Study with Penelope

Work chapter by chapter through all the explorations of Penelope's book: The Alexander technique. Twelve fundamentals of integrated movement.

If you have not already obtained your copy, you can find it on my SHOP page to purchase it directly from Handspring publishing. Here's the link: https://www.handspringpublishing.com/product/the-alexander-technique/ or from most major book sellers. It is also available in Kindle format.

"You so embody what you teach and for me you are an inspiration - your work is definitely the missing link," Carolyn Butt, AT teacher

Chapter 3: the Fundamentals of Structure

These videos guide you deeper into the material in real time, building and embodying your learning

In Chapter 3 we discover the biomechanical organisation of our physical structure.

Discover that gravity is the dominant force on us pulling us down. To stand and move we must then fight gravity - a battle we will increasingly lose with age. 

How do we work to let gravity support us so that instead, we flow upwards?

First we will discover how to reawaken the feedback from our muscles and joints so that we can become aware of what we are doing right now, and whether or not it serves us well.

Balancing the head on the neck is key to this whole process, giving freedom of movement. From there we begin to let the whole body flow.

Benefits of this course

  • Penelope guides you through the explorations in real time, as if she is in the room with you

  • Go deeper into the material covered in the book

  • Troubleshoot problems with knees, ankles, necks, slumping, and more

  • Bonus - additional material that is not in the book

Raise your game by
learning the fundamentals underlying all movement

This course is for you

Alexander teachers, trainees and students,
yoga, Pilates or movement teachers and students,
sports or fitness enthusiasts and coaches,
tai chi and martial artists,
runners, swimmers and athletes,
riders, golfers, rowers and skiers,
somatic therapists, massage therapists or physios,
musicians, singers and their teachers,
actors, dancers and performers and
anyone who wants optimal movement patterns.

  • Learn the fundamentals underlying all movement

  • Improve coordination, mobility, strength and freedom simultaneously

  • Using the intelligence of your whole brain and body to aid your chosen activity

  • Develop greater consciousness of your movement patterns and how to improve them, even on 'bad' days

  • Benefit yourself and then your clients and students

  • Anyone can improve their quality of movement, strength, ease and poise

"I just finished the Chapter 3 video tutorial course, I made a huge improvement. I watched and practised the chapter videos twice. You know that learning Alexander technique without taking lessons, by itself is really hard. But your videos are amazing. I finally found the teaching I was looking for." Egemen Sarikas

Additional support available

Meet other students of this course

  • Join the Facebook community studying with Penelope

  • Sign up for seminars to have your questions answered live with Penelope

Why does this series start at chapter 3?

Because Chapter 3 is the first of the chapters with explorations. So there are no chapters 1 and 2 in this series as they introduce the book and its concepts. (Chapter 5 is also text only and so is not included.)

"Penelope really practices what she preaches. She teaches us how to work on ourselves and is totally authentic." Jill Payne, AT teacher

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Chapter 3. The fundamentals of structure.

    • Exploration 3.1. Getting in and out of a chair

    • Exploration 3.2: Noticing every part of your body

    • Exploration 3.2: Noticing every part of your body - alternative version

    • Exploration 3.3: fighting gravity

    • Exploration 3.4 Wakening this awareness in our lives. With bonus footage: six key places to observe yourself in daily life

    • Exploration 3.4 Bonus video: How to flow out of slumped, tensed or imbalanced postures

    • Exploration 3.5: Finding your stable base

    • Exploration 3.6: Freeing the knees. With bonus footage: troubleshooting for problem knees

    • Exploration 3.7: Freeing the ankles

    • Exploration 3.8 pt. 1: the atlanto-occipital (nodding) joint. Bonus - easy check of a balanced head

    • Exploration 3.8 pt. 2: Head balance and the eyes

    • Exploration 3.9: The axis joint (turning joint)

    • Exploration 3.10: Freeing up the jaw using "directions"

    • Exploration 3.11: Going up to your crown

    • Exploration 3.12: Think up the legs

    • Exploration 3.13: primary and secondary curves

    • Exploration 3.14: Linking up the body, coming into a flow of dynamic balance

Facilitator

Penelope Easten

Penelope’s story. I initially read zoology at Cambridge university. I took my first lessons in 1983 and qualified in 1989 from the North London Alexander School (Misha Magidov). After training, my use fell apart, as no-one had taught me to work on myself. This took me to Miss Goldie, who stripped away everything I had learnt, and rebuilt it as she saw the technique should be - a scary process! I worked with her for four years, and that began a thirty-year journey to understand the differences and power of Miss Goldie’s amazing work. It has taken me to many other teachers – including Erika Whittaker, John Hunter, and Jeando Masoero, and to many avenues of exploration and understanding – both scientific and alternative. From age seventeen, I also battled with another 30-year journey - with chronic fatigue syndrome. This is now sorted, but after it I needed to rebuild tone and strength, and increased calm and resilience, which this work has enabled. I have been teaching workshops on Miss Goldie’s work since the Oxford Congress in 2004, in UK, Ireland (including the Limerick Congress), Germany and America. My book: The Alexander technique. The twelve fundamentals of integrated movement was published by Handspring Publishing in March 2021. After 19 years in the West of Ireland, I now live in Edinburgh with my husband and dog, and nearby to my daughter and small grandchildren. I am passionate to share this work that can bring us such renewed vigour, sense of youthful springiness and calm presence.

Introductory offer

The full price of this course of chapter 3 explorations is €74. As an introductory offer, you can have it for €44 to get you started.

Chapters 3, 4 and 6 together give all the explorations of part 1, and underpin the whole book. These can be bought together as a bundle for a 10% reduction.

Buy as a one-off purchase here,
or in a bundle with chapters 4 and 6
for the complete Part 1 package