SANDRA WALLER - Course Director
Sandra is a trained Occupational Therapist, who worked in the NHS for many years before training as an Alexander teacher. She assisted and was then Head of Training at Essex Alexander School (now closed) for a number of years before opening East Anglia Centre for Alexander Technique. She is passionate about training and recognised a real need for a training facility in the East Anglia region where none has previously existed.
Sandra's aim is to train a comprehensive network of teachers across the East Anglia region as the Alexander Technique is increasingly gaining recognition, giving the public the opportunity to access lessons in the Alexander technique in their home area. Her philosophy on training is to create a friendly,safe atmosphere for trainee teachers to learn at a comfortable pace.
Sandra is also a mother of four grown up children. She enjoys walking, reading, classical music and watching detective series on TV. She also has a keen interest in the Teachings of J Krishnamurti and frequently stays at the Krishnamurti centre at Brockwood Park in Hampshire. She is a 'Friend of Brockwood Park'.
Visit www.ChelmsfordAlexander.moonfruit.com for more details.
JANE GREGORY
Jane is a founding member of EACAT and has assisted in training Alexander Technique there teachers since it opened in 2010.
As a musician herself, Jane enjoys helping other musicians to improve their body use and thereby their performance skills. One of her favourite phrase for musicians is ‘Always think of your body as your first instrument’.
She is the Alexander Technique teacher at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (www.icmp.ac.uk), Europe’s finest modern music school. There she runs specialist workshops for music student as well as working one-to-one with music tutors, students and office staff. She is in demand across the industry, working with West End, classical and freelance musicians. She has written and spoken widely about the Alexander Technique and music, including various articles, videos and Vlogs.
Having begun her career in Education Publishing, and worked long office hours, she takes a special interest in ergonomics, or working posture, helping office workers with issues such as sitting for long periods and computer use.
SARAH WITKIN
Alexander Technique Teacher and riding coach Sarah Witkin MSTAT, ATE, BHSAI has been teaching people of all ages and abilities for many years.
Sarah’s career started with horses, working in a racing stud and then a riding school. A change of direction took her into the Music business working for Universal Music as an IT trainer and then IT programmer and web developer. Her career of teaching and coaching in different environments with different challenges has given Sarah the experience to teach and transfer the benefits of the technique to others.
Sarah runs her Alexander practice in Ashdon, near Saffron Walden as well as travelling around East Anglia teaching riders on their own horses. Along with her long term involvement with horses she also has a passion for dogs. Sarah is a qualified Scent work UK trainer and judge running weekly classes for dogs at many different levels of scent work. She enjoys walking her rescued Labrador, Bodger, and competes regularly in scent work competitions with him.
Visit www.sarahwitkin.com for more details.
KIRSTIE RICHARDSON
Alexander Technique and Movement Practitioner Kirstie Richardson ATE, BA(Hons) Cert ED completed her Alexander Technique training at the East Anglia Centre for Alexander Technique (EACAT).
Prior to this Kirstie’s dance training took place at London Contemporary Dance School and Middlesex University. She has had a 25 year career as a professional dancer and has taught for leading schools and companies such as English National Ballet, Richard Alston Dance Company, Laban, The Circus Space, CandoCo Dance Company, Coventry University and East 15 Acting School.
She has successfully integrated her Alexander Technique and movement practice by working in a range of health settings including, Little Havens Children's Hospice, Great Ormond Street Hospital and St Thomas Hospital. Kirstie currently has an Alexander Technique practice at Leigh on Sea and continues to work freelance for Dance Art Foundation. Visit www.kirstierichardson.com for more details.
KATHY PONTER
Alexander technique teacher Kathy Ponter completed her training at the East Anglia Centre for the Alexander Technique in 2016. She enjoys teaching a wide range of ages in one-to-one lessons and group sessions in Saffron Walden Essex.
Her previous profession as an art teacher, working in both secondary and primary settings (in the UK and abroad), gives Kathy insight when working with children and teachers. Her understanding of the school environment, dynamics and pressures helps her relate to her student’s day to day experience.
During term time Kathy teaches Mindful Motion courses to help anxious teenagers feel more confident, happy and resilient as well as to adults to help improve balance and mobility.
Kathy runs Monday Mood Boost, an online general wellbeing program with fellow professionals Daniela Karsten, Registered Homeopathist and Sophie Chalk, Wellbeing Coach and Nutritional Advisor, each Monday lunchtime as well as Mood Boost workshops. for more details.