Student Comments

Over the past 20 years I've tried a number of techniques, from massage to yoga to Rolfing and chiropractic. All of them have been helpful and useful but nothing has improved my day to day living with my body as much as Amira and the Alexander technique. It is always available for use wherever I am and whatever I'm doing.
         - John Baylor, Software Engineer
Click here to read John's blog about applying the Alexander Technique to swimming.

"I am so grateful to you and the Alexander Technique. Twenty-four hours after our first session I was able to pinpoint and begin to alleviate the main source of my chronic back and neck stress: something two doctors were not able to do for me. After our second session I came to the joyous realization that back pain does not have to be part of the normal aging process; that a person can learn to re-establish a friendship between body and mind. And after our third session I was dancing again!"
         -Cindy Neureuther, Retired, Age 56

The Alexander Technique was the first thing I tried that actually improved my sciatica pain. And I felt the difference right away. Over time, as I learned more of the technique, it only got better.
         - Deborah Bayer, Nurse

I started studying the Alexander Technique with Amira when I realized how tense I was while playing the guitar and how negatively that was affecting the music...both technically and expressively. Not only was there tension in my fingers, arms, neck, and back, but the clincher was that I was tight in my stomach as well. In learning the Alexander Technique, I learned (and am still learning) how to release all the extra useless and detrimental effort I put into my classical guitar playing. I now use the appropriate amount of effort and the appropriate muscles for fingering; no longer creating tension in my whole body when I play. As a result, I no longer have the back pain with which I have struggled for so many years, and have little, if any, tension when I play. What I've learned has allowed my playing to be much more effortless, freer and cleaner so that the musical content can be totally explored and expressed.
         - Robert Brandon, Classical Guitarist

After two lessons with Amira, I realized how to release the deeply ingrained tension in my neck. The result has been amazing - I haven't slept this deeply and soundly since I was a teenager.
         - Michele Voilleque, Soprano and Music Educator

I took a group class with Amira and can now sit comfortably in meditation and also at performances with cramped seating. I used to always fidget in my seat trying to be comfortable. I'm very happy that not only can I sit comfortably in all situations, I have learned to use my body more effectively in other activities, such as cooking and knitting. Thanks, Amira!
         - Participant in 10 session/5 week class

For over a year and a half, I suffered from severe sciatic nerve pain due to a herniated disc. I woke up every night from pain and getting up in the morning was on par with labor pain. I received short term relief from epidural cortisone shots but the benefit from each shot wore off after about 1 month. After just a few lessons with Amira, I became aware of certain ways that I hold my body that created the condition that causes and exacerbates my sciatica and back pain. I was able to immediately use what I learned to help. Certain activities were especially likely to cause flare ups such as gardening or lifting heavy objects (such as full laundry baskets). Amira's lessons are very practical - she had me outside weeding in her garden and got a laundry basket from her house and worked with me on lifting a fully loaded basket properly. I used to take strong pain medication every day. I have had 20 lessons with Amira and now I am pain free most days just by using the techniques that Amira taught me. I highly recommend Amira as a teacher; she is gentle, intuitive and very effective. I leave her lessons feeling lighter, calmer and centered.
         - Cynthia Mah, Mother of Two

I always feel great when I leave my lesson with Amira. I am standing straighter and feel so light. Amira has already help me eliminate at least 70% of my chronic neck and shoulder pain! These sessions are a real treat!
         - Sandra Angell, Retired Corporate Manager

After fifteen years of chronic pain from my neck all the way down my spine and into my finger tips, and innumerable frustrating attempts to find answers and relief, Amira has helped me to both understand my pain and take charge of it. I feel wholly empowered and confident that, as I continue to work with her, I will be able to use my body gracefully, efficiently, and powerfully to accomplish any physical or mental task I want. Since working with her, I have been able to improve every activity I engage in, in particular my swimming and running. I now swim tirelessly and effortlessly and have acquired an awareness that enables me to grow more with each swim. I had stopped running several years ago because of the strain and discomfort it caused. But, recently, I decided on a whim to try again since the pool was closed. I used the Alexander Technique directions Amira has taught me and was surprised to find not only that running was light and easy as swimming, but also that I could run much further and longer than I ever had before. I am deeply grateful to Amira, who is gentle, generous, intuitive, and thorough in her work and has given me the gift of self-direction and self-knowledge to drastically change my approach to living.
         - Preetha Mani, UC Berkeley Graduate Student

I came to see Amira, not for pain, but for chronic tension patterns that were left over from a car accident when I was 13 years old. Her sessions help me to break the patterns that create tension and teach me ways to have more ease in the way I sit, stand and move. Her work on the table is better than a massage and I look forward to it every week. After my last session, I had to adjust my rear view mirror to accommodate how my spine had lengthened. I was actually taller! I recommend her work to anyone that wants to have greater ease in their life.          - Kara Sorensen, Acupuncturist

I am feeling really great after my Alexander Technique lesson! It's so amazing to feel like I am starting to have some skills to prevent the chronic fatigue, pain, tension and worse, that result from endlessly sitting in an incorrect posture. I am starting to see meetings as an opportunity to practice healthy sitting. Hooray! The results have been wonderful!
         - Amy Karon, Public Health Veteriniarian

After just a few lessons with Amira, I became much more aware of certain ways that I hold my body throughout the day that create needless pain and tension. I use what I've learned in my lessons to release tension, relax my body and to use my body more effectively. The result, on a daily basis, is less tension, less pain, more comfort and more awareness. I was surprised how much my thinking and awareness changed after a brief exposure to the concepts of the Alexander Technique. Although I think it's a lifelong journey to learn more about this technique, I found a lot of information readily accessible with just a few lessons. One of the great things about this work is that Amira gives you tools you can use yourself throughout the day, at work, travelling, etc. It's very empowering.
         -Julie Schindler, Licensed Architect

I recently had a session with Amira and, afterwards, my body felt the way it does after receiving any great bodywork... relaxed, relieved, changed. What was different from other bodywork is that, even after just one session, I knew my body had learned to move both in a stronger and more fluid way. In addition, I loved her bedside manner, her confidence, knowledge and the way my body responded to her instruction.
         -Barbara Reiner, Counselor

I've been studying the Alexander Technique this past year with Amira Alvarez. In a nutshell, the Alexander Technique is a practice that teaches you how to naturally move your body for common everyday activities such as walking, getting in and out of a chair, and sitting at a desk to avoid and relieve chronic pain and tension, and to promote a stronger sense of well being. I've found that this practice has almost eliminated my chronic tight Achilles tendons and has given me more energy and confidence in both physical and mental activities.
         -Katherine Wenc, Manager, Apple Inc.

After taking Alexander Technique lessons with Amira, I improved my form, movement and performance in many activities - ranging from sitting at my desk to swimming long distances. Through increased awareness of my body and its alignment, I reduced wrist pain caused by Carpel-Tunnel Syndrome and learned how to avoid future pain and injury. The Alexander Technique also improved my running and swimming endurance by teaching me how to move more efficiently and with ease. As an instructor, Amira was enthusiastic, dynamic and responsive to my needs. Not only did she tailor each lesson to my goals, she provided invaluable encouragement and information. It was a true pleasure to work with her!
         - Cindy Huang, Graduate Student, UC Berkeley

Many thanks for your teachings and healing touch. I'm so fortunate to have found you and grateful for learning some of the Alexander Technique. His work through you contributes greatly to my dancing body of knowledge.
         - Janet Jacobson, Dancer

I really enjoyed the Alexander Technique class. I was amazed to see the difference it made in personal appearance for each member of the class. But the real benefit seems the lightness and freedom that I'm just starting to become more aware of.
         - Joan Garvin, Systems Librarian and Amateur Musician


Amira Alvarez, Certified Alexander Technique Instructor
Berkeley, California
510-528-3109
amira.alvarez@gmail.com