Experiences and Opportunities

You can find ATI teaching member experiences below. These experiences include those of teachers or students in classes or workshops.

Two Traditions Meet by Sarah Barker and Gaby Minnes Brandes: 

In the Spring of 2021 we, Gabriella Minnes Brandes and Sarah Barker, got curious about how our teaching approaches might compare and spark new ideas about teaching and learning AT.  The finished product was presented at the ATI ACGM in October 2021and thus became the public record as is required in the Continuing Education Credit reporting guidelines.

We videotaped ourselves teaching a beginning student.  We watched each other’s lessons and over Zoom sessions we analyzed what we saw.  We had insights about our own teaching as we reflected on what and how we teach.  Our teacher trainings were from opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of style and approach; Gaby’s teachers were trained with Patrick MacDonald and Sarah trained with Marjorie Barstow.

Through our lengthy conversations we exposed the motivations, goals, successes, and challenges of our unique approaches and styles. 

Video examples included how we use inhibition, sit-to-stand, and teaching with activities. Other discoveries that we made: 1) How concepts and principles intertwine, 2) Students’ changing body image, 3) Where does anatomy come in? 4) Rhythm and tempo in teaching.

We are happy to discuss via email: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

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 Showcase your experience – teaching, learning, exploring, events

Have you had a new insight about the Alexander Technique inspired by... a class you took, a moment in nature, a performance you observed, a moment in a lesson, an encounter with a person (or an animal)? Share your experiences with ATI by emailing the Continuing Education Committee with a visual aspect (video or image), a title, and a brief description (100 - 200 words). 

Feel free to include photos, poems, articles, art, quotes, links, and more in your experience showcase.

For information on how best to participate in forums, review our Community Forums Guide page. You will see 3 discussion forums:

Are you offering a class or workshop? Do you know of a service opportunity for our members? Is there an opportunity in a related field? A blog or website looking for contributors? Your ATI community wants to know! Please share. Feel free to add a link to your class or event in the forum!