Alan Bowers
Welcome... I am Alan Bowers!
I sought to become an Alexander Technique teacher for an uncommon reason, not to go upward but to get down.
Coming from a family so much shorter than myself, I wondered as a child if I’d been adopted. I towered over my family, even the Marine Corps Colonel. I felt too tall, ungainly, and totally disconnected, an awkward giant.
My first lesson in the Alexander Technique disabused me of all that nonsense. I felt like a little tractor, not too tall at all, but perfectly right-sized, a man of the Earth. I am still that. My hobbies, gardening and rock collecting, say as much.
It’s possible that I maintain the only “guerilla” practice of Alexander Technique in Portland, maybe, in the world. Though I have taught it in universities, in artist residencies, and trade schools, I also take it to the street.
When the time seemed right, I have I placed my hand on the back of a man wearing a weight belt and carrying a large bag of trash to the street. He asked me how I knew he needed help.
I saw an African American man limping sorely through an underground passageway and helped him along with my left hand. He warmly thanked me. I have helped countless people struggling up stairs and have never been rebuked or corrected.
You see, in this and all things timing is everything, most particularly in the teaching and study of Alexander Technique.
I have helped a former chief investigator of the state of Florida when he was infirm. His comment, “what you do with your hands is so subtle, but in (the freeing) of my hips it fairly shouts.”
Teaching Alexander Technique brings out the best in me. I recovered my voice from clinically diagnosed permanent loss following aggressive treatment for cancer. Though I am not a speech therapist, the means of my recovery are traced in the patience of my teaching methods and in my commitment to you.
Alan Bowers & his wife Susan
Alexander Technique for actors, singers and musicians
The Alexander Technique is highly beneficial for singers, musicians, actors and others in the performing arts due to the focus on posture, body awareness, and movement coordination.
Alexander Technique for singers
For singers, maintaining proper posture is crucial for optimal breath support and vocal production. The Alexander Technique helps identify and release unnecessary tension in the neck, shoulders, and torso, allowing for a more relaxed and efficient use of vocal apparatus.
Alexander Technique for instrumentalists
Even beginner instrumentalists can benefit from mindful body mechanics. For professionals even the most infinitesimal shifts in balance, awareness and alignment, will enhance instrument control and fluidity in play.
Alexander Technique for actors
Alexander Technique for actors is invaluable for developing awareness of physical and vocal habits that may hinder expressive movement and one’s ability to convey emotions.
Using the Alexander Technique for actors can help release tension, enhance stage presence, and cultivate a more authentic and engaging performance.
A transformative experience
Alexander Technique provides a holistic approach to self-awareness and movement, an essential tool for performers seeking to optimize their physical and vocal capabilities.
I have experienced first-hand the excitement and potential of this transformation and I invite you to experience it too.
