Think in a new direction
The F.M. Alexander Teacher Training Center Zürich (ATLAZ )
is situated conveniently at Regensbergstrasse 216 which is a short walk or
bus ride from Oerlikon rail station
(The frequent
No. 62 bus from the station (direction
Unteraffoltern) stops
almost outside 216 (Stop "Oberwiesenstrasse").
The number 11 tram
("Regensbergbrücke") is
only a 5 minute walk
away - or catch No. 62 bus there on the bridge).
The Centre is dedicated to the training
school and to giving private lessons in the Alexander Technique.
Robin John Simmons SVLAT, MSTAT and Béatrice Simmons-Heiz
SVLAT, MSTAT run the course which is approved by SVLAT, the Swiss
Alexander Technique Society.
The Centre offers a three-year full-time training to teach the F. Matthias Alexander Technique conducted in a supportive, friendly atmosphere. It also offers post-graduate training plus various workshops on the Alexander Technique and the procedures devised by Prof. Raymond Dart.
The Centre is dedicated to providing a high standard of training enabling students to practice professionally both in Switzerland and abroad.
A contract of agreement is drawn up between ATLAZ and each student for the period of time they are in training.
Robin John Simmons trained with Walter Carrington
from 1969-1971, who continued the training
course initiated by F.M. Alexander in 1930, after Alexander died in 1955. Robin
conducted his own STAT approved training course for teachers from 1982 (assisted
by Béatrice from 1987) until 2002 when
they moved to Switzerland.
Robin John Simmons has served on STAT Council including
serving as Honorary Treasurer for two years and has also been a moderator
for another training school in London.
Robin is also a teacher of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and in
addition, together with Béatrice, has been running an ergonomic consultancy
to business and industry and retailing office chairs and ergonomic equipment.
Teaching sessions last 4 hours or 3 & half hours, including a tea break, and involves individual and group work.
| Monday | 15.00 - 19.00 |
| Tuesday | 7.45 - 11.45 |
| Wednesday | no school |
| Thursday | 14.00 - 18.00 (alternate weeks 19.00) |
| Friday | 8.00 - 11.00 |
SVLAT requires training to last for at least 1600 hours.
This usually means training takes place over 3 years.
A residential weekend workshop is organized once a year which
is attended by all students as part of the course.
This gives us a valuable opportunity to work in a different setting
and we often use special themes for these weekends which everyone
enjoys.
We have a progress review session for each student at least twice per
year. In addition each student gets four extra private lessons per
year. Near the end of their training students are given opportunities
to assist in group classes and in individual sessions on an apprenticeship
basis.If possible we offer a weekend residential workshop for the public
where the student(s) act as a teacher under supervision assisting us. 
The
training time is taken up with mostly practical work. Whilst not having individual
attention from a teacher, the student is expected to continue working on themselves,
i.e. employing 'inhibition' and 'direction' in whatever they are doing. There
are also lectures and discussions and small group work under supervision.
Students are expected to regularly give short talks to the class on a variety
of relevant subjects. The application of the Technique in life and its
effect on your thinking and your whole being is continuously explored.
* We teach students how to use their class time to work on themselves to develop their detailed and personal understanding of conscious inhibition and conscious direction in activity and rest. We train students to attach themselves to others to 'talk each other through' some process.All "process" work is based upon conscious inhibition and direction. This continues throughout the training.
* When a student shows they can sustain a certain
state of continued inhibition and direction, they continue to explore & develop
this work with the new stimulus of "hands-on" work. This they may
then explore among themselves (i.e. with students at a similar level), or
with teachers.
* We expect competency to have developed such that every student
during their third year should be able to work with anyone in the class
giving short turns. Photo of students work on each other
* If they are ready, we get students to give a full 30 minutes series of
lessons (under our supervision) to a junior student, and we require a short
written report of the lesson from both students.
* In the last few months of their training we get the student to find and
bring in to class a friend who has had no lessons from anyone, so they will
give them their first lessons. This is again supervised by us.
* The residential weekend workshop and apprenticeship work, including
such opportunities as assisting us at health fairs, comes near the end of
training and contributes to a students' learning how to give lessons and
group classes.
We require each student to read all four of Alexander's books which
we run as a special class every alternate Thursday evening. We also
have a library of books, magazines and other literature which we
encourage students to read. A recommended booklist is given.
Students are expected to 'read around the subject' of the Alexander
Technique. Each student should collect a scrapbook of relevant
newspaper and magazine pictures and cuttings. Around 7 hours
out-of-class time will need to be spent on studying Alexander and
allied literature each week including work on the book reviews. 
For two weeks 3-4 times a year lectures are given almost daily on relevant Anatomy & Physiology. The A & P is divided in to 10 sections. The fundamentals of how the body is put together and how consciousness influences movement and balance is explored (e.g. The 'startle pattern', The conscious control of single nerve cells, etc).
We also have visits from several guest teachers or relevant professionals.
Sometimes visits are organized as a workshop.
In London we had, for example, workshops on Yoga and AT, on Running and AT a workshop on the 'use' of the horse and rider, all closely relating to the Alexander Technique. In Switzerland we have had a workshop on how to bring the Technique into Businesses and also a visit from Margaret Edis, Prof. of Oboe & Alexander Technique at the Royal College of Music, London. Other senior and junior teachers help from time to time on the course. We have contact with training schools in Switzerland the UK and in Europe and student and teacher exchanges between schools occur from time to time.
We aim to give a clear understanding to all students of how to set up and run a successful teaching practice. This is sometimes done in the form of a full one day workshop.
Extra-mural activities Extra-mural activities will occur from time to time.
A Student Network system is encouraged among the
training schools and workshops might be arranged.
In addition we have had some school social outings including
a visit to the circus, the zoo and Kulturama. Students also gained
valuable experience helping run the SVLAT stand with us at Züspa 2005.
We also offer each student the opportunity to attend the school following
graduation. By coming back to the school after having started to give
lessons a valuable support and further advice and help can be given to
post-graduate students.
Thereafter, our post-graduate students are always welcome at the school
and we sometimes ask them to help in the school. It may also be possible
for post-graduate students to attend our residential weekends.
*The people running the school have their training experience from
different backgrounds. The successful blend creates a special quality
in the way the course is conducted.
*We are offering a once-a-week hour on the extremely valuable insights of
Prof. Raymond Dart in which Robin has uniquely more than 30 years
experience.
*Our location is especially favourable in Zürich.
* We are the only school offering an organised weekend training workshop in the countryside annually (For example in the Tessin.)
*We have unique links with many teachers of wide ranges of specialisation
both in the UK and abroad that we call on to give occasional presentations.
*We invite students to help us with workshops or presentations near the
end of their training. We have taken students to help run our annual workshop
in England, when we also take opportunities to visit some senior UK teachers.
Students training with us are, on the whole, unlikely to be under 25.
Life experience is an essential pre-requisite for being able to take on
this course. Academic qualifications are important but less important than
awareness, willingness to learn and change, clear commitment and the
interest and ability to work on oneself.
Applicants are assessed on their application form, and primarily at interview,
each on their individual merits.
Most teachers set up in private practice once they are qualified.
Avenues that offer opportunities beyond private practice include education
at
all levels, music, drama, industry, health - especially health centres, and
sport.
The Centre is approved by SVLAT (The Swiss Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique), the officially recognised body.
On presentation of the ATLAZ qualifying Certificate, students will be eligible to join SVLAT. They are then entitled to place SVLAT after their name. If a student is successful in being elected to join the Society, a Certificate is issued by the Society confirming the date of admittance.
SVLAT offers post-graduate workshops, conducts an information service to
the public (publishing & distributing an address list of approved teachers),
publishes a regular news magazine SVLAT-BLATT and, as well as offering
a support service to teachers, organises an Annual Teachers Conference
(Forum).
Details of becoming a student member of SVLAT should be sought from the
ATLAZ Director.
SVLAT is affiliated to Alexander Teacher Societies and Organisations
worldwide and membership of SVLAT confers reciprocal benefits with these
organisations for teachers living and working in other countries around the
world.
Gatherings of teachers from around the world take place at International
Congresses every three years or so. Seven Congresses have been held to date.In 2004
there was one in Oxford, UK and the next one is scheduled to be held
in Lugano, Switzerland in 2008.
All enquiries about training should be made to:
Béatrice or Robin John Simmons 
Kontakt