when i didn't work, because i was so used to correct my bad posture in an unconscious and not effective way.

Ariane's lessons help me fantastically. Since I am working with her I grew straight again for at least a view centimeters, I move easier and more conscious and I know now how to improve my posture in a constructive way. It doesn't matter if you are working, sitting or just walking, the constant attention of releasing unnecessary tension helps tremendously with everything you do.

To lay down on a pile of books - I am doing it now too when i bring my son to bed. He likes it when i lay down next to him and it relaxes me very much. And for the dishes we have nowadays a dishwasher.

I expierenced a deep acceptance from Ariane for who I was, in all my appearances, the free ones but also specially the physical ones with the tensed shoulders, tight hips and the superficial breathing... Her acknowledgment and the way how Ariane via her hands and her presence made contact with me, gave me the freedom to get to know myself on a much deeper level..., I came closer to myself and from there I became curious, how I can do less, with less energy, less effort and struggle. If I can hold myself up with it, literally and metaphorically speaking.
I learned to get aware and to enjoy myself more.What I really liked was, that no matter how much I have forgotten in the next lesson, Ariane never showed that this would not be okay. Her gentle presence was delightful.
I very often felt deeply connected with myself, with her and with life.
Thank You.

The lessons in Alexandertechnique are up till now a wonderfull journey of discovery how the body and the mind work together.

Every lesson again are the hands of Ariane inviting me to experience lengthening and widening , to let go of certain musclegroups, how certain parts of the body are connected with each other and how the reflex-system starts working again, when we are doing less. We stand, sit or lay down, and we are just watching it. My body does it all by itself. We together only need to release and to give space for the movement to happen.

Since the two years I have been working with the Technique my feet, legs, back, shoulders and neck have changed. Because of the better circulation and the release of the constant muscletension I am less tired nowadays. My digestion system works much better and because of the freedom in my neck and my skull I hardly have trouble of sinusitis anymore.

I am more conscious in my body, notice its limits much quicker and there is a bigger knowledge what it needs to stay healthy.

The attention with which I discovered my body and mind, changed me as a person. I relate now differently towards myself and the world. Connected to my whole system, I can stay more with me and don't get so easily lost in daily problems anymore. Sitting stable in my body, I can look at myself and the world from a bigger distance and I make new choices. I literally learn how to stand on my own two legs and to get support from my own back. 

Alexandertechnique means to me to experience how to feel lighter and more relaxed through letting go of unnecessary tensions, which are often unconscious. Everything happens than with less effort: to stand, to sit, to walk. You think your neck free and the rest follows, which lets you meet the world much clearer and more happy.