Testimonials

R Coates 2014

“I had a history of neck and shoulder pain for around 8 years, and this became acute early in 2014. I’d seen osteopaths and chiropractors, had recently followed a course of physiotherapy, and while these treatments helped to relieve the pain I realised that my day-to-day posture and laptop-based work were the main contributors.
Deborah’s excellent, professional approach led me to reassess and become aware of the way I stand, sit, and lie, so that I could start to break long-practiced bad habits. I am 6 feet 3 inches tall, and after a few weeks of Alexander Technique I began to realise that I had been stooping for much of my life to compensate for this. The Technique is a remarkably subtle way to gain self awareness, unlearn bad practice, and walk tall.”

C Smith December 2016

"For about a decade, I have had numbness in my left thigh after falling from a horse onto hard ground.  I thought this was permanent damage.  However, shortly after the second half-hour session of Alexander technique with Deborah, I experienced something akin to an electric shock from my hip and down my thigh.  To my astonishment, I had recovered some feeling in that muscle and it continued to improve.  I now have 'normal' feeling in the thigh. Quite remarkable! I am very grateful to Deborah."

CD, (Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, January 2017

"What I like about the lessons;
I feel I've been given an embodied 'tool kit'! More spacious internally, a quieter internal landscape. I hope to continue recalling the work and embedding it in my wider life.
The lessons make me feel;
Relaxed and cared for. Supported in the session but also supported by invisible hands and the echo of the voice of the therapist/teacher after the treatment has finished."

 

Geoff Brightling, October 2015

"Back pain is a common problem that affects most people at some point in their life.
 Whether you spend most of your working life sitting at a computer or like me you spend a lot of time outside working in peoples gardens. Over the years people have suggested various forms of therapy as treatment, but a few months ago my wife booked me in for a workshop with Deborah Levy who practices the Alexander Technique...

After an initial group workshop I signed up for a number of regular weekly sessions during which time Deborah has made me to be more aware of my posture and helped me to eliminate bad habits with advice about how to sit, stand and lift correctly. I have found these sessions really beneficial. She pointed out the 'Space Behind my Head' and encouraged me to let my 'Back Grow Long.' Unfortunately Deborah has not managed to make me grow any taller but I would like to thank her for putting me in touch with my 'Sitting Bones'... which was a bit of an eye opener.

If you want to find out more about your 'Sitting Bones' I suggest you book in some sessions with Deborah Levy."

Graham Price, September 2015

"A few weeks ago I put my back out for the first time in about 30 years. On the previous occasion Alexander Technique treatment has resolved my problem. So choosing Deborah was a no brainer on this occasion too.

It worked. Deborah gave me exercises that made the difference. She's changed the way I stand, walk and sit, how I work at my computer and even how I climb stairs, all at a very reasonable cost. If you have any muscle or skeletal issues I recommend you give Deborah a try."

 

JC aged 80, (Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, June 2017

"What I like about the lessons;
Sensitivity, gentleness, calmness, wholeness.
The lessons make me feel;
Relaxed. I have experienced something new and profound - life giving. Thank you."

 

TM, (Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, May 2017

 "What I like about the lessons;
That it helps me relax and unwind
The lessons make me feel;
Tranquil and relaxed. More positive. They are excellent."

 

JW,(Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, January 2017

"What I like about the lessons;
I gained new experience and new knowledge.
The lessons make me feel;
The sessions make me feel safe. I have realised that I try to protect the surgery scar on my tummy, which gives me stiffness in my back. After 2 AT sessions, I also realised I could change my habits to prevent and reduce my backache."

 

CD,(Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, January 2017

"What I like about the lessons;
I feel I've been given an embodied 'tool kit'! More spacious internally, a quieter internal landscape. I hope to continue recalling the work and embedding it in my wider life.
The lessons make me feel;
Relaxed and cared for. Supported in the session but also supported by invisible hands and the echo of the voice of the therapist/teacher after the treatment has finished."

 

Chris Smith, December 2016

"For about a decade, I have had numbness in my left thigh after falling from a horse onto hard ground. I thought this was permanent damage. However, shortly after the second half-hour session of Alexander technique with Deborah, I experienced something akin to an electric shock from my hip and down my thigh. To my astonishment, I had recovered some feeling in that muscle and it continued to improve. I now have 'normal' feeling in the thigh. Quite remarkable! I am very grateful to Deborah."

 

Astrid Jacoby November 2016

"I was able to enjoy an introductory session to Alexander Technique with Deborah Levy. Although posture and how we look in our clothes are very closely linked I had little knowledge about the potential of this technique to influence both. The session has been a revelation and an altogether calming experience. Deborah talked me through how to take time out to ‘listen’ and becoming aware of my body. Alexander Technique is clearly no quick fix but just one session has convinced me how important in the long run this body awareness is to avoid back, neck and other pains. I have already discussed what I learned in one of my adult classes in relation to sitting for long periods whilst sewing!  This session has given me so much more information than a 1-2-1 chat to be able to highly recommend Deborah’s services."

 

CB,(Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, November 2016

"What I like about the lessons;
I found the Alexander Technique very useful. The teacher taught me a lot including Mindfulness, exercises, relaxation and most important being aware of my body and movement. I enjoyed all my lessons.
The lessons make me feel;
The lessons made me feel relaxed and not so tense, as to how I was feeling. I felt energised afterwards and a sense of well-being. Strongly recommend it to others."

 

KT, (Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, November 2016

"What I like about the lessons;
I learnt new skills. The Alexander technique is a really nice way to help patients.
The lessons make me feel;
Much better, more balanced and more mindful."

 

LPR, (Cancer survivor), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, May 2016

"What I like about the lessons;
I like the awareness it creates about my posture habits and the anatomy references during the lesson. I have also enjoyed the exploration of body position in movement.
The lessons make me feel;
Deborah’s hand contact relaxes my body more than I am able to intentionally do myself.
I feel lighter and more relaxed."

 

FP, (diagnosed with cancer), Paul's Cancer Support Centre, April 2016

"The Alexander Technique lessons gave me the opportunity to understand more about my posture and to remind me of the tensions that it might create. It also taught me techniques to release these tensions. I have already tried them and can see they are effectively useful.

The AT sessions make me feel very cared for. Deborah is amazing, she listens also to my tales, she asks me about them with no judgement. The lessons have sometimes acted with a 'painkiller effect' so I felt good and recharged every time I had one. I feel refreshed!"

 

David Hodgson, August 2016

"I really can't say enough good things about Deborah and her skills as an Alexander Technique teacher/therapist. I have epilepsy which over the years has also led to symptoms of functional weakness and at times being very spaced out. When I went to Deborah my body felt like it was constantly in tension mode and I didn't know how to switch it off. Through a combination of body work on the therapy table and gentle verbal instructions of how to move with awareness and lightness, I am learning how to release and let go of the tension that I hold in my body especially my neck, shoulders and back. An unintended consequence is that I am also learning how to do simple everyday tasks in a way that doesn't create further tension like sitting, standing and walking with more awareness, ease and freedom of movement. This is one of the best gifts I have even given to myself, I feel so grateful to have found new more easeful ways to live my life instead of the daily ongoing struggle I had before. I do have to keep applying what I have learned and I’m sure in time my new way of functioning will become just as automatic as my old ways of holding onto tension."

 

Dalia Hartman Bergsagei, April 2015

"I would like to thank you so much for my recent Alexander Technique treatment/lesson. Over the years, I have heard a lot about the Alexander Technique and I understood the underlying principles of recognising and correcting the postures and actions which can generate tensions and problems in our bodies and movements but, until I experienced it, of course I didn't really understand what it was. Overall, I was surprised how gentle it all was and yet how effective. One gentle touch, a nod towards a touch really, created a wonderful chain effect of alignment. At the end of the session, I felt really good after our meeting, taller and more aligned and grounded and now, even several weeks later, I still find myself sitting in a different way and being more aware.

Thank you so much, it was almost enlightening, and I will not hesitate to share the discovery with others and to recommend your assistance. With many thanks and best wishes."

 

WH, Pauls Cancer Support Centre, September 2017

"What I like about the lessons;
The gentleness and kindness of the therapist.  The feeling of being looked after and empathy, having my body moved.  I would like more of the same, to improve my posture and strengthen my legs and knees.
The lessons make me feel;
Relaxed and calm and cared for."

Karen Berry January 2018

I was suffering from neck pain and headaches caused by long days in front of the computer. I considered an osteopath or chiropractor, but after weighing these up I decided on trying the Alexander Technique and luckily found Deborah, who has been amazing.
I have had just six sessions and they have made a huge difference. My neck pain and headaches have completely gone, and I now know how to hold myself correctly in pilates so that I am not in pain doing crunch-type exercises. I also feel taller and can actually sit still without constantly wriggling to try and get comfortable.
Deborah was also able to take my hyper-mobility into consideration and tailored movements to help with this; and also provided me with extra information which has helped explain all sorts of other issues that I had and didn't realise were related.
I thoroughly recommend seeing Deborah and trying the Alexander Technique; it really worked for me.

Karen Berry, January 2018

Mandy Norman April 2018

I've had back issues for a couple of years now. I'd tried osteopathy and physio. Nothing was working long term. I'd heard good things about Alexander Technique, so thought I would give it a go. I was a little cynical at first, as didn't know what to expect, but after a couple of sessions with Deborah I would come out feeling less pain than if I'd had a deep tissue massage. Deborah was really clear with her instructions and guidance, using visualisation techniques which I've been using since finishing my sessions with her. She taught me how to stand, sit and bend over properly. All about alignment and being able to relax. I'd never realised how much I would tense my body in the day. My pain hasn't gone away completely as yet, as it takes time to re-teach an old dog new tricks, but I'm not feeling the same intensity of pain for sure. I really recommend Deborah as a teacher and practitioner of the Alexander Technique. Thanks Deborah.

I can go on long walks again!

I came to Deborah last autumn after a long period of pain in my feet and lower legs. In the very first session Deborah realised that I was carrying a lot of tension in my hips, which was affecting the rest of my body, which was such a breakthrough. She taught me many techniques to improve my balance and to notice when I was tense and how to manage it, including methods for walking, as well as the great benefits of lying on the floor and lengthening one's back. After a few sessions I began to notice an improvement with the feelings in my legs and feet, and six months later I was delighted to be doing long walks again. Deborah made me feel very relaxed and I would leave each session feeling great - I would highly recommend Deborah and Alexander Technique.

Michael M May 2019

Improvement in PTSD.

I had 5 sessions with Deborah and they really helped me better manage my ptsd through awareness of my posture.

Jeremy Raphael November 2018

Eugenia Ivanissevich  ***** June 2019

I highly recommend Deborah,
she is friendly, gentle and very approachable. Her AT classes are fun and
always in tune with how the body feels on that day. Through her classes I
learned how to go about my everyday tasks so not to place extra stress on my
lower back. Simple changes in my daily routines and acquiring relaxation
techniques has helped me feel more confident with my body and improved my lower
back posture! I cannot recommend Deborah enough!