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Alexander Technique: the Ground Rules
Marjory Barlow in conversation with Sean Carey
This book reveals unique information and insights about FM Alexander, the first Alexander training course established in 1931, and what Marjory Barlow considered to be the ground rules of the Alexander Technique, including monkey, squatting, hands over the back of a chair, going up on the toes, going back from the ankles, the lunge, the whispered ah, and lying down.
An essential addition to any Alexander teacher's library...
Sean Carey must be congratulated on putting together a tightly focused project based upon three very significant aspects of Marjory Barlow's experiences. Firstly, covering the very personal reasons of why she originally took lessons , then her experiences of life on that earliest of training courses, and finally, the very pivotal 'stuff' for us coal-face Alexander folk, the Ground Rules for all the basic techniques.
-- Barry Collins, Alexander Teacher and former dentist
Because of the emphasis she placed on thinking as fundamental to the practise of the Technique, and because, by our observation, this aspect of the Technique is most easily lost sight of, the opportunity to hear Marjory Barlow’s thoughts, skilfully drawn out by Sean Carey’s questions, is very timely, and should be welcomed by all those interested in the Alexander Technique
-- Adam and Rosemary Nott (Rosemary and Adam Nott were trained by Marjory Barlow and qualified as teachers in 1958 and 1976 respectively.They ran a training course together from 1986 to 1999)
. . . Marjory Barlow’s memories of FM Alexander and his teaching during the 1930s are an invaluable resource now that nearly all his original teachers are no longer here to guide us.
-- Anne Battye (was trained by MB in 1964, has been teaching all around the world, and is a STAT moderator)
Although I’m not an Alexander Technique teacher, I nonetheless found that Sean Carey's book interview with Marjory Barlow a fascinating and insightful account of the early teaching methods employed by FM Alexander’s first-generation teachers. I've had lessons for many years and the discussion of the basic Alexander Technique ‘ground rules’ I found to be utterly relevant.
-- Dr Dalton Exley, author and publisher.
By post: HITE Ltd, 10 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF - Pay by cheque
ISBN: 978-0-9568997-0-5 New in paperback, 216x138mm, 152 pages and over 50 pictures, Published by HITE Books, London July 2011
