Hi!
It has been a long time since I have sent out a blog so I thought that I would reach out and let you know what I have been up to.
Like so many other teachers, over the past 22 months, I have had to rethink how to teach my students.
The pandemic shutdown forced me to move my in-person students online and created an opportunity for me to figure out how to teach virtually.
Necessity is the mother of invention, right?
Luckily, several years ago I had created an online course. I asked my in-person students if they would like to enroll and about 10 people did so. At the end of the course--with all of us still in lockdown--I said to the group, “Well, I guess this is it. The course is over and there is no need to continue to meet.”
Their response was, “No way! We need to continue to meet weekly!”
And we have done just that: we have met weekly for the past 22 months.
We have explored all things related to movement, balance, fitness, and the Alexander Technique.
We start each session with a group lie-down that gives everyone the opportunity to stop and release excessive mental and physical tension.
The feeling of friendship and support among the students is incredible. Everyone learns from each other. Everyone supports each other. Everyone celebrates each other’s successes, and there are many successes!
The class is called The Chopin Circle and I have just opened a second section. If you are interested and would like to join just email me. maryderby1@gmail.com
As far as teaching private lessons from March to September 2020 I only taught online.
Then a year ago, I created an outdoor space under a pop-up tent. Teaching outdoors was fantastic! My students loved being outdoors. The fresh air, the soft breeze, the sunlight through the tent canopy, and the sounds of the birds chirping created a perfect backdrop. No spa setting could improve it.
Working outdoors was such a hit that doctors Hood and Ottenstein invited me to move my encampment to their back deck at Primary Care Partnership in Westport and there I continue to work with an occasional lesson taught indoors because of rain.
I have some openings for a few new students if you would like to work with me in person.
I would be remiss if I did not tell you about my movement and fitness class, ExTension Exercise.
I have taught fitness classes for the past 35 years. The Alexander Technique has inspired my exercise class and vice versa. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 both in-person and online using Zoom. The class is fun and non-competitive. You should give it a try!
So you see these past 22 months have presented opportunities for me to reach more people.
If any of these offerings sound interesting please feel free to contact me.
It is so important that we all move more. The Alexander Technique teaches you how to move better so that you can move more. I hope that you will join me!
Blessings,
Mary