It’s a bit embarrassing. But I will tell you anyway.
It still thrills me when I post something and a few hundred people, dispersed around the world, read and appreciate what I have to say. Places I’ve never been like, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, or Peru, or Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Belarus, or even Mongolia.
So…
Let it be known, I am officially declaring my availability on the off chance someone in a country other than my own would like me to come to their country to teach.
Let me be more specific.
In the beginning of each July, and then again at the end of each October, I am free to teach somewhere in Western or Eastern Europe.
In the beginning of each May, I am free to teach in Australia, New Zealand, or the Far East.
And, each June or September, I am free to teach in North, Central, or South America.
If you are from a country you assume would be absolutely impossible for me to visit, ask anyway. I would do my best to find a way.
Now, to be even more specific.
Having taught movement arts for 50 years, (Oh my God, really!) this is what I have to give…
For The General Public
I introduce people to the work of F.M. Alexander as inspired through Marjorie Barstow, my primary mentor, the first person formally certified by Alexander to teach his work, and with whom I studied for 16 years.
I also introduce people to the Fertman Fundamentals, movements founded upon the essential principles within the Alexander Technique, Tai Chi Chu’an, Aikido, Argentine Tango, and Japanese Tea Ceremony, (Chanoyu).
My work lives in the space where body and being, movement and meaning, and the sensory and the sacred meet.
For Trainees and Teachers Of The Alexander Technique
Passing On The Teachings Of Marjorie L. Barstow
Most people in the Alexander world attribute two pedagogical contributions to Marjorie Barstow – teaching in groups, and working in activity.
Few, outside of those of us who worked directly with Marj, remember her for how extraordinary her hands were, how she was able to trigger “the true and primary movement” effortlessly and dramatically, so everyone watching could see it as plan as day. I made a vow not to stop until I had hands that were as sensitive and as skillful as Marj’s. Though I do not imitate how Marj used her hands, (as Marj did not imitate how Alexander used his), I can honestly say, that after 40 years my hands are as sensitive and skillful as Marj’s hands were. I have kept my promise.
That doesn’t mean, however, my job is over. Sure, I’ve been passing on this tactual wisdom for a long time now, but I’m a mere 63, quite young as far as Alexander elders go. Alexander didn’t start formally training teachers until he was my age. I met Marj when she was 75. Hopefully, there are many students I have yet to meet.
The story goes that once there was a little girl who when asked by her mom, “Dear, what piece of this cherry pie would you like?” replied, “I’d like the whole pie. The whole pie is the best piece.”
Marj held an important piece of the Alexander pie. Marj is gone, but she gave a few of us her recipe before she left.
I’d be happy to serve you.
The Art of Introducing The Alexander Technique In A Group
This could not possibly be true. (But it is.) Estimating conservatively, I have taught over 1000 intro workshops in the Alexander Technique, and have, through my hands, given over 15,000 people a direct kinesthetic experience of Alexander’s work.
I’ve learned a thing or two. Just as Marj gave us her contributions, many people tell me, unmistakably, that introducing Alexander’s work is one of mine. There’s a framework that I’ve evolved for introducing Alexander’s work to a group that’s easy to learn, leaving you free to insert the content you wish to impart.
Introducing the technique can be intimidating for a lot of Alexander teachers. Knowing this simple structure makes it a whole lot easier.
Alexander’s Directions – The Unabridged Version
Alexander’s directions are a short hand for a startling beautiful, moving constellation within us, a subtle, powerful mobile of somatic support and freedom.
Kinesthetically contemplating Alexander’s understanding of human directionality has been, for me, a joyful obsession. Slowly, over 44 years, I’ve discerned inherent patterns of connection and organization. Alexander’s directions point to an internal blueprint, both elaborate and simple in design. At moments along my way, I’ve had almost revelatory kinesthetic visions of this blueprint. Through various directional models, Helical, Spherical, Spatial, Imagistic, and Anatomical, I’ve been able to help Alexander trainees and teachers “see” and touch this pattern, making the invisible, visible.
For the sake of expediency, Alexander’s directions can lead to over simplification. “Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler,” Einstein said. Alexander trainees and teachers, from all the various traditions within our community, have found these directional models enlightening, and more importantly, imminently practical and effective.
We were driving home from yet another introductory workshop in the Alexander Technique. Marj looked a little sad. She was 88. Her osteoporosis was getting worse. I asked her what she was thinking. She said, “ Bruce, one person can only contribute so much.” She was thinking about what she had done inside of the work, over her lifetime. I told her what she had done that was so important: evolving her own language for the work, her own way of using her hands, making the work more visible, more practical, more accessible, bringing a naturalness back into the work, teaching in activity, in groups, inspiring so many people…
Marj didn’t say anything. Then about a minute later she said, “And Bruce, what will your contributions be?” I told her I didn’t know yet.
But, as usual, Marj got me wondering. “What will my contributions be?” Now, I think I’ve got some idea.
So, if you are one of these people who enjoy what I write, I can tell you that English is my third language. Touch is my first, and movement my second. I don’t teach as well in my third language. Teaching through touch and movement are my most effective ways of communicating what I have come to understand about people. This is why am I being so bold as to invite you to invite me to your country, and into your community.
The best way to contact me is through email at bf@brucefertman.com or through Facebook, or by calling me, (May through September) at 575.638.5005.
Yours,
Bruce Fertman
http://peacefulbodyschool.com/about-2/testimonials/
