Testimonials
Performing Artists"John is an exceptional teacher. He rarely speaks but if he does, it is usually with a soft-spoken humour and a tendency to hit the nail on the head. One learns to truly listen with their whole body in his presence, which he guides with a magic touch, transmitting his knowledge almost by osmosis. It is a privilege, a pleasure, a joy and a revelation to work with him. You can be in no better hands!"
Rhona Pearce
Actor Barcelona "John Hunter is an incredibly insightful and perceptive person. Working with John led me to ask questions and to want to explore some very essential bigger issues of the mind and body that I have found invaluable in my own performing and teaching career. Without seemingly to ask anything, John Hunter gently and intuitively directs and leads one to question one's own ideas. He has the magical way of instinctively being able to tune into another person and engage them in an incredibly discreet and unassuming way so that one is not even aware that one is being guided or taught. One only feels that they are drawn to learning more which for me is the essence of a truly magical teacher and guide."
Eva Maria Doroszkowska
Concert pianist and teacher London "Having Alexander Technique lessons with Mr. John Hunter meant to me "instant awareness". I believe this has helped me, both professionally as well as personally, to observe myself in terms of what is natural instead of normal. Always a pleasure and always discovering new things about myself. Thank you, John."
Diana Brătan
Piano teacher and Founder of PianoForte Music School Bucharest, România "I got to know John at the residential course in Spain, 2010. For me it was a wonderful and perceptive time: in this beautiful environment, I was able to really get deeply into the Alexander-Technique, to enrich my "body-experience".
What made me especially happy was the effect this work had on my violin playing; my sound got big and warm, and I could feel the music flowing through me. For all this nice experience I am very grateful." Isis-Maria Henn
Violinist Germany John Hunter gave me lessons during 2 years, while I was studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
I experienced "bodymindness" thanks him, and it really helped me to learn to relax my body; to relate my mind with my body. John Hunter is a very careful teacher, he also helped me greatly to find unity in myself. He gave me the impulse I needed to search for a spiritual path, for which I am deeply grateful, as Buddhism helps me every day in my life... Cécile Marichal
Professor of Harp Académie de Musique d'Uccle Belgium "For my development as a musician as well as an individual, contact with the Alexander Technique has been and continues to be essential.
Fortunately I have met marvellous teachers through the years, and without doubt one of those whom I should highlight is John Hunter. It is a my great fortune to have known him, just as much for his profound knowledge of the Technique as for his great human quality. I hope that we can go on enjoying him for a long time." Javi Torres
Musician and teacher Malaga, Spain Romania, September, 2013. First meeting with an Alexander Technique workshop.
"The soft and kind touch of teachers when they guide us, gave me the sensation that I am sustained and make me feel much more safety, stability, depth and self awareness. Even though I was coming to the lessons tired enough, my tiredness was unbelievably dissipated. It was very new sensation. After two days of workshop I discovered myself easy doing much more daily activities in the same little time! This perception was very new for me, because before practicing Alexander Technique the time was never enough for me." Residential Course in April 2014 " After the first day of working with these amazing teachers (John, Dorothea, Tim, Phillippa and Julia) I discovered “a new Me”. I felt the limits of my physical body expand. My body became really taller and really wider. I practiced yoga and Qigong many years before, but for the first time in my life (in this Alexander Technique Course) I had a very clear perception of a Central Channel traversing vertically my body. This gave me an up-lifting sensation of Power and Freedom." In London "When I visited Westminster Alexander Center, I had more chances to learn from John and Dorothea! These experiences were really a blessing for me. I discovered that my body is really able to move in a perfect way and I am able to do things with so much grace - it feels as I am not doing anything. Of course it needs more practice to bring this in my daily life." Cristina Gabriela Buburuz
Actress Romania Professional Men and Women"John has been my teacher for eight years and I've had the pleasure of studying with him in one to one lessons and on residential courses.
He has guided me with patience and wisdom as a beginner in the Alexander technique, and latterly, has supported me in my own explorations as I've got to grips with some of the more subtle manifestations of the work. What he has taught me in terms of good body use and greater mindfulness has benefited me enormously at work, at home, and now as I care for my young daughter. He is an inspiring teacher and I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to study with him." Dr Tamsin Cooper
London Environment sector "I met John many years ago, coming to him complaining of a bad back and wanting to know how quickly the Alexander Technique could 'fix it'. I wanted to get back to my life without making any changes. I saw the Technique in my ignorance as the equivalent of a pill - take and get on with life.
Little did I know that the 'price' of no back pain was the need to take a long hard look at how I used this body in the world to create the back pain and of course how my mental habits played a key role in keeping me in pain. Rushing without awareness changed over the 10 years I worked with John to the slow and humbling realisation that if i did not have the choice to get out of a chair without tensing muscles unnecessarily then it was likely my ability to self-assess was faulty. What else was I not choosing, but telling myself I was in control? John is patient, equanimous and will not collude with dysfunctional patterns. He keeps coming back to using direction and inhibition to help you get back into your own skin in the moment. I cannot praise his ability to teach the intangible highly enough. I owe him a great deal, not only am I free from pain I have learnt to lead a more nourishing and full life as a result of my work with him. I tried many teachers after I moved away from London. I did one lesson and did not come back. Why? The ability to grasp how the technique operates at a physical, psychological and spiritual level and transfer this knowing through your teaching is a gift John Hunter has that I have never found in any other Alexander Technique teacher. You would be privileged to work with him." Dr. M Funes CPsychol
Cognitive coaching Sussex, UK 'I met John when he was visiting the Center for Alexander Technique in Berlin in 2006. I was impressed by his mastering of Alexander technique combined with a deep humanity and life experience. Over the years I have appreciated his advice, making me feel more connected to people and to the environment.'
Dr. Raluca A. Trasca
Scientific assistant at Metatech GmbH, Germany lives currently in Graz, Austria “I encountered the Alexander Technique through John Hunter when I first had a lesson with him in Bucharest in 2010. A door opened and since then, the Technique has never left me, wish it or not, and I myself became immediately almost desperate about it. It is hard without having any teachers around.
I am very grateful for all John’s efforts to bring the Technique to Romania. Residential courses with John and his colleagues were every time absolutely special.” Anca Sigheti
Consultant Bucharest "I have studied the Alexander Technique over the last 17 years with a handful of different teachers; John Hunter is calm, insightful and a model of clarity in his teaching. He has been one of the two most significant masters of the technique it has been my privilege to study under."
Ann Hutcheson
Business woman London, UK & French alps "I saw John regularly for over ten years when I was working in London. He helped me manage postural problems stemming from extensive desk working and it was well worth it."
Geoffrey Sadler
Chairman, Governor or Director of several community groups Senior Civil Sevant (retired) Norfolk "Learning the Alexander Technique with John over the last five years has been a sublime experience; one that has opened my mind and body to new levels of awareness. That might sound a bit lofty - but it's accurate and I am benefiting in so many aspects of my life - from how I move and how I think, to how I am."
Nick Outlaw
Organisation Development Consultant London "John was giving me Alexander Technique lessons during my pregnancy and it significantly improved my posture and pregnancy pains. John was always very pleasant and professional, it was a pleasure knowing him."
Zora Hadden
Procurement Director Global Fragrance, API Reckitt Benckiser Slough "In 2012, I attended a week-long residential course in Spain with John Hunter and his co-teachers. I was immediately struck by the friendly atmosphere in the group, which was comprised of his teacher trainees and a number of other dedicated students. Everyone was in excellent spirits and there was a feeling of good cheer and joyfulness throughout the course.
I was intrigued by John´s approach to the technique. He had a very easy-going and unassuming demeanor, and I felt that his methods of teaching, or rather, inviting discovery within the pupil, were extremely subtle and mysterious and yet simple and straightforward, a fact that I find very trustworthy. There was one moment that stood out for me in particular. In a workshop on the topic of inhibition, I volunteered to be the subject. John had me stand in front of the whole group, which already made me feel a bit awkward. My role was 'not to do' whatever he told me to do - to inhibit my habitual response to the stimuli given. He waved his right arm up in the air and asked me to do the same. I remained motionless, but with a slight feeling of remorse - after all, I was disobeying Teacher! What was more, I told John and the group, I could feel my right arm tingling, as if it just wanted to get on with it and do as it was being told. This was an indication, John explained, that the neurons had already been fired, the stimulus had already been responded to. We went back and forth like this a few times, with John encouraging me with light touch and a very few words to allow my awareness and body to expand. All of a sudden, I felt my habitual use disappear for a moment. I was no longer self-conscious of my performance. Those doubts seemed like a mirage. My whole world and being were expansive and fresh. Most amazingly, my sense of the onlookers in the room had completely changed. I was no longer intimidated by being 'on stage' as it were. I felt great delight in being there in front of everyone and looking at their smiling faces. It was as if I had suddenly glimpsed a possibility that the Alexander Technique had vaster implications than I could ever have imagined." Mikhael Aaron Oskarsson
Translator Reykjavik, Iceland Alexander Technique Teachers and TrainersAbout Teacher Training
What I learnt on the training course… Julia Outlaw Teacher of the Alexander Technique; executive coach London It’s hard to say I learnt ‘this’, then ‘this’, or specifically ‘this’. Remember incidences and the feel of the whole – the shape of it – something beginning to develop, change, waken... Attention Biggest thing. I wasn’t aware what I didn’t have in terms of attention. Little by little each morning, taught to develop it and use it/guide it. Not just in relation to body awareness, senses, perception but also with attention of my thoughts and about what else is happening in the room and my reaction to that. Developing that attention not as a one-off whilst giving a turn but as a ‘state’ to come back to whenever possible. Learning to listen Critical for an AT teacher and again not just when using hands when working on someone but listening using all of the senses, and at other times in the morning – over tea, just sitting, reading Reading Reading and understanding something from Alexander’s and related books. Again learnt whilst keeping a relation to the process. Learning how to read aloud, learning how to try and understand what is being written. Noticing getting ready to read, about breath and voice, about looking ahead, how meaning comes into it… Discussion Questions arise that we want to talk about – and there is space for that. We were allowed to see and voice our interpretation of the passage of the books we were reading – and see what we understood or didn’t at each stage. The discussions ‘bend’ my mind. The mind is not left out – it is not learning how to do something physically. Sometimes my brain doing somersaults or bending in almost painful (not physically) ways. New neurons firing and opening ways that had been previously closed or unused – attitudes, ideas. Discussing aphorisms an example, but also fascinating discussions on science of AT, background, first generation teachers… Tea break Not a ‘mad quick back to the real world’ but a quiet precious time to be with other people, and for supportive and sometimes crazy discussions about anything and everything – culture, songs, cooking and our lives. Learning how to think Little by little – with LOTS of individual hands on work each day – we learnt how to be closer to ‘not doing’ – thinking rather than feeling – and thinking directions with the whole body. This evolved day by day and each turn was different. Fun to play with directions. Before, I had absolutely no sense of this and couldn’t have understood –different dimension really. Visiting teachers Kept things lively, we got used to different people’s thoughts and hands and lots of people to practice on. Dorothea was a perfect balance mid-week.. Important to have male/female mix of teachers. Learning hands on Slowly slowly. Allowed to let our confidence grow at its own pace – encouraged and constantly challenged. Became more familiar with the sensory experience of working in this way – working with a teacher’s hands on top of ours really made a big difference. The ball First time used this as a stimulus, couldn't resist muscles grabbing in reaction like playing netball at school. Gradually quelled the muscular reaction with awareness, thought and attention, and found where it was hard to say ‘no’. There are more options Learnt in many ways that there are more options. Remember the role play particularly where acting out a scenario from work where a manager is criticising my work. Remember seeing my reaction so clearly. It was pointed out that I could stand up – a response I hadn’t previously allowed. Our experiments with inhibition Always revelatory – how quick the brain needs to be, what wants to move, what doesn’t, how a quieter state is possible, the taste of something simple The helpful ‘positions’ Lunge, monkey, hands on the back of a chair, squatting – and how to teach them. Also ways to work sitting, moving and with a table – where to put our hands, what to look for Presentations Taking it in turns to reflect on and present a particular chapter of book, topic or over the summer a book that interested us. Learning how to communicate our honest thoughts. Introductory course Learnt so much watching John teach beginners individually and in a group, how to ask questions and structure a session. Invaluable. Having pupils come to class also really helpful for building confidence. Strong back bone That gradual gaining of a strong back bone. Starting the course having recently had back pain – again I only realise over time how my back now supports me much more. It is possible, sometimes, to respond to people from there. To be assertive if I wish to be – and as that grows other things can let go a bit. Letting go of views about myself as well as tense muscles – chest, thighs, breath. Breathing Never seen another teacher that teaches natural breathing – and think it is fundamental to everything. Gradually more aware of breath patterns and how central that is. Space to explore There was space to try other things.. remember calligraphy, drawing, juggling, playing with cards, balancing sticks, tango.. Timing Not talking about things until we were ready to. Understanding seemed to evolve over time naturally. Teaching Learnt how to work with new pupils, using movement and words. To start with, learning to speak precise words and putting hands on was a massive challenge. Over time it became easier and good to gradually learn how to be more myself with the work, learning from, but not just copying others. Tears Needed at some point over the three years (or many).. and need to be allowed, as they were. Sometimes the memory that appears after something lets go is so vivid – other times not wanting to go over the edge into the unknown. Life outside Somehow this began to penetrate into life outside the course. Encouraged to try things and experiment and inevitable that increased awareness brought a different perspective. Inside the course remained a magical world. "I've known John Hunter since early 1990's. Each and every lesson I have had from him, obviously without realising it first, has always been a true experience of recognising the power and flow of the energy that lies within. This is what I call genuine Empowerment!"
I've been away from London for 10 years and I'm sorry to say that I have been back only twice since. I was so fortunate to be able to come, visit, work and experiment both times in his training course! The atmosphere there at first the mind seems to want to label it as austere but, as time flows by, a sense of playfulness takes you over and you are free to share your experiments with everyone else!" Reinaldo Renzo
Head of Alexander Training Sao Paolo, Brazil Having already been an AT teacher for 6 years, I met John on a teachers exchange event in the summer of 2004. After a few minutes working with him I knew that there was a whole universe of understanding that I had not yet been exposed to. I went on to work with him intensively for several years.
With his clear, precise, open and firm way of teaching, he helped me in knowing and understanding myself better, so that I could learn what to say “no” to. John is a brilliant Alexander teacher and I am convinced he is one of the best around. Jule Gartzke
Alexander Teacher and Actress Essen, Germany Working with John Hunter is a unique experience. His teaching has a very developed quality and his sensitivity is highly subtle and refined: he can see and sense not only with his hands, but with his whole being. He is the clearest example of the intelligent and powerful principle of 'LESS is MORE': with very little, he can accomplish a great deal.
I consider myself fortunate to have had him as my teacher, both in the training course and in private lessons. His intelligence, sensitivity and impeccability of teaching have left a deep and long-lasting imprint on me. Elena Calvo
Alexander Technique teacher, Psychologist, Writer Gatineau, QC, Canada "I experienced John Hunter's work both as a student, teacher, and a participant in a residential Alexander Technique retreat.
John Hunter's teaching has to be experienced. It is infused with stillness, sensitivity, focus and presence. As an AT teacher, I love visiting John's school. The atmosphere is quiet, focused and joyful. John's guidance is felt throughout in the most gentle way. His approach to the Alexander Technique is inspiring. He lives the work and loves it. His 'hands on' work is powerful, still, gentle and attentive, and a visit to his school is an uplifting and integrating experience." Mika Hadar-Borthwick
www.subtleyoga.co.uk "Working with John is a profound experience. I began to notice how deep I can be in each moment by being quiet and listening to myself."
Ryoko Izutsu
Pianist & Alexander Teacher London, UK "What I appreciate about John's hands-on work is accuracy and detailed approach. My experience gained from his classes has been profound in being aware over the working process. His ability to listen and good houmour have always been a great support for me."
Maret Mursa Tormis
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Associate Prof. Alexander technique (MSTAT) "You have been my teacher ever since I started my teacher training in 1987. Your teaching is so profound it goes with me along the way. You have been a great mentor - enabling me to change my habits and take concious control over my life. This is with me to this very day and it is now part of me and part of my teaching, so now I can teach others and give them what you have taught me.
Your teaching is so 'without teaching' that it gave me the courage to experiment and innovate believing in Myself!" Galit Zeif
Senior Teacher & Founder Bodythought Tel Aviv |
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