Julia Caulder and The Alexander Technique of Santa Monica

I have been doing karate for 12 years and I am active in other sports as well. I always thought I knew a lot about how to use my body, at least instinctively. I decided to learn about Alexander Technique from Julia because I hoped it would help me to cure by back problem I was always suffering from. I got much more than that. My back pain was gone almost completely after 6 or 7 lessons, and I started being more and more aware of the use of my body. I learned how to do my every day activities so they don't put unnecessary stress on my joints. Alexander Technique has become a part of my life and it helps me in every activity from doing sports to making presentations. Strange as it may sound, it even made me more confident. Though I know it's a long journey and I'm only at the beginning of it, I'm sure it will always be rewarding.

-Zoltan Popvics,
Hungarian Businessman,
President - Lindros Investment and Kaptár Energy Holding

I came to study the Alexander Technique with Julia Caulder in hopes of finding a way to relieve debilitating tension in my neck, shoulders, and back. For several years, I had visited physicians and massage therapists, but received only temporary relief from the pain and continued to have tension-related problems in my flute playing and constant pain. Through Julia's patient, hands-on teaching of the Alexander Technique, I learned to approach the root of the problem – my own lack of body awareness and years of bad habits. Though the Alexander Technique is not a "quick fix," within a matter of weeks I nearly eliminated all my pain and began to substitute good habits for the bad. Two years later, I still learn something new about myself in every lesson. Julia has helped me to find new freedom in my flute performance, reduce my performance anxiety, type at my computer without tension, drive on an L.A. freeway without tensing my neck and shoulders – my lessons have covered nearly every aspect of my life! Through it all, Julia is compassionate, quick to diagnose problems and willing to go the extra mile to research new issues (in my case, flute-specific issues), all with a wonderful sense of humor. I feel confident recommending anyone, of any occupation, concerned about body awareness and relief of tension to Julia Caulder and the Alexander Technique.

-Joanna Sisk-Purvis,
Professional Flute Player

After working with Julia, friends say I walk taller and have more presence. Julia is a delight to spend time with; responsible, responsive, friendly and concerned. She has enabled me to focus on my posture without it seeming like work.

-Simon Sutton,
Executive Vice President-International Television MGM Worldwide Television Distribution

The Alexander Technique is not saving my life, but it is saving my back, which makes life much more pleasant. Now, I am more aware of the way I rise from a chair, stand, and sit. That makes a big difference. A number of years ago, Dr. X. promised "to go in there (my L5) and clear that out." My mouth said, "Oh!" but my brain said, "No you won't."

Chiropractors help, exercises are supposed to, but if an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, F.M. Alexander was on to something important. The technique has its terminology and recommendations: free neck, lengthen and widen, head forward and up. My favorite is, "do less," which takes awareness and practice.

After a few sessions with Julia Caulder, several people have told me that I look so well, which is true because I feel better. Reading and lectures on the technique are optional but having a qualified teacher is essential – it is learning by doing and thinking about what you are doing. Spending a few hours with Julia Caulder is a very enjoyable experience and much healthier than stiffening and tensing your neck and back

-Denis O'Sullivan,
Educator

I have learned how integral body awareness is to my acting. "The audience doesn't experience anything that the actor doesn't experience in his/her whole body." Before I was really familiar with the Alexander Technique I only partially understood this phrase. Now I know what it means to experience something in my whole body, and how to make an adjustment if I am not. Also, more than just a physical awareness discipline, I have found that stopping and being aware is a saving grace in just about every other area of my life whether it be relationships or emotional life or mental habituation.

-Ben Perry,
Actor

I am endlessly thankful for the day I began studying the Alexander Technique with Julia Caulder. Julia is a remarkable teacher. She has the unique ability to gently guide her students towards their own epiphanies and an internal understanding of how the Alexander Technique works for them. She engages her students mentally and physically to recognize how they habitually use their bodies, to let go of their tension and to make choices so that they can more easily and effectively use their bodies. Julia's style of teaching the Alexander Technique is like an internal message. With trust, expertise, and skillful listening, she imbues her students with a complete understanding so that they have the power to take the steps to release tension and return to a free and easy physicality.

As an actor, choice of how I use my body is critical to embodying a character and to releasing to the moment. Julia's expert teaching gave me much greater physical awareness. I became much more present in my acting and in my life. Now, how I use my body is a choice rather than a default. Prior to studying with Julia I found that my physical habits would often defeat other preparation that I might do for a role. Very subtle habitual tension and slumping acted like a vacuum, sapping the life and the truth out my acting. After studying Alexander with Julia, emotional reactions travel easily through my body.

Although I learned the technique for my acting, I apply it to my entire life. It has shaved strokes off of my golf game by helping me to lengthen and relax. It has dramatically improved my back health; I type and work with much more ease and so that I prevent my upper back from knotting. Julia is one of those teachers who made an indelible positive impression in my life. With grace and skill, she taught me a physical awareness and a practice which improves both my art and my life.

-Brian Silverman,
Actor