Thursday, December 22, 2011

Author Richard Brennan Interviewed

Read my interview here.

From Alexander.ie:

In 1976 Richard developed painful back problems and sciatica while working long hours as a driving instructor. After several years of pain, and having tried various orthodox and complementary treatments, he eventually found relief by having Alexander Technique lessons in 1984. He found the Technique so effective that he soon decided to undertake the three year full time teacher training course in Totnes, Devon, UK, approved by STAT, the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique. He qualified in 1989 and joined STAT.

His work as an Alexander Technique Teacher

Richard established his first practice in Totnes, Devon, and began lecturing and teaching around the UK and Europe. He began writing his first book about the Technique in 1991, and since then has written six more books, and is currently working on his eighth.
Richard moved to Galway, Ireland, in 1997. He runs a busy private practice there. He founded the first Alexander Teacher Training College in Ireland in 1998. He is co-founder and past president ofIrish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (ISATT), established in June, 2004. In 2007 the training course became approved by the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique. It is also approved by the Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (ISATT).
Richard travels around Europe and USA, giving talks and courses on the Technique. He has taught the Technique at many educational centres, including Galway University, Limerick University, Middlesex University, London, and Dartington College of Arts. He was a guest presenter at theAmSAT annual conference in San Francisco 2009.

Books and Articles

Richard is the author of four books on the Alexander Technique which are translated into eight languages, and a further two books on the topic of stress. His new book on posture, Change Your Posture, Change Your Life, is due for publication in January 2012. He has written many articles on the Technique and has published a CD, available in MP3 and cassette form.
Richard has featured in several newspapers and magazines including The Irish TimesThe Sunday TribuneThe Irish ExaminerCosmopolitanHello and Home and Country. He has appeared on BBC 1 & RTE 1 and has been featured on BBC Radios 4 & 5 and on local radio around Ireland and the UK.

Approach

Richard has a practical approach to helping people find their own solutions to problems such as pain, stress, and obstacles to performance. His greatest personal satisfaction comes when he can help others to get out of pain, especially when all other attempts have failed, just as he himself was helped after years of struggle in the 1980s by his Alexander Technique teacher, Daniel Reilly.
Richard aims to make the Alexander Technique accessible to a wide audience. He has been a pioneer in helping to make the technique accessible to many thousands of people.
Bookscassette, CD and MP3s by Richard Brennan, wedge-shaped posture cushions & chairs are available to buy in our Online Shop.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

What To Do When Your Life Falls Apart

* Free the neck. Think up. Let go of unnecessary tension.
* Lie down with the head supported comfortably with a book or two. Keep your knees up so your lower back can unclench. Think about the length and width of your torso. Think about your head gently releasing away from your torso. Think about your legs gently releasing away from your torso.
* The meaning of life is not a question that you ask life. It is a question that life asks you. What is life asking of you right now? As you let go of unnecessary muscular compression, you'll think more clearly. You'll see what you need to do.
* Now go do it with a free neck!