MANAGING PAIN AND INJURY WITH THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE

Managing Pain and Injury with the
Alexander Technique
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Alexander Technique has, for over a century, been an effective and life-altering reeducation
of body and mind for people in all walks of life. This includes people who have
physical or emotional discomfort due to stress, postural habits, movement problems, old
injuries or poor self-esteem.
The Alexander Technique is also used by performing artists, athletes and martial artists,
voice and movement educators, psychologists and physical therapists, public speakers,
business professionals and horse riders.
It teaches us that, through practicing awareness and clear intention, we can regain our
early experiences of natural ease and the pleasure of movement, while avoiding future
injury.
This workshop is a balance of essential information and gentle hands-on communication
to facilitate optimum learning and will include:
� A brief history of F. M. Alexander and the origins of the Alexander Technique
� Body Mapping:
a) An interactive exploration into our understanding of basic anatomy so that we
can fully appreciate the elegance and beauty of the human form
b) A guide to help us identify any misunderstandings about our structure that can
influence how we use our bodies
� The operating principals of the Alexander Technique and their importance in
developing a deeper and more natural co-ordination in breath and movement
� Relevant web site and literature references for further study
NOTE: Participants are encouraged to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
Instructor:
Monica Gray is an Alexander Technique teacher with a long
and varied background in dance and related somatic disciplines
and has taught extensively in Canada, the U.S. and Japan. She
resides in Toronto and received her certification from he
Alexander Foundation in Philadelphia in 1987.

Monica studied anatomy, both in a formal setting at the University of Toronto and with
several experiential anatomy teachers worldwide. She also integrates evolutionary
movement and early childhood development patterns into her classes and workshops.
Over the past 20 years her students have included victims of occupational and motor
vehicle accidents, members of the business community suffering from repetitive stress
injuries, performers of all kinds, either to improve their performance skills or to deal with
injury, and many others too numerous to mention.
While maintaining her practice in Toronto, Monica is also a movement coach and
Alexander Technique teacher at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the Canadian Opera
Company, the University of Toronto Faculty of Music and the Wilfrid Laurier Faculty of
Music.
In 2006 Monica completed the postgraduate program The Art of Breathing, with master
Alexander teacher Jessica Wolf, in New York City. In 1907, F.M. Alexander was known
as “the breathing man” and published The Theory and Practice of a New Method of
Respiratory Re-Education. Carl Stough coined the term “Breathing Co-ordination” to
reflect his discovery revealing the consistent synergistic operation of the muscles of
respiration at maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Jessica Wolf studied with Carl
Stough for over 20 years and has developed The Art of Breathing focused on the
principals of the Alexander Technique as applied to Breathing Co-ordination.
Monica is the only Canadian certified to teach The Art of Breathing and is one of only 30
Alexander teachers worldwide. She is a licensed holistic practitioner with Metro Toronto
Licensing and Standards.