FM’s Graveyard Students

He was their last hope, the desperate solution, the final wacky choice before the lid of their coffin was fastened over the top of their finally resting heads.

And of course – as we know – FM came through.

And only every time. Unbelievable.

I am having a lot of fun thinking about this stuff as I prepare my workshops in the ATSuccess London Symposium next month. (BTW, book in here before Christmas and save a ton).

My current thinking was stimulated by recent email from an Alexander Technique teacher in London who could not comprehend how groups could have helped in her case. Reading her dramatic story, I agreed. Yes – she needed intensive one-to-one (121) work given the health crisis she was experiencing.

This led me to reflect: Alexander got all the hard cases.

He produced all the miracle “cures” (sorry folks, but to ordinary people that’s how it appears). I remember reading in MSI a list of pathological conditions Alexander claimed his work could remedy, and thinking…

“Heavens. If you tried to put that list on a website today, you’d go to jail! At the very least, you’d get an immediate ‘Cease and Letter’ from the government, and a lot of incredibility from ordinary consumers.”

It’s like going to a restaurant that advertises:

“We do Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese!”

Immediately, you begin to distrust them.

What’s weird of course – in Alexander’s case – it was absolutely true. His work really could remedy most of those conditions.

But how many pupils do you get like that?

Or – a better question – how many pupils like that do you want?

I’m a Buddhist and it’s my avowed aim in life to help others, and so sorry but: I really don’t want pupils like that! Perhaps because I know I am not good at rehabilitation, my temperament is too impatient. Being honest about who you are is part of the work in my opinion.

Which is why I was attracted to Marj. She suited my temperament better.

Marj’s work appeared to be less about helping the desperate and lame, more about helping her students realize their potential as artists. Not that Marj had any inherent preference – I saw her help many people in pain. It’s just that life didn’t throw her students who were that desperate.

In a huge contrast to Alexander’s practise in London – with his network of impressed doctors – Marj was networked into University Arts departments (Acting, Dancing, Singing) in the USA. Her predominant audience was a bunch of young, purposeful, enthusiastic artistic types who were just beginning their lives, not on the brink of finishing them.

Do students like this really need a lesson every day? (which was FM’s teaching plan)

Do students like this need to be “reconditioned” (as Alexander put it in his last book 22 times) by being touched non-stop for 30 minutes?

Marj didn’t think so.

Besides, the bureaucrats at the University – unbeknown to Marj – had increased the size of her first group class ever –in Austin, Texas in 1973 – to 60 students.

“Oh my!”

(Marj told me years later as she was looking around at the 60 fresh, young faces eagerly awaiting for this old lady to explain why she was here…)

“I will have to figure out a whole new way of teaching.”

And she did. I first heard about the scandalous teaching methods of Marj while I was training in the late 70s in London. I strongly disapproved at the time.

“How can one person teach 60 people at once? It’s ridiculous!” I thought, as I headed off to get my daily 15 minute turn at the Highgate school of Betty and Paul Collins.

And yet, Marj figured out how. She really did.

And her extraordinary (revolutionary) teaching technology – that I still use today – began to be born. This is what I will be sharing during my “The Art of Teaching Groups” workshop in the London Symposium on Jan 30th. You can read more here (or use this link to register and pay).

My idea for the day is to collect teachers who have a real need to put together a program of group lessons – especially around the idea that this is the only contact their students will have to learn all about Alexander’s discovery.

***

I know that many teachers think like this:

“Oh, groups are a good way to convince people to come to lessons.”

Yes that’s true, I totally agree. And that’s not what I am showing you…

I’m showing you that it’s possible for your students to learn only from your group teaching experience. This is what I will be exploring with you in my London workshop. How does that work?

How can you make your groups powerful, effective, and fun learning experiences?

Of course, your students need to be basically healthy and of sound mind. That’s a given. And beyond that – what can you do? How effective can you be teaching in groups?

If that interests you, click here, read up more and register to be a Premium member. I will be giving a Masterclass session to all the Premium members. Many others will be there observing, taking notes, asking questions. My plan is to make this a breakthrough workshop for the teachers who come.

I have Marj to thank for my own first breakthrough.

Then I have to thank myself for spending 15 years building an AT biz in Japan that is totally crafted around groups. Yes, that’s right. BodyChance does not offer private lessons in Japan (except as a gift – yes, we still love them!)

And we’ve managed to succeed by group teaching alone. It’s possible. You can.

There’s more I can say, and will, in London.

Hope to see you there!

LINKS:

Program and Pricing

Registration and Payment

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