From Alexander Technique Clients
Jonathan Bowen-Davies, Stroud, Gloucestershire – Manager of Specsavers
About 15 years ago I injured my back lifting some heavy loads carelessly and although some therapy and exercise helped, it never felt pain free.
The Alexander Technique first came to my notice when a friend told me they had found it helpful. I admit I was sceptical but having tried a few other things without much success I decided to look into it further.
I telephoned Rachel and we had a long discussion, which resulted in a first lesson, soon followed by a further five. By that stage I was making good progress and felt it was helping me identify some long held bad habits. It gave me the knowledge and skills to change and I now have the occasional lesson just to keep up.
I can now say that every aspect of my life has become easier and more comfortable. Walking, cycling, driving as well as working and just sitting down with a book are all much improved. Even the way I sit, stand or simply move about is now different.
After nearly eighteen months of learning and practising the Alexander Technique I would encourage anyone to find out more. I believe it has something to offer everyone – whether you feel you have a problem or not.
Sue Smith, Stroud – Editor of Stroud News and Journal
After a short demonstration in which Rachel assessed and guided me through some sitting and standing exercises, I could feel myself growing taller. My arms lengthened, I was breathing more evenly and have been making a conscious effort to sit straight, even when driving.
Will Abbott LLB, FCA, AMSF, MInstLM
I approached Rachel after a professional colleague recommended Alexander Technique. My posture, head forward, rounded shoulders was the result of having spent 45+ years working at a desk and I assumed it was too big a thing for me to change. I was pleasantly surprised to see the effect on my posture after only 6 lessons over 6 weeks. This was reinforced by my noticing a t-shirt for sale in a shop which I liked and then remembering that “I don’t buy t-shirts because I don’t like the way I look in them”, followed by “That’s not true any more, I look fine in a t-shirt”.
However, I have learned that AT is much more than a way to correct posture. It is about recognising the influence of the body on how we feel and think.
In a professional capacity, more recently I have noticed people mention my openness and approachability in meetings. This is a direct result of my improved posture and awareness. Without doubt it has contributed to successful outcomes from meetings, including winning new business.
For anyone who has an open mind, is looking to increase confidence and be less self conscious I do not hesitate to recommend Rachel and her teaching of the Alexander Technique.
Penny Scrivener, Cheltenham – Nutritionalist
I am 67 and went to Rachel because of recurrent headaches and migraine which I’ve suffered from since my early twenties. Chiropractic worked temporarily but the headaches always returned. At every chiropractic treatment the same imbalances were found, so it was obvious that something I was doing was causing them, and I decided to try the Alexander Technique.
After just the first session with Rachel I knew that I had found my answer. I have had ten sessions now and have not had a headache for seven weeks and, despite feeling completely better, I have decided to continue fortnightly for another few weeks because I know the technique has so much more to teach me.
It has changed my life in many ways and Rachel is a wonderful example of the Technique in practice.
Annabelle Preston, Bristol – Nursery Manager
It was so lovely to see you again and I cannot thank you enough for coming over to my house and giving me an Alexander lesson. I am so grateful and lucky to have such a wonderful, intuitive and supportive person in my life as you, who can recharge and restore my inner sense of well-being and self-belief! Thank you so much Rachel.
Prue Howarth, Nailsworth – Retired Lecturer
My back is so much better. I can carry shopping which I have not been able to do for 20 years. This has worked for me when other medical professionals have not been able to solve my problems or make sense of symptoms.
Quite literally “magic” – but based in so much totally convincing sense.
Jo Teakle, Cheltenham – Senior Administrator NHS
Of all the different therapies I’ve tried, to cope with my back and neck pain, Alexander Technique has been by far the most helpful.
Philomena Mallet, Cheltenham – Wife and Mother
Have travelled two lots of seven hours in the car, not a back pain in sight, marvellous!
Alan Jackson, Gotherington, Cheltenham
Hi Rachel,
Once again thank you for the lessons. As I write this I am sitting relaxed with good posture and free of tension.
Maria Wells at Severn Vale Housing, Tewkesbury
Danielle Revill at Severn Vale Housing, Tewkesbury
Emily Grandis – Primary School Teacher Ibiza
A.G. Cheltenham – Wife/Mother and Grandmother
Lis Greenaway, Stroud – Gardener and Home maker
Margaret – Nailsworth
From the RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) Newsletter – Miranda Rowell BBC Bristol
Testimonial from Kathryn in Gloucestershire
Many people had said to me that Alexander technique would help with posture, digestion and well-being and they were right. You can’t learn Alexander technique from a book in my opinion – you need a teacher and Rachel is an excellent teacher. She is knowledgeable, adapts her teaching to the needs of each person and my lessons with her were instructive and enjoyable too. I definitely recommend Alexander technique and Rachel as a teacher – I am very grateful to her for the improvements I have noticed following my lessons with her.
Testimonials from Stress Illness and Pain Resolution (SIRPA) Clients
Having experienced three to four months of intense shoulder pain, I never would have imagined I could be pain free. However, Rachel taught me how to identify the pain’s source and that it wasn’t physical but a stress illness. Using a variety of techniques, addressing and taking ownership of the issues at the root cause and ultimately Rachel’s guidance, I have been pain free for months now.
Understanding that the mind is the most powerful part of our being has been the key.
Testimonials from Psych-K Clients
In brief, one of the things I was struggling with was to find a new job. As a 50 something women, who had previously had a good career and owned my own business, I was struggling to find a decent, well paid job. For anyone who has been in this situation, whatever age, you know the impact such a situation can have on your confidence, self esteem and general well-being. Rachel has great, warm energy and I immediately felt relaxed in her company. The session brought to the fore a number of potential ‘blockers’, although I won’t attempt to describe the therapy as I don’t think I would do it justice. What I can say, and this is the part that stills amazes me, is that immediately on leaving my session with Rachel things started to happen. After 6 months of sending out CV’s daily, that very afternoon I had a call from a recruitment company with not one but three jobs they would like to talk to me about. And, following a series of interviews, I now have a new, rather fabulous job!
PSYCH-K, for me, has been an incredibly positive, uplifting and beneficial experience and I can’t recommend Rachel highly enough, she is fabulous.” Kathryn (Cheltenham)
“I was introduced to Rachel for Psych-K sessions because I felt stuck in my recovery from chronic fatigue and unable to find the next phase of forward direction and improvement. This impacted on my belief in my ability to get well.
Rachel helped me to change my inner beliefs and in the process I also started to work with her on Rest and Restore techniques. Rachel taught me how to tune into my body and how to really listen to my symptoms and translate them into the underlying emotion so that I could really start to fully understand myself and my needs.
It was an extremely valuable and insightful experience in a way that I began to see how tense and fearful I had become and I was then able to focus on self- reassurance and deeper levels of acceptance and relaxation.
The improvements in my health and overall wellbeing has been amazing. I can’t thank her enough!” Amy Bishop
“I’ve been having some Psych-K sessions with Rachel. Thanks to her I am able to relax and enjoy life more fully. Rachel tunes in to my needs with gentle perceptiveness, and with remarkable precision she helps me to put them into words. After each session I feel supported and uplifted, and things begin to fall into place for me without further effort. Since my last session I’ve noticed beneficial changes in many ways, and am very grateful to Rachel for her patience, compassion and professionalism.”
