Alexander Technique San Mateo with Barbara Coulson

If you’re interested in giving Alexander technique a try, I highly recommend seeing Barbara. If you are unsure about whether Alexander technique is right for, I recommend giving it a try and thus, seeing Barbara. So basically, no matter who you are, go see Barbara :)
There are a lot of resources and info about the Alexander technique (AT) online, so I won’t go into it too much. It has helped me tremendously. I suffered from IT band syndrome, sciatica, knee pain, general misalignment of my left leg, among other things related to too much hockey, running, soccer and volleyball. The AT does not target any specific ailment since it aims to understand the body and movement as a whole. In a nutshell, it has completely revolutionized the way I see, listen to, and move my body, and the pains I once had are either completely gone or drastically reduced.
As far as Barbara specifically, you will not be disappointed! She has a comfortable office and is a positive, calming, knowledgable and professional person. She mentioned to me that she focuses on different aspects of AT depending on the needs or wants of the person, so I think that she will be able to tailor her «curriculum» to you. For me, I was interested in the physiology and anatomy of the human body. This allowed me to visualize and better understand the natural alignment and movements of my joints, ultimately leading to improved movement. However, no matter the question I had for her, whether it related to human physiology or the spiritual implications of mindfulness, Barbara was knowledgable and had a well-​reasoned response.
Learning the AT is a life-​long process, and Barbara embodies this. Each session she would talk about what aspect of the body or AT she was currently learning about, demonstrating that she is always looking to better herself and better others. The same goes for me or you; you will not master the AT or your body after a few sessions, but seeing Barbara will most definitely guide you in the right direction.
Her prices are reasonable (and let’s be honest, any AT cost is going to be way less than the doctor’s visits and physical therapy that won’t help you… or at least didn’t help me). At the very least, you should take advantage of her $ 30, 30 minute intro session to see if it might be right for you. If it is, she has a good general package which includes 8 sessions over 4 weeks totaling 6 hours.
Best of luck on your journey!

I have been going to Barbara and recommending her highly for several years, after initially seeing her for severe chronic neck and back pain (related to piano playing and work, as well as old back and neck injuries.) I walked out of the first session already feeling lots better. Since then she has helped me with so many other issues as well (including, most recently, pregnancy and lifting a youngster!) Barbara is incredibly professional and knowledgeable, not to mention genuinely joyous and generous about sharing wonderfully freeing insight about how you can move more easily, or visualize how the skeleton/​muscles really work in order to let go of unnecessary tension. She has a unique ability to tune into what is going on with clients, and draws from a large body of knowledge. Her prices are also incredible considering what she offers, and she never does any hard selling or telling you you have to come back often. (Her office and building are also beautiful, with free parking a 5 minute walk away.) I always feel happy when I get to schedule a session with Barbara – it always feels wonderful to body and soul and I always walk away with genuinely constructive insight.

Barbara is great! I have had chronic upper back pain for months, which Barbara helped determine that poor posture while playing the violin is a large reason for my discomfort. The Alexander Technique is taught at many performing arts schools, and I’ve heard good things from other musicians so I figured I’d try it out.
After about 4 sessions I felt a big difference, my back no longer gnaws at me constantly and I am much more aware of my posture and movement daily.
Barbara is always studying and learning and explains concepts well. Lessons can be like a conversation, i encourage one to inform Barbara of any stressors in life as they may present in the body. Barbara is also very warm, immediately putting one at ease and tailors lessons on the individual.
If you’re looking for a way to alleviate your pain without medications or pay thousands in medical bills, give Barbara a try. Costs are reasonable in my opinion.
I’ve always managed to find paid parking nearby… Trains runs down there as well.