The Expanding Self
by Goddard Binkley

Published 1993            178 pages

This is an extensive diary of Goddard Binkley's lessons with F M Alexander and also includes notes and observations on Alexander's teacher training course. His book is divided into three parts with a foreword by Walter Carrington.  Part 1 contains a description of his life prior to his contact with the Technique and reveals him to be someone of wide interests, but with personal problems, both “mental” and “physical”, that restricted his personal growth and development. Part 2 is an account, in diary form, of his lessons with Alexander (1951-53). Part 3 continues with an account (also in diary form) of his experiences on the training course (1953-57).

Throughout the diary Goddard has thoughtfully inserted quotations from Alexander’s four books to underline and explain the many difficulties he had during his lessons. He was not a ‘silent’ pupil and Alexander encouraged him to ask questions.  What comes across so strongly in the diary is Alexander’s liveliness and energy (he was 82 when Goddard started his lessons).  Binkley's observations about the Technique, and his own struggles with depression, provide a fascinating read.

About the Author
Goddard Binkley (1920-1987) began having lessons in the Alexander Technique during his studies for a Ph.D. in Sociology at the New School for Social Research, New York. He went to London in 1951 for a course of individual lessons with F.M. Alexander. He joined F.M. Alexander's last teacher training course in 1953 and qualified in 1957.  He taught the technique in the U.S. from 1959 to 1981 and in Paris from 1981 to 1987.  He ran Alexander Technique teacher training courses from 1975-1987.