RESPIRATORY RE-EDUCATION

Pamela is intrigued with the similarity found in F.M. Alexander’s early writing concerning the breath and Carl Stough’s writings over 60 years later. Whether referred to as Stough’s, Breathing Coordination, or as F.M. Alexander’s Re-education of the Respiratory System, the process is similar and the desired end to be gained the same.

Breathing Coordination is a term coined by Carl Stough to reflect his discovery revealing the consistent synergistic operation of the muscles of respiration at maximum efficiency with minimum effort.

F.M.Alexander said, as early as 1906, Respiratory Re-Education is necessary. He defines Re-Education as eradicating defects and coordinating the use of the muscles of respiration.

Breathing Coordination and the Alexander Technique both focus on the art of allowing the in breath to be a response to the out breath.

Pamela Blanc and Breathing Coordination
In 1998 Pamela was introduced to the principles of Breathing Coordination by Jessica Wolf, an Alexander Technique teacher in New York City who also teaches the Alexander Technique at Yale University to the Master students in the theater department. Ms. Wolf studied with Carl Stough for over 20 years and encouraged Pamela to have lessons with him. After some time on Mr. Stough's waiting list, Pamela had a series of five private lessons with him in April 2000 and immediately scheduled more lessons for September of the same year. However, those lessons were cancelled by Mr. Stough's staff and in October 2000, Carl passed away.

Pamela continued her private studies with Jessica Wolf over the years and enrolled in the first graduate-training program for Alexander Technique teachers at the American Center for the Alexander Technique in New York City. This program, The Art of Breathing, was taught by Ms. Wolf and focused on the principles of the Alexander Technique as applied to Breathing Coordination.

In 2006, Pamela Blanc assisted Jessica Wolf in The Art of Breathing course presented for the second time at ACAT-NY.

The course title, The Art of Breathing, was a phrase used by F.M.Alexander in an article published in The Auckland Star, New Zealand, July 20, 1895. Mr. Alexander was promoted as a Specialist in Respiration and A Founder of a Respiratory Method. That being said, in 1906 Alexander wrote: "I do not claim to have discovered any new method of breathing, but to understand the only true one--Nature's."

Both Carl Stough and F.M.Alexander saw the need for respiratory re education. They recognized mal coordination of the muscles of respiration contributing unnecessary tension and rigidity of the thorax resulting in poor breathing.

Teaching Breathing Coordination within the context of the principles of the Alexander Technique is to re educate the respiratory system for maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Pamela has witnessed huge leaps in artistic performance with her private students who are Opera singers, Pop/Rock singers, wind players, and actors.

For more information on the Alexander Technique and Respiratory Re education contact Pamela Blanc.

For a list of Alexander Technique teachers trained in The Art of Breathing click here.