Islay Alexander Technique Centre

Flaming June

What a beautiful month here on Islay - days and days of sunshine, wild orchids and yellow iris everywhere. Looking forward to the long, light summer: if you’re on Islay and want to practice some Alexander Technique while you’re here, let me know and we can arrange some lessons round your holiday. We also have a class every Thursday evening in the Rhinns Hall at 7pm where we practice some yoga, movement and relaxation with the principles of the Alexander Technique - we’re a friendly, mixed group and visitors are always welcome. 

Daylight!

End of May and the hours of daylight extending it seems by hours! Sunsets at Portnahaven are well known, and it’s wonderful to watch the changing position of the sun on the horizon as summer grows. One of the great things about living on Islay is the sky, which seems vast, day or night. With corncrakes calling at 6 every morning, followed by the village cockerels, we’re not allowed to miss anything. 

We’re in the middle of the 2009 Feis Ile, our annual festival of whisky and music, each distillery with their own open day and unique entertainment. So - many visitors on the island, all enjoying the impossibility of predicting the ever-changing weather!

Take a look at the summer courses section, and let me know if you want further details. And coming soon: weekend introductory course, and using your voice for speaking and singing with the Alexander Technique - watch this space, or email if you’re already interested.        

Wild and windy May!

Unusually for this time of year here May so far has given us fierce winds and lots of rain - today lots of blustery showers, sunshine lovely in between. As May progresses the days just get longer and longer, and with the full moon this weekend there’s no shortage of light.

Work-wise, the Thursday evening class consistently busy with the regular members working away on themselves, improving awareness, flexibilty and geberal well-being as they go. Several of the class have started coming along for one-to-one Alexander lessons on a regular basis and we’re establishing a nice Islay group.

Interest is growing in the selection of holiday courses - have a look at the page on this site and get in touch if there’s anything there that catches your attention. 

Spring!

What beautiful days here on Islay this week. Lots of light and big blue skies, boxing hare already, birds everywhere and gardening season started. Discovering the joys of digging so think I’m hooked already! 

Thoughts on courses for Spring and Summer - May 2-4 and week of 22 June are next dates, and Islay has something to offer any weekend so why not combine a short break with some lessons in the Alexander Technique?

Contact me on info@islayalexandertechnique.com for further details.   

Happy New Year from Islay

The New Year finds us cold and dry on Islay. Amazing how even a couple of weeks on from mid winter there’s a perceptible change in the length of the days. Bulbs pushing up now, deer in the garden.

Resolutions prevail at this time of the year, and gradually Alexander lessons reviving after the festive break. Our Movement class continues in the Rhinns Hall on Thursday evenings throughout the winter - watch this space for new beginners courses for the Spring, and holiday courses for 2009… contact me directly by email if you want your info sooner.

Slainte agus beatha.

Christmas is coming, and so are the gales…

What I love about living on Islay is the reality of our environment. Instead of tinsel and piped music everywhere we go we have a real sense of winter. Writing this sitting under the eaves looking at fast moving clouds through the skylight window, listening to the power of that wind! Comfort definitely at top of the list of daily achievement - get the stove on, wrap up warm. Amazingly, when you get outside it’s exhilirating and thankfully the dog persuades us of this every day.

Courses in the New Year and beyond are being arranged so email me if you want some info.

Weekly class in Portnahaven is changing from Thursday evening to Saturday morning at 11am during December so come along if you’re interested and the dark nights have been putting you off.

Gift vouchers are currently available as Christmas presents so why not give this to someone you love (that could include yourself!)

November News

As we slip into winter, there’s a quiet about Islay - just the sound of gathering geese and always the sea; autumn is a time of wonderful colour here: land and trees but also the sea and the sky in constant change - blues, greens, greys.

Local interest in Alexander Technique encouraging as ever: talk to the PM Club in Port Charlotte last week provided lively interest.

New gift vouchers available for single lessons or courses for the coming festive season and beyond - click on the link for further info.   

Autumn 2008 on Islay

Light changing by the day here, geese already here for the winter. Landscape colours fantastic as ever and we’re pulling on the hats and gloves and getting out there to look at them.

Classes continue weekly on Thursday evenings here in Portnahaven, and we’ve just finished a series of mornings in the Gaelic Centre introducing new people to the benefits of the Alexander Technique.

New Holiday courses planned for the next few months 21-24 November and a New Year holiday retreat course January 3rd-10th - Islay is spectacular in the winter: experience it at its most remote, more wild geese than people and learn how to use the Alexander Technique while enjoying the environment and warm welcome.   

More Holiday courses planned for 2009 - see Holidays, Classes and Courses page for details.   

New Courses on Islay this Summer

Summer in full swing on Islay!

There’s a group course in Alexander Technique running for 4 weeks in the Gaelic Centre on Friday mornings 1-21 August 11am-12.30 - this will be an introduction or supplement to individual lessons and will look at practical ways of changing habit patterns to improve balance, posture, flexibility and awareness: booking essential as limited numbers: plenty of individual attention! To book email Lynn on info@islayalexandertechnique.com

Stretch, relax and movement class at Rhinns Hall, Portnahaven every Thursday evening at 7pm: no need to book, no special experience required - just come along! Vistors to Islay are welcome.

Welcome to Alexander Technique on Islay!

The backdrop of beautiful beaches, wildlife galore, fabulous sunsets and lovely people provides a fantastic setting for renewal and perspective. 

Here you can come on holiday, have activities arranged, and take some lessons in the Alexander Technique each day. We already have thriving classes and lessons going on every week on Islay and you’re welcome to join these too – click on the link Holidays, Classes and Courses for information.

For locals and frequent visitors to Islay we can arrange lessons and courses to suit.

For more information on the Alexander Technique click on the link or use the contact page to send me an e-mail.