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ABOUT
Who was Alexander?
F.M. Alexander (1869-1955) was a reciter of Shakespeare who repeatedly struggled with vocal loss, but he wasn’t sick and he didn’t have any physiological abnormalities. Why then was he losing his voice?
No one, doctors and medical men alike, could provide him with a satisfactory answer as to why this was happening, so he eventually took matters into his own hands. Thus the Alexander Technique was created! Through careful observation he identified and addressed habits of movement and posture that were holding him back from reaching his full potential.
In essence, he discovered that he was causing his own problems. All we have to do is unlearn and undo what’s already holding us back.
Who am I?
I’m a musician who lost the ability to play my instrument. Why? It’s not that I was lazy or that I wasn’t trying hard enough. Try practicing 8 hours a day!
Just like F.M. I found I was causing a lot my own problems by doing too much. I was nervous and holding my breath. I was over focusing and terrified of making a mistake. I was too worried about the music and not enough about my body and it eventually caught up with me.
After two elbow surgeries I was introduced to the Alexander Technique. Right away I could tell that I wasn’t helping myself out in any way, shape, or form. A lot of my own issues were from how I was using, or rather misusing, my body. Thanks to the Alexander Technique I’m back to playing and making music with RIVERS.
Testimonials
“All I can say is ‘Wow.’ I’ve been working with Joe now for over a year. We’ve taken a look at everything from posture, to walking, to swimming. It’s so easy to become unaware of how we use our bodies. Over the past year I’ve made major strides in how I use my body and have significantly increased my awareness in every day activities. Thank you, Joe!”
– Matt
“AT is teaching me to live, move and work in a lighter, easier way, without the tension I used to carry. Both physically and mentally, I feel lighter, freer, more centered and confident. I’ve had AT lessons on and off for about a year and am continually learning and gaining a deeper understanding of this work.”
– Nancy
“I suffer from Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes a lot of muscular pain. AT has definitely benefited me in dealing with this. It has helped me to recognize patterns of holding tension that only cause more pain. Also being aware of how I am using my body has made a huge difference for me at work. No more headaches and tender shoulders. I have been learning about AT for the last few years and it has made a big difference in my life.”
– Sharon
Further About Joe
Joe Schaefer is AmSAT-certified and completed his training with Baltimore’s AT Mid-Atlantic in 2015. He trained with Nancy Romita and Wendy Salkind and has worked with Robert Bedford, Jerri-Lynn Pilarski, Mary Hamlin-Spencer, Sarah Ittmann Leite, Wen Pickering, Brooke Lieb, Marc Josefberg, and Malcolm Balk.
Joe enjoys working with those interested in learning to do less and making movement easier. Music and sports are of special interest, but any person and any movement can benefit. The Alexander Technique allows us to find more freedom in ourselves and our lives.
Lessons can be held in studio at Carlisle Bowen Works or at private residencies.
In addition, group work and classes are also available for performing artists, health care professionals, and athletes. Joe has given workshops at local and regional universities, businesses, and wellness centers. He’s presented through PennState Health, has previously partnered with the UPMC Center for Integrative Medicine, and actively teaches at Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory.
With the Alexander Technique you are rethinking and reshaping your movement and this takes time.