Holy Wood is delighted to be hosting a ground-breaking residential course incorporating the Alexander Technique, Kundalini Yoga, and the potent applications of such techniques to music-making, the performing arts and generally stressful professions and situations, in
collective classes and individual lessons. Awareness and control of body, mind and breath enables us to realize our potential, to give our best without wasting vital energy in unnecessary tensions. The course is open to all, and includes numerous other methods and techniques (see below) of use to everyone in a simple, practical way, according to the needs of individual participants, a workshop on stage fright, its causes and cures, and postural analysis using Holy Wood’s filming and cinema 

projection facilities to watch and study body-use.The course will be held at Holy Wood Centre for Culture and the Arts, located in the breathtakingly beautiful hilly region of Volterra, where the province of Pisa meets Siena. Many of the lessons will take place in the open air.

THE WORKSHOP
2-6 July 2003
Course Director: Matt Jones

The workshop takes place at Holy Wood, a center for artistic research based in a restructured farmhouse steeped in the woods, in the quiet of the Tuscan hills that stretch from Volterra to Colle Val D’Elsa: a four-day live-in experience in the course of which participants get to know and experiment the techiques described.

The center is equipped with medialibrary, internal cinema with special-interest and international satellite TV channels, kitchen and guest rooms. 
CLIC HERE to see some photos of the Centre.

Course director Matt Jones is a professional violinist, violist, and a teacher of the Alexander Technique and Kundalini Yoga. He has been applying this and other expert knowledge to his own music-making and general well-being as well as that of his numerous pupils both in his practice in London and on courses all over Europe.  

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The course will include:  

 -   Alexander Technique and the potent applications of the Technique to various artistic and professional disciplines and in everyday life. Collective classes and individual lessons (at least 2 per person).

 -   Daily classes of Kundalini Yoga.

 -   Exploration of relaxation methods including Autogenic Training, progressive relaxation and breathing techniques.

 -   An introduction to practical techniques such as visualization, meditation, improvisation and from other sources to enhance performance (artistic and otherwise) and general well-being.

 -   Postural analysis using Holy Wood’s filming and cinema projection facilities to watch and study body-use.

 -   Discussion and workshop on stage fright, its causes and cures.

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Aims and addressees:

One of the aims of the course is to help participants to be able to continue to use and apply the above techniques after the seminar; relevant materials will be provided and Matt will be more than happy to answer any questions or give advice once the course is over. 

The course will be taught in English and Italian.

The course is open to all. No previous knowledge of the Alexander Technique or Kundalini Yoga is necessary. All of the techniques and concepts studied will be directly applicable or transferable to other disciplines, artistic or otherwise. For instance, all the techniques will be of great use to any musician of any level. 

Anyone who is simply interested in the Alexander Technique and/or Kundalini Yoga is more than welcome to join us and will profit of  it!

At the end of the course, according to the wishes of the participants, an informal concert can take place at the Centro Culturale.

Participants are encouraged to express opinions on the balance of classes and personal needs: we aim to provide a supportive and creative atmosphere to bring out the best in everyone – helped by the beauty of the surroundings and the wonderful Holy Wood team.

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What is the Alexander Technique?

The Alexander Technique is a way of becoming more aware of balance, posture and movement in everyday activities. It is a simple and practical method of self-improvement, helping to enhance poise, vitality and coordination and to reduce strain and stress. Through the Technique we become more able to differentiate necessary and unnecessary tension and effort, and we become able to perform better, free up creativity, prevent injury and cope better with existing problems.

Through experience and observation we become able to change longstanding habits and function more efficiently, and to apply the benefits of the Technique in demanding activities and situations in daily life.
While the Alexander Technique is hugely beneficial for everyone, some of the most striking results of working with the Technique have been in performance situations, both in the arts and in more general situations such as addressing groups of people.

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What is Kundalini Yoga?

“Yoga” means “Union” in the Sanskrit language, describing the means for the self to reunite with the whole. “Kundalini” refers to the uncoiling of the inner awareness of our spiritual nature, our latent potential. Kundalini Yoga is the means by which we can safely prepare to activate and channel Kundalini energy, raising our consciousness through the body’s energy centres or chakras. Kundalini Yoga is a powerful, fast and effective technology. The technology was kept hidden from view until Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini Yoga to the West in 1969, since when the teachings have spread rapidly throughout the world. 

Kundalini Yoga classes consist of warm-ups, breathwork (pranayama), posture work, relaxation, the use of sound currents (mantras), and meditation, and each set of exercises (or “kriya”) works on a different aspect of the self in a powerful way. As with so many great things in life, words cannot adequately describe the experience of Kundalini Yoga!

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HOW TO APPLY

DATES: the course begins on Wednesday July 2 at 9:00am and ends on Sunday July 6 at 10:00am 

PARTECIPANTS: the course is open to all, up to a maximum of 20 people.   

COST: the cost of the course is € 510, ( £ 340 at the exchange rate on March 1 2003), which includes registration, all classes and individual tuition (a minimum of 2 individual Alexander technique lessons per person), full board and lodging in twin rooms for 4 days and 5 nights. Please note that this cost does not include travel or airport transfers ( clic here for details).

Arrival and Departure:
*   Arrival is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday July 1 (in time for dinner if possible!)
*   Departure is scheduled for Sunday July 6, after breakfast.

Should you wish to participate in the course but stay elsewhere you may do so, in which case the accommodation coasts will of course be subtracted from the inclusive price.

It is also possible (and highly recommended!) to stay extra nights at the Centre after the course has finished, at very reasonable rates. Please inform us of your requested departure date when you complete the application form. The additional cost will be €25 per person per night for bed and breakfast, with optional meals (€15 per person if requested).

Please inform the organisers (on the application form) of your expected arrival and departure dates (naturally you can let us know more precise times later, for example if you are coming by plane). If you do not give details, we will assume you wish to arrive and depart as specified above ( *). 

 Please do not hesitate to contact the course secretary if you have any other requirements (including any food allergies). 

REGISTRATION:  

The balance of € 400 will be payable at the beginning of the course (or before if you prefer). The deposit will be returned only if the course is cancelled.  

APPLICATION FORM: In order for us to tailor the course to your needs, please complete the application form  
(CLIC HERE to download it in .doc .zip format - 17,6 Kb )
and send it by post to:  

Matt Jones  
Flat 20, Dunton Court  
Sydenham Hill - London SE23 3PJ,  U.K.

Or email the completed form to: silvia@holywood.it  

TRAVEL TO HOLY WOOD:  travelling to Holy Wood from England and elsewhere in Europe is simple and cheap thanks to the low-cost airline companies (with prices starting at approximately 60€ / £40 return depending on date and time of travel). Clic here  for more details, and contact Matt Jones or the course secretary (see below) for car and minibus prices from airports to Holy Wood, and for more informations .  

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For any enquiries
including more specific informations on the course
and method of payment from U.K.

Matt Jones
mattojones@hotmail.com  

Alternatively,
you can contact Holy Wood directly

Silvia Giachello
silvia@holywood.it

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