Voices of the Bay: Bristol’s Barbara Casey

The Alexander Technique, a series of postural movements to help reduce and release tension in the body with a focus on the head, neck, and shoulders, is even more relevant in today’s world of hunched-over cell phone and computer users than when it was first created over 100 years ago by F. Matthias Alexander. For Bristol’s Barbara Casey, learning the method changed her life both physically and professionally. When she was a special educator in early childhood development, she was hampered by back pain from constantly bending over to interact with her three- and four-year-old students. It was at the suggestion of her chiropractor that Casey began to work with a certified instructor of the Alexander Technique. As a student of the practice for 10 years, she learned how to eliminate the pain. When she eventually retired, Casey was inspired to become a certified instructor of the technique. This included four years spent in London under the expertise of Walter and Dilys Carrington, who had been students of F. Matthias Alexander. 

Casey holds a BA and a Master’s in special education from Rhode Island College. This fall marks her twelfth year as a member of the faculty of the Brown University Trinity Rep MFA program in acting and directing, teaching the Alexander Technique. She also has a private practice.

CHRONIC PAIN: If you’re in discomfort, you are looking for somebody who’s going to alleviate it right away. I had very bad back pain, and my chiropractor was able to reduce the pain almost immediately, but I would be back in another three weeks with exactly the same thing. I didn’t understand what I was doing to cause the pain.

LOOKING BACKWARDS: There’s less manipulation with the Alexander Technique. It’s more of a thinking process to redirect your energy, a change in thinking about bringing and keeping yourself upward. Watch young people walking, and their postural issues are really severe. They’re carrying backpacks. They’re looking down at their phones. Also, we are sitting for a great deal of time, in the car, in virtual classes. When we do move, we move forward. We’re very aware of the front of us, but not many people have any sensory idea of the backward or their back. People are not connected to their backs. I work on that with my students all the time. You want to know where it is so that you’re fully in your body, not just the front of you, but the whole of the body. Students could be very nicely moving when we’re working together, but I watch them when they go out, or pick up their phone or backpack, and they fall right back into their habits.

THE REWARD: There are certain principles of the technique that haven’t changed in 136 years; I’m always teaching those principles. One’s vocabulary as a teacher has to change, because this is a very different world from what Matthias Alexander experienced. Every student learns differently. I would say it’s a combination for myself as a teacher of hands-on placement, visuals, and speaking to them in a vocabulary they understand. It’s extraordinarily gratifying. That’s one of the pleasures of teaching and I feel it’s also very satisfying for them when they begin to feel less discomfort. Learn more at BarbaraFCasey@gmail.com