Finding Physical, Mental Well Being With The Alexander Technique

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The second annual Alexander Technique in the Ozarks workshop is being offered on the University of Arkansas campus this summer by the Departments of Drama and Music in Fulbright College. Alexander Technique in the Ozarks will take place starting at 7 p.m., Monday, July 29 through 12 p.m., Saturday, August 3.

The evenings will feature events from the music and drama departments. Last summer this successful event drew participants from Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and Arkansas.

The workshop faculty is headed by master teacher Frank Ottiwell of San Francisco. Mr. Ottiwell, who has been teaching and acting at the American Conservatory Theatre for the past 34 seasons, was a founding director of the American Center for the Alexander Technique in New York and California. He is also director of the Alexander Training Institute of San Francisco. Other teachers include Michael Frederick of Los Angeles, Carol Boggs of Washington, D. C., Glenna Batson of North Carolina and Kate Frank of Fayetteville.

F. M. Alexander (1869-1955), a Tasmanian born Shakespearean actor and orator, experienced vocal problems that sent him into an extended period of self-study during which he developed this mind-body technique. It solved his vocal problems and also healed his persistent respiratory problems.

As he started teaching others what he had discovered, it became clear that his technique was universally applicable. Today it is taught throughout the world to people of all ages, from all backgrounds and professions. Although Alexander loved teaching his technique to children, who benefited from increased mental, physical and emotional health throughout life, it has been used mainly as a re-educational tool for people with performing difficulties, pain, and physical problems.

"The technique is a whole-body approach to the use of the self in any activity," said Janice Yoes, a workshop organizer. "It leads to a new sense of freedom, ease and efficiency, bringing the student back from habitual inefficient usage of the self to what nature intended."

Many of us, who may be in good health otherwise, complain of such things as back pain, excessive fatigue, poor posture, lack of flexibility or general tension. "It seems that these conditions are somehow inflicted on us, but actually they are very often the result of the way we have been using our bodies habitually over time," said Frank Ottiwell.

Ottiwell believes that paying attention to a single ailment or area of difficulty often results in only temporary relief or ease, because the trouble has been caused by a system of bad habits that we are so used to we don't notice them until they produce discomfort. The only way to correct such habits, he maintains, is to learn to replace them with a system of good habits. That is the aim of the Alexander Technique.

The workshop is open to everyone, with UA faculty, staff and students receiving a $50 discount on the $500 tuition price. Anyone wishing to register or receive a brochure for the event can do so by calling Claudia Cochrane of Continuing Education at 501-575-3604.

Information is also available through the web site at http://www.alexandertechniqueintheozarks.com/ or by e-mailing Janice Yoes at jyoes@uark.edu.