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 Singing Dragon publishing. Here's the link: https://uk.singingdragon.com/products/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 6: Finding the Innate Movements of Breathing and Walking

Penelope guides you deeper into the material in real time, to build and embody your learning

In chapter 6 we first discover how to observe and then let go of poor patterns of breathing. 

Natural breathing is effortless, yet gives support to the whole body on every part of the breath cycle. 

Learn to take this breathing deep into your core. You may discover parts of your body you never sensed before!

By allowing the natural movements of breathing new muscles come into play, that widen and lengthen the whole frame. You will discover new muscle patterns that balance and strengthen your body.

This work is deeply embodying and deeply calming.

You are guided out of common breathing traps such as straining or fixing on the in-breath or collapsing on the out-breath.

Find the innate mechanisms that will take you into easy walking and even get you bouncing!

Bonus: Four longer audio tracks provide meditative guides that you can use daily to relax, rebalance and recharge. Fantastic for insomniacs!

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

  • Bonus - longer audio tracks to use daily

  • Trouble shoot breathing issues

  • Understand whole body natural breathing as never before

Why does this series start at chapter 3 and miss out chapter 5?

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 with no explorations 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

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

Course curriculum

  • 1

    chapter 6: Finding the innate movements of breathing and walking

    • Exploration 6.1. Observing the breath

    • Exploration 6.2. Exploring false ways of expanding the lungs

    • Exploration 6.3 Noisy breathing and mouth breathing

    • Exploration 6.4. Stopping or straining the breath.

    • Exploration 6.5. Restoring the action of the diaphragm and floating ribs.

    • Exploration 6.5. Restoring the action of the diaphragm and floating ribs. Audio track

    • Exploration 6.6 part 1 – letting the diaphragm initiate the breath, and the ribs ride on the breath.

    • Exploration 6.6 part 1 – letting the diaphragm initiate the breath, and the ribs ride on the breath. Audio track

    • Exploration 6.6 part 2. Expanding the whole torso on every breath.

    • Exploration 6.6 part 2. Expanding the whole torso on every breath. Audio track

    • Exploration 6.7. The three types of muscle contractions

    • Exploration 6.8. Letting go of face or throat tension while breathing

    • Exploration 6.9. Tone and support from the ribs on the out-breath

    • Exploration 6.10. Going up on the out breath

    • Exploration 6.11. Allow the movement of the pelvic floor. Bonus: four ways to get in touch with the pelvic floor.

    • Exploration 6.12. Breathing in pelvic floor and legs

    • Exploration 6.12 Bonus: Deepening into the pelvic floor and legs

    • Exploration 6.13. Support for the lower body – finding the psoas muscle.

    • Exploration 6.13. Support for the lower body – finding the psoas muscle. Audio track

    • Exploration 6.14. Walking using the fundamentals

    • Exploration 6.15. Stopping without losing tone

    • Exploration 6.16. Starting to bounce

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.

Buy as a one-off purchase here,
or in a bundle with chapters 3 and 4
for the complete Part 1 package