Date and Times
June 11-17, 2022. ON-SITE at University of Nebraska at Lincoln
What is the Workshop Format?
As in the past, we will have a blend of mentor groups, rotating groups, special topic sessions, activity work, and private lessons. This workshop is designed both for those who are new to the Alexander Technique and for anyone interested in refining their understanding and practical applications of the Technique. The emphasis of this workshop is on facilitating each student's ability to confidently apply the Alexander Technique in all their activities. Each student will gain a greater awareness of how to move efficiently while learning to free themselves of unnecessary tension. The Technique is taught through hands-on work, verbal exchange, demonstration, and observation.
Will the workshop offer special topic and applications of the Technique?
Special topics may include: the performance process, speech work, Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement®, group performance work, Tai Chi, and more. Participants are also invited to include their specific areas of interests during the registration process. We will do our best to incorporate as many interests as we can.
What is the daily schedule of activities?
Each day will begin with Tai Chi to bring you into focus for the morning activities. Each morning will then commence with a Focused Learning Session (taught by a new teacher each day) followed by time in your mentor group, and activities. Following lunch we spend time in small groups. Each day concludes with Awareness through Movement©. Each student will receive a private lesson during the workshop. Planned evening activities may include films, dinners, and other outings. A detailed schedule will be available following registration.
COVID Protocols
Due to the close proximity of our work, all residential workshop participants are required to submit proof of vaccination and booster prior to arrival. You will receive an email with instructions following registration. Each participant will provided COVID testing upon arrival at no cost. If needed, quarantine rooms will be provided on-site.
What are the fees and deadlines?
Registration is open now! To reserve space, please register soon. Space is limited. An online registration form is now available on the registration page of this site. Payment may be made using paypal.
If you wish to mail a check, please email us at barstowinstitue@gmail.com.
Tuition:
Super Early Bird Registration (on or before April 20, 2022): $575.00
Early Bird Registration (on or before May 10, 2022): $635.00
Regular Tuition (after May 10, 2022): 675.00
Student Tuition
Early Bird Registration (on or before May 10, 2022): $350.00
Regular Student Tuition (after May 10, 2022): $450.00
Room and Board (includes daily linens and 3 meals a day)
Six Nights Double Room: $410.00
Six Nights Single Room: $530.00
The Institute begins at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11 (dinner at 5 p.m.) and concludes at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 16.
Housing check-in is after 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11. Housing check-out is before 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 17.
Commuter Facility Fee: $30.00
Optional meal package for commuter (5 daily lunches and dinner on Saturday): 60.00
Work Study Scholarships are available. For further information about the Institute, please contact:
Nancy Forst Williamson, Program Director: 402-432-9181, barstowinstitute@gmail.com
Cancellation Policy: A $75 processing fee is charged for cancellations received in writing by May 20, 2022. Due to contract commitments, there is no refund for cancellations received after May 20, 2022.
I can only imagine the special qualities (of Marj Barstow) that brought our teachers and others back to study with her year after year after year. All six teachers possess a common thread of greatness in sharing this knowledge with patience, encouragement, and open hearts. I’m deeply thankful that I yielded to the impulse to attend the Institute. What an incredible introduction to the Alexander Technique!
I find I’m warning myself that future experiences other than the Barstow Institute may not be quite so satisfying as studying with Marj’s “progeny." Many thanks for an incredible, profound, earth-shaking, simple, basic, free-neck week!
J. McK., Physical Therapist, Colorado
Whether you're new to the Technique or even a teacher of it, this workshop offers multitudes of opportunities for learning. I enjoyed the care and personal attention of each teacher on staff and the surroundings; and other participants made the whole experience conducive to easy movement towards my personal goals around movement, vision co-ordination.
V. W., Vocal Coach, New Zealand
What a supportive and insightful group of teachers! I had a truly inspiring time. The Barstow approach to the Alexander Technique really helped me to improve and refine my thinking process with the work. I feel like my ability to teach groups and individuals has really grown. I highly recommend the workshop to anyone, teachers or students, who want to expand their understanding of the Technique in an encouraging and beautiful environment.
Kris O’Shea, Teacher of the Alexander Technique, Denver, Colorado
Click the link to head to the registration and paypal page.
The Legacy of Marj Barstow’s Teaching: Observation, Activities and Groups
A new online training for Alexander Technique teachers and trainees interested in group and online teaching
Dates and Times
June 20-26, 2022
Mon – Fri @ 2hrs/day = 10hrs 4-6p Eastern
Sat & Sun @3hrs/day = 6hrs 12-3p Eastern
Marj Barstow was a visionary innovator and the richness of her teaching legacy is more relevant today than ever before.
The worldwide pandemic has severely limited teaching AT in-person in the classical style of hands-on one-on-one. We have the opportunity to thrive in the current reality by making good use of the potential to connect around the world online. Marj’s teaching provides a unique template particularly well-suited for online and group teaching and can help teachers and trainees from all backgrounds and at all levels of experience to enhance and further their skills and adaptivity.
This specialized track as part of the 2022 Barstow Institute Summer Workshop will be held exclusively online and will target key areas of Marj’s pedagogical approaches:
• Observing use and patterns of interference
• Directing coordination in activity
• Teaching in groups
This online workshop will be highly interactive and collaborative with daily assignments and guidelines for constructive feedback so that we can a create a safe environment for exploration and experimentation to further hone and develop our skills.
This track will be limited to 10 participants.
Observing use and patterns of interference
Marj had a super keen eye and never missed even a momentary change in someone’s use. She’d look across a room at you and know EXACTLY what was going on with your Primary Control. When we don’t have our hands to sense what is going on, we need to optimize what we see and hear, as well as fully engage our students as collaborators in the process of discovery.
• Finding visual and auditory clues to determine movement quality, sequence and direction
• Seeing the whole – even when you can’t
• Promoting students’ agency in self-observation and feedback
Directing coordination in activity
One of Marj’s greatest innovations was to teach in activity - helping singers as they sang, jugglers as they juggled, etc. She understood that the stimuli for discoordination were deeply embedded in the habits surrounding these activities. When we go directly to the source of the stimulus/response we help our students navigate directing themselves in the very dynamic manner they are most interested in. This requires a keen eye, a dynamic appreciation for Use and the ability to transpose AT Principles in any situation.
• Finding “critical moments”
• Transposing the Classical Procedures
• Sleuthing the thinking behind stimulus/response patterns
• Promoting students’ agency in self-observation and experimentation
Teaching in groups
Marj is perhaps best known for teaching in large groups – a practice that is still often misunderstood. The benefits of teaching in groups are plentiful; it promotes the student’s agency and diminishes dependency, and is also cost-effective making the work more accessible to greater numbers of people and promoting AT teachers’ ability to build a thriving livelihood. Teaching effectively in groups requires specialized skills to transcend from teaching a series of private lessons in public to creating dynamic, experiential learning opportunities.
• Teaching the “part within the whole” – effectively teaching individuals in a group setting
• Finding and developing themes
• Deconstructing activities
• Creating community
• Promoting students’ agency in observation, self-observation and experimentation
All sessions will be facilitated by Barstow Institute teacher Ariel Weiss and guests.
Tuition
Trainees: $225*/$200* if registering for both live and online Barstow Summer Workshops
Teachers: $295*/$265* if registering for both live and online Barstow Summer Workshops
*Includes free access to AT Phila online classes for the month of June ($75 value)
Click the link to head to the registration and paypal page.