Tomsterdam - a touch of technique

An article in Tuesday’s Guardian talks about “a new approach to running using the principles of the Alexander Technique.” How strange that a technique over 100 years old is still called “new”.

I am trotting around Bedford Square in central London like a pony in the ring, steered by a hand on the back of my neck and another on my lower back. The potential for feeling foolish is high, but what I actually feel is a great sense of joy. I’ve been running for 18 years but it has never felt this easy and, well, bouncy.

“Think of running over the ground, rather than into it,” says the owner of the guiding hands. He is Malcolm Balk, an Alexander technique teacher and running coach who has created a new approach to running.”

Ruth Dreier came for her first lesson in the Alexander Technique on 11 November 2004. Patrick filmed the entire lesson, then distilled it down to this 2 minute video.