The Alexander Technique

by Richard Brennan

Audio Cassette Tape                Approx 40 minutes

This audio cassette is intended to be a good accompaniment to any of Brennan's Alexander Technique books, but works very well on its own.  Side One is intended for use if you are new to the Technique and Side Two is for when you are more experienced and expands your awareness.  The tape talks you through a simple procedure that helps you let go of unwanted muscle tension. This is intended to improve your breathing and posture, and in turn can prevent or relieve backache, neck-ache, headaches and stress.  Designed to be used over and over again, benefiting you each time it is played.  Useful as an accompaniment to lessons, although not a substitute.

This recording is well delivered and one of the better examples of self help audio.  A CD version is also available.

About the Author
Richard Brennan ATI, MSTAT has studied the Alexander Technique since 1983.  He runs a busy practice in Galway, teaches numerous classes and gives, talks, lectures and workshops throughout Europe and is also the national contact for Alexander Technique International in Ireland, a world-wide organisation whose aim is to bring the Technique to a greater audience.  He has written a number of books on the Alexander Technique.

The Alexander Technique
by Richard Brennan

CD                    Approx 40 minutes

This CD is intended to be a good accompaniment to any of Brennan's Alexander Technique books, but works very well on its own.  It consists of two tracks: the first is intended for use if you are new to the Technique; and the second is for when you are more experienced and expands your awareness.   The CD talks you through a simple procedure that helps you let go of unwanted muscle tension. This is intended to improve your breathing and posture, and in turn can prevent or relieve backache, neck-ache, headaches and stress.  Designed to be used over and over again, benefiting you each time it is played.  Useful as an accompaniment to lessons, although not a substitute.

This recording is well delivered and one of the better examples of self help audio.  An audio tape cassette version is also available.

About the Author
Richard Brennan ATI, MSTAT has studied the Alexander Technique since 1983.  He runs a busy practice in Galway, teaches numerous classes and gives, talks, lectures and workshops throughout Europe and is also the national contact for Alexander Technique International in Ireland, a world-wide organisation whose aim is to bring the Technique to a greater audience.  He has written a number of books on the Alexander Technique.

Meditations for a Happy Life - CD
by Deborah Coote

Published 2010                       

This CD contains a collection of transformational and practical meditations taken from the book, Ingredients for a Happy Life … Tea, Cake, Meditation and is suitable for both beginners and those who already meditate regularly. Each track runs for ten minutes and combines guided imagery and analytical meditations to facilitate awareness, well-being and peace.
About the Author
Deborah Coote is a Teacher of the Alexander Technique as well as teaching classes, courses and workshops in meditation.   More information at www.deborahcoote.com

Sweeping the Bones
by Joan Diamond

CD        30 minutes

This is one of three CDs by Joan Diamond, for use whilst lying semi-supine, this one is an exploration of breath with the Alexander Technique.  Instructions are given concentrating on the breathing, bringing awareness to parts of the body.  The CD should be used in conjunction with Alexander Technique lessons.  Some of the instructions are quite anatomical and so better suited to students with some anatomical knowledge related to Alexander Technique practise.

About the Author
Joan Diamond is a senior teacher of the Alexander Technique at the Cumbria Alexander Training School in the Lake District, UK.

Directing into Movement
by Joan Diamond

CD        33 minutes

This is one of three CDs by Joan Diamond, for use whilst lying semi-supine, this one directs awareness around the body.

Some of the instructions are quite anatomical and so better suited to students with some anatomical knowledge related to Alexander Technique practise.

The CD should be used in conjunction with Alexander Technique lessons.

About the Author
Joan Diamond is a senior teacher of the Alexander Technique at the Cumbria Alexander Training School in the Lake District, UK.

Walking the Oppositions
by Joan Diamond

CD        32 minutes

This is one of three CDs by Joan Diamond, for use whilst lying semi-supine, this one is an imaginative walking journey.  Joan Diamond uses a rhythmic phrase corresponding to directions during the act of walking which is repeated over and over.  There is an introductory track which explains the ‘code’ used in this phrase.  The 2^nd track consists almost entirely of this phrase repeated over and over again for half an hour.

Some of the instructions are quite anatomical and so better suited to students with some anatomical knowledge related to Alexander Technique practise.

The CD should be used in conjunction with Alexander Technique lessons.

About the Author
Joan Diamond is a senior teacher of the Alexander Technique at the Cumbria Alexander Training School in the Lake District, UK.

Use of the Hands – A Teachers’ Practice CD

by Joan Diamond

CD                    Approx 40 minutes

This CD is a set of directions for the use of the hands which is proving popular with Teachers of the Alexander Technique.  It is described as “a meditation on the hands; on the use of the hands and on Alexander’s words - let the hands be like clouds”.  There are two tracks on the CD, the first takes teachers through guided directions whilst lying semi-supine; the second shorter track focuses on chair work. 

About the Author
Joan Diamond is a senior teacher of the Alexander Technique at the Cumbria Alexander Training School in the Lake District, UK.  She also a set of CDs for pupils to use while lying semi-supine.

The Art of Changing
by Glen Park

CD        Published 2005

This CD complements Glen Park's book of the same name and contains audio tracks designed to be listened to while lying in semi-supine.   Glen Park combines her particular interest in energy and aura with Alexander Principles to expand the ‘directions’.  The CD has a short introduction followed by four twenty minute guided visualisation tracks.

1. Introduction
2. Refining Self Awareness (a body scan)
3. Giving Directions (a shorter bodyscan, followed by a way of thinking about the Alexander directions).
4. Working with Light Energy (suggests working with light energy to bring about releasing changes in the body, also working with Alexander directions).
5. Energising the Chakras (working with light energy and the chakras).

The CD is well-recorded and narrated in a pleasant voice.

About the Author
Glen Park combines her work is a Teacher of the Alexander Technique with auras and energy work in what she calls ‘psychophysical integration’.  She is based in Devon, and has run workshops all over the world.  Recently she has returned to her interest in theatre and performance, and runs several workshops working with actors and drama students.

Relax in Time
by Ken Thompson

Audio Tape Cassette    1999                 65 minutes

Ken Thompson is a Yoga teacher as well as a teacher of the Alexander Technique and this audio tape contains four relaxation sessions.   Side 1 includes Tension and Release and Countryside Tranquility; and Side 2 introduces the Semi-Supine Position to encourage optimum length into the spine, and a fourth session called Energy Flow.

About the Author
Ken Thompson is a Yoga teacher as well as a teacher of the Alexander Technqiue.  He trained with Walter & Dilys Carrington and qualified in 1979.  Since then he has been teaching both privately and on training courses, and has travelled and taught throughout the UK and around the world.   In 1988 he set up the Essex Alexander Training School.

Relax in Time
by Ken Thompson

CD        1999                 65 minutes

Ken Thompson is a Yoga teacher as well as a teacher of the Alexander Technique and this CD contains four relaxation sessions.   Side 1 includes Tension and Release and Countryside Tranquility; and Side 2 introduces the Semi-Supine Position to encourage optimum length into the spine, and a fourth session called Energy Flow.

About the Author
Ken Thompson is a Yoga teacher as well as a teacher of the Alexander Technqiue.  He trained with Walter & Dilys Carrington and qualified in 1979.  Since then he has been teaching both privately and on training courses, and has travelled and taught throughout the UK and around the world.   In 1988 he set up the Essex Alexander Training School.

Miriam's Lying Down
by Miriam Wohl and Sue Thame

Audio Cassette Tape                2002                 16 minutes

This audio tape provides an easy listen whilst lying semi-supine.  It takes the listener through the Alexander Directions, focusing on each part of the body in turn.  Miriam Wohl has a pleasant and soothing voice.  The words are adapted from a script written by Sue Thame.

Please note that this tape is recommended as an aid to lessons and will only be sold with that in mind.  It is, however, quite simple and straightforward in its approach, with less anatomical detail than some of the audio material available, and therefore suitable for newcomers to the Technique.

About the Author

Miriam Wohl is a doctor of medicine who came to the Alexander Technique following a back injury and found it did much more than improve her medical condition.  She has now been teaching the Alexander Technique in Leicester for 17 years and still works part-time as a doctor.

Miriam's Lying Down
by Miriam Wohl and Sue Thame

CD                    2002                 16 minutes

This CD provides an easy listen whilst lying semi-supine.  It takes the listener through the Alexander Directions, focusing on each part of the body in turn.  Miriam Wohl has a pleasant and soothing voice.  The words are adapted from a script written by Sue Thame.

Please note that this CD is recommended as an aid to lessons and will only be sold with that in mind.  It is, however, quite simple and straightforward in its approach, with less anatomical detail than some of the audio material available, and therefore suitable for newcomers to the Technique.

About the Author

Miriam Wohl is a doctor of medicine who came to the Alexander Technique following a back injury and found it did much more than improve her medical condition.  She has now been teaching the Alexander Technique in Leicester for 17 years and still works part-time as a doctor.