for Parents
Is this You?
"I keep hearing I need to 'listen to my body' but I'm not sure what that means."
"Things like getting out of bed or sitting at work are getting more challenging. Are there things I can do to help?"
“Anytime anyone says ‘just relax’ I just get more stressed.”
"I'm having a scheduled Caesarean. How can I be as relaxed and present as possible as I get ready for birth?"
"I'd like to exercise but I get so tired at the end of the day. Are there other things I can do to take care of myself?"
“I’m the kind of person who used to be able to ‘tough it out’ in any difficult situation but pregnancy is throwing me for a loop. ”
Supporting the Whole Person Through Life’s Changes
I like to think of the Alexander Technique as the “user’s guide” to your body - it’s ok if you currently feel frustrated or confused at this point. After all, there’s a lot of guides in pregnancy that tell you what to eat or how to exercise, but what about YOU, your whole self and how you move through your day?
Most of us “know” there’s a mind-body connection, that the way we respond physically, mentally, and emotionally to a situation are inseparable. AT is a method of learning to consciously release tension and bring your body back into alignment - empowering you with knowledge of your own body. Alexander Technique teaches us how we respond to challenge is a whole self experience.
You’re not just growing a person. Pregnancy is an amazing time to grow as a person. You may already have a sense of it - relaxin flooding your body is changing the familiar ways you might feel and move, and you may have already adjusted some of your lifestyle habits as part of your preparation. Alexander Technique will teach you the mechanics of habit change, so you have a framework for considering and building positive habits for not just the baby - but also yourself.
What You Will Learn:
adjusting alignment and balance as baby bump grows.
breathing and digestion are often compromised as you share space with baby - learn to make the most of the space you have!
making daily activities more easeful: standing, sitting, bending, driving, even sleeping!
avoiding the pregnancy waddle.
getting the most out of your exercise or yoga class.
ways to rest when you're too tired for all of that.
supporting your childbirth preparation by: learning to listen to your own body, squat comfortably, breathe fully and calmly, learn the difference between effort vs. tension to push effectively.
creating a positive space to be present with yourself and your baby, wherever your life or birth process takes you.
Ways to Learn
Hands on lessons in the Chicagoland area, offered in your home or in my Wicker Park teaching studio.
Online lessons anywhere!
I find students need a minimum of 6 lessons to learn the basic concepts. With further lessons, students are able to tackle longer-lasting issues and integrate the skills into their everyday lives with more skill and confidence.
6 Sessions: Focused Troubleshooting
Can I get help? Even though I’m pretty close to my due date?
Absolutely! We will target our work here on your most pressing concerns, over a timespan of 2-6 weeks.
12 Sessions: Trimester Plan
You will focus here on building your toolbox of skills for body awareness. Begin in any trimester!
You will build your body confidence and apply new skills to your everyday life, with weekly lessons.
20 - 36 Lessons: Whole Pregnancy Support
You will get personalized support through your whole pregnancy journey.
Ideal if you want to focus on building positive habits early, or already had chronic pain or postural issues before pregnancy.
Online Package: $250, includes (1) one hour first lesson + 5 half hour lessons (introductory package), $240 for 6 half hour lessons for returning students.
In Person Lesson package: $245 for (3) fifty minute lessons, $450 for (6) fifty minute lessons
Payment plans available.
In-home visits available in Chicagoland area.
All packages include:
Consulting on your unique issues and coming up with a personalized plan
Guidance on supporting and maintaining between lessons
Email and text support between sessions
Referral to relevant resources and reading
Don’t see what you’re looking for here?
Please contact me directly for a personalized class package.
Do I need to be physically fit for this? I have a history of injury. +
The method I practice, Alexander Technique, is very gentle and suitable for people with a history of chronic pain or injury, and of all fitness levels. No previous experience is necessary.
We will work with everyday movements you are doing already, with both verbal instruction and gentle hands-on guidance. The Alexander style of touch is gentle and non-manipulative (i.e. no cracking or forceful rearranging) and you will remain fully clothed during sessions.
When can I start lessons? Do I have to be at a certain time in my pregnancy to benefit? +
You can start at any point during pregnancy.
One benefit to this is that many pregnant people feel a bit self-conscious attending a prenatal yoga or fitness class before they’re showing, but are not yet ready to disclose their pregnancy during their usual fitness or mind-body classes or activities. This can be a great time in your schedule to take care of yourself with Alexander work by addressing how to handle stress and change.
Students who take lessons later in pregnancy benefit from help with movements that have become more challenging, like bending or walking, in easing typical discomforts, and applying Alexander work to labor and birth preparation.
Can my partner attend with me? +
Absolutely! If you want, we can focus some of our lessons on working together to provide support during birth. Supporting someone else during birth is also a physical/ mental/ emotional marathon, and they can benefit from having their own set of coping tools. Many non-birthing partners enjoy having their own lessons - either together or separately - to address their own concerns about stress during this time of transition, or to work on movement or postural issues like sitting at work.
Is this compatible with my childbirth ed class (Bradley, Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, etc.)? +
Whatever your choices in birth preparation, Alexander Technique will help build your foundation of understanding yourself and your body, allowing you to get the most out of your classes. We can support the other work you’re doing, whether it’s facilitating relaxing tense muscles so you have the “muscle memory” of how to relax between contractions, helping you feel completely confident in your squat, or aiding better breathing mechanics.
Will this help me if I’m having a Caesarean birth/ an epidural/ an unmedicated birth? +
Alexander Technique is about supporting you with tools to take care of yourself. Alexander principles teach that we can’t control the outcome of a situation, but we can look at it clearly and work with our response - this is applicable to wherever birth (and parenthood) take you.
Alexander work teaches a sense of ownership of the body, so that you have less of a feeling of things happening to you, and a greater ability to stay present. Those anticipating a Caesarean birth can practice ways to remain calm and focused while preparing for surgery. For those anticipating a vaginal birth, you will find positions, movements, and breathing techniques directly applicable to labor - you can plan on having coping measures in your toolbox, whether you choose an epidural or not.