Barbara Materna, Ph.D., CIH. Chief, Occupational Health Branch, California

Learning the Alexander Technique from Constance has helped me in all sortsof ways. I am more conscious of how much ease (or lack of ease) I feel in everything I do, from sitting in meetings to walking by the Bay. Once I learned the basics, I have worked with Constance on my most challenging activities; these include working on the computer, playing flute, doing gardening work, and exercising. As a musician on a wind instrument, I am now much more aware of where tension arises in my body and how it affects my breath or causes my fingers to move less easily. I have learned some techniques for relaxing prior to performing, to help overcome the nervousness that typically could take over in negative ways. Last night I played my first concert as first chair flutist in a symphonic band (meaning that the solos were mine); I was able to stay relaxed, play well, and enjoyed the performance thoroughly!