30th – 31st March 2010 – Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique for riders with Philippa Morrell
Imagine you have taken a child to ride on your shoulders. If the child sways around, slumps, tightens up with fear you feel it. If the child is confident and balanced you walk along happily carrying the weight. The horse is a sensitive creature; he feels a fly on his back – think how he must feel with you on his back if you and he are not in harmony.
The Alexander Technique can help you to find that harmony. It can improve your balance and body awareness and help you develop a more independent seat. You can learn to be more effective in a subtle but powerful way: toned rather than tense, relaxed but not floppy.
Since how you are off the horse is reflected in the way you ride, Philippa will start by working with you on the ground, and on a saddle horse. You are also welcome and indeed encouraged to have extra lessons outside the riding environment.
Philippa used the Alexander Technique to help her redevelop her own riding skills. She has competed up to Prix St Georges level in competition dressage and now has a strong interest in Classical Dressage. Based in Hay on Wye and covering Herefordshire, South Shropshire and the Welsh Border, Philippa has been teaching the Alexander Technique since April 2004 when she graduated from the Cumbria Alexander Training School in Kendal.
We are pleased to inform you that Philippa will be coming to give a talk and demonstration in the Gallery on Tuesday, March 30th at 6.30pm. Tickets are £5 each and are available from the office. She will then be available at Trifec during the day on Wednesday, 31st March to give individual lessons. These will be £35 for a 45 minute dismounted lesson. Please put your name on the list in the Gallery if you are interested.
