Karla Booth Diamond, M.AmSAT
THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
We go through life “doing”as much as we can and often as quickly as we can. And the world is moving faster all the time. This brings about elevated levels of tension throughout the body, mental stress, a busy mind and a disconnection between our mind and body. The Alexander Technique teaches us that we can pause and reconnect our thinking, body and mind so that we can function more effectively and with less stress.
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How you think guides how you live & move.
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In the process of studying the Alexander Technique we become more mindful of not only our body usage, but of how our thinking and emotions affect and reflect throughout the body. The technique shines a light on patterns of tension and habits of movement and thought that interfere with our innate ability to live life with ease.
Awareness, Poise, Balance
CONTACT
KARLA
Karla Booth Diamond
As a young dancer I unfortunately experienced neck and back pain. I had a hyperextended lower back and struggled to get my pelvis underneath me. It seemed the harder I tried the worse it became. And then after a year working as a massage therapist I began to have terrible sciatic pain and days when I couldn't work or dance. A friend who did massage suggested I take an Alexander lesson with her teacher. I wasn't sure what the technique was but I trusted her recommendation.
During my first lesson I began to understand that yes, I was actually making it worse by pushing and tucking and that if I changed my thinking and followed the guidance of my teacher's hands I could actually "allow" my hips and back to unwind and become more balanced muscularly. This released my habitual patterns of tension and completely changed my back. The first lesson also brought to my attention how tight my neck was and how connected it was to my lower back usage. Suddenly I thought this is what my teachers have always been trying to get me to do!!!! And somehow I'm doing the opposite!
That was enough to convince me that I wanted to study intensively and it wasn't long before I knew I wanted to train to become an Alexander Teacher. I trained at the American Center for the Alexander Technique in NYC from 1987 - 1990 under an incredible faculty which included teachers who had trained with FM Alexander. After graduating I was on the Volunteer Assistant Faculty until moving to London and I have also assisted on several other training programs over the years. This is my 35th year of teaching and I have been fortunate to teach workshops to many diverse groups from performers, physiotherapists, dancers and yoga teachers as well as with people with Parkinson's, MS and those recovering from injuries. My teaching has taken me to Australia, Sweden, the UK as well as throughout the US.
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Life is an adventure and I love movement and teaching movement. I have taught Senior Exercise, Swing Dance, had a Bellydance Company and taught yoga for over 20 years. My latest adventure is on the seas with my husband on our sailboat. You can find out more on the Clarity page.
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