Saffron Walden Alexander Technique

Testimonials:

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I work as a professional musician and music therapist and initially wanted to try Alexander Technique (AT) lessons in the hope that it might help with recurrent neck and shoulder pain and headaches. I have also suffered with occasional repetitive strain issues in my wrists. I believe that these were caused by poor working and practise habits. AT lessons quickly got to the root of the problem within a few sessions, and I my intake of mild painkillers reduced drastically, so long as I maintained and built on the knowledge and skills learnt in my lessons.   

 

Kathy is highly professional, approachable and knowledgeable and I have learnt a tremendous amount from her over the last 18 months. Engaging in a short period of time each day dedicated towards working on, and thinking about, AT has drastically reduced the problems mentioned above and helped me to consider other areas of ‘being’. For example, I am learning how to pace myself much more on a day-to-day basis (I had not realised how frenetic I often am!). I feel that, although this is an ongoing process, I am far more ‘in-contact’ and physically aware of my body and how it is responding to various situations. This is highly useful, especially in performance and therapy work. As a musician, I have found that the skills developed in AT have enhanced my performance awareness and I recall commenting to Kathy, that giving a concert shortly after an AT lesson, that I hadn’t felt or played like that in over 20 years (a good thing!). I tend to suffer from performance anxiety on occasion, and AT has additionally helped to bring a greater awareness and understanding of this, along with ways of calming the body whilst maintaining optimum agility – this was an unexpected, pleasant surprise!

 

I highly recommend Kathy Ponter – she is dedicated and passionate, and this always comes across strongly in our sessions. Kathy is an excellent practitioner, and I certainly hope to continue my AT journey long into the future – Thank you Kathy!

 

Oliver 

 

 

I came to see Kathy after many years of back pain and referred numbness in one of my legs.

I had tried a variety of treatments and most of them had a short term effect.

After each session I was more aware of the way I had been using my body and how I could improve my posture through sitting, standing and using relaxation through the use of the semi supine technique.

I have found that in general I have had less pain throughout the sessions and have tried to incorporate aspects of the Alexander technique in my daily life.

It is now 2 years since I had a course of Alexander instruction and I feel that it has enabled me to be in charge of my bodily structure, such that my need to seek help from my physiotherapist has been minimised. I have also found that I think carefully about what I am about to attempt so that I make decisions that do not cause me pain. Prior to my course with Kathy I was experiencing daily episodes of back pain. Since this time, I am free of this pain and I have only had to see my physiotherapist for a short episode of acute pain brought on by excessive manual work. Len

 

 

In Spring 2024, after 3 months of progressively worsening pain, I experienced debilitating pain in my right shoulder and severely reduced movement.  My job as a school administrator meant that I have spent many hours at a PC over many years. I reached a point where the pain was travelling the length of my arm and was exhausting me and, in the short term, prevented me from working. I happened to pass a taster session drop in that Kathy was running in town on a Saturday morning with her colleague and when I spotted the “Are you in pain?” poster outside I didn’t think twice about dropping in to see what the Alexander Technique was all about. After experiencing some immediate relief at this short taster session I started to see Kathy on a weekly basis. Shortly thereafter an mri scan diagnosed inflammation of the rotator cuff.  My lessons with Kathy were central to my recovery; 15 minutes semi supine became part of my daily routine ( I also did daily physio exercises). After 3 months of seeing Kathy weekly I only needed to see her occasionally for a further couple of months. I am now pain free but if I ever experience musculoskeletal pain in the future I would have no hesitation in making an appointment to see Kathy.  I can’t thank her enough for helping to relieve my pain and teaching me so much. My Alexander Technique lessons were lessons for life, I will always hear her voice when I correct my posture at my workstation or am at the wheel of the car! Thank you so much Kathy."For me, lessons have been a great way to get away from back pain and 'bad posture' towards confidence and comfort."

Claire

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"AT lessons with Kathy have helped me to become aware of and change habits regarding my posture and everyday movements that I have done wrong for as long as I can think. Some 25 years of physiotherapy for my back has not managed to do what 6 months of AT lessons with Kathy have: more stability and a better posture in my back, more strength, significantly less pain during my second pregnancy and most of all an unexpected ease and fun at learning and achieving all of this. Kathy's AT lessons - her brilliant way of explaining the musculature by using  exercises, touch and metaphors - have brought about significant change all the while being extremely gentle. Kathy has taught me how to rethink about my body and how to let this thought process build me up and let me stand strong and tall. For me, her lessons have been a great way to get away from back pain and 'bad posture' towards confidence and comfort." Eva

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"Whatever it is I’m glad it is working and that I met Kathy at the breakfast meeting. I feel I shall continue to derive benefit from what I have learned for the rest of my life."

I met Kathy at a breakfast club meeting and heard her speak about Alexander technique, I was intrigued although I wasn’t really sure what it was or how it worked - but I’ve lived with back and shoulder pain for 3 decades in varying degrees of acuteness, it was something I had resigned myself to living with – at times not too bad, at others constant nagging or stabbing pain – so I thought nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

I’ve been to Physiotherapy, osteopaths, chiropractors – had massage, reiki and acupuncture and done pilates - most of which had some beneficial effect in the short term but mostly felt like it didn’t address the problem – just the symptoms.

 

I started having alexander technique lessons with Kathy late last year, once a week, and Kathy has been very patient and encouraging, it’s a subtle, gentle and not at all invasive discipline.

 

After about 5 or 6 lessons I was beginning to wonder where this was going and my natural cynicism was beginning to kick in – but by lesson 8 or 9, and after a covid enforced break - I couldn’t deny I had less back pain and was calmer in myself.  I now have to recognise I am substantially better. I have more confidence in moving, sitting, lifting and exercising. I don’t have to worry that a certain movement or twist will result in 3 weeks of asking someone else to put my socks on for me.

 

How does it work, well that’s still a bit of a mystery really – it’s hard to explain but I think of it as a re-education of how muscles need to behave and how to recognise when they are not behaving – I know that’s not a great definition but it’s the best I have come up with so far. Whatever it is I’m glad it is working and that I met Kathy at the breakfast meeting. I feel I shall continue to derive benefit from what I have learned for the rest of my life.

 

Thanks Kathy

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Tarquin

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​"Learning AT from Kathy has been quite transformative and also thoroughly enjoyable. I now have the tools to manage my back more effectively from day to day, and to maintain healthier ways of working. Thank you Kathy!"

A friend recommended that I contact Kathy to see if she could help me find a solution for increasing back pain brought on by too many hours in front of a computer. She could! I felt better after every session with Kathy, even on days when I arrived with a very sore back, and practising Semi Supine / Active Rest at home has made a palpable difference. Learning AT from Kathy has been quite transformative and also thoroughly enjoyable. I now have the tools to manage my back more effectively from day to day, and to maintain healthier ways of working. Thank you Kathy!

Isabelle

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