Alexander Technique Institute

Suite 4 / 188 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, Australia 2060

Teacher Training

Director / Head of Training

Diana Devitt-Dawson A.T. R.N./Midf., M. AUSTAT, M. STAT (London), M. AmSAT, M. ASPAH. M. AIMA

Diana Devitt-Dawson

Diana, a Tasmanian by birth, is a second generation Alexander teacher with 28 years continuous teaching experience.  Diana is a healthcare professional R.N./Midwife.  She has extensive Orthopaedic experience from post-graduate studies in Vancouver, Canada and from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Hospital, London, U.K.
In 2008 Diana undertook a training for health professionals in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) in New York with Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn, (See www.umassmed.edu/cfm).

Diana undertook the three year, full-time Alexander Technique Teacher Training course in London and graduated as a teacher in 1984.  She studied with Mr. Patrick Macdonald, M.A. (CANAB.) and his assistant, Shoshana Kaminitz.  While in London, Diana continued lessons with other 1st generation Alexander teachers including, Marjorie Barlow, Wilfred Barlow, M.D., Walter Carrington, Margaret Goldie and Elizabeth Walker.

In 1985 Diana began teaching at The Alexander Institute in central London, under the directorship of Wilfred Barlow M.D. (Consultant Rheumatologist) and his wife Marjorie Barlow (Alexander's niece) author of An Examined Life and Alexander Technique - the Ground Rules, Marjory Barlow in conversation with with Sean Carly.  Wilfred Barlow studied with F.M. Alexander while completing his medical training. Barlow is author of The Alexander Principle and More Talk of Alexander (see Recommended Reading).  Diana continued to have private lessons with the Barlow's during her time at the Institute.

In 1987 Diana returned to Australia and set up a private practice in Melbourne where she met and began having lessons with another 1st generation teacher, Erika Whittaker.  In 1990 Diana retuned to London to assist Mr. Patrick MacDonald on his last teacher training school, in Lewes, Sussex.  She returned to Melbourne later that year.

In 1996 Diana moved to Sydney with her husband Geoff Dawson (psychologist).  With the assistance from an Orthopaedic specialist, she set up the Alexander Technique Institute in the British Medical Association House, Macquarie Street, Sydney where she held a successful private practice for seven years.

In 2002 Diana became a Director of Training and set up the Alexander Technique Institute Teacher Training School on Sydney's North Shore.  The school offers the traditional Alexander Teacher Training (see School).  Diana also conducts a private practice that offer individual Alexander lessons to people of all ages.

Special Interests:-

Introducing the Alexander Technique as accurately as possible. Clarifying that the Alexander Technique is not 'body-work' but rather a re-education that involves individual lessons that teach you how to self-work in order to stop harmful habit of use and reaction that interfere with natural balance and mind/body co-ordination.
Offering Introductory workshops to Medical and other Health Professionals supplying evidence based research as published in the BMJ in 2008. See www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/aug19_2/a884
Exploring the psycho-physical benefits of Alexander lessons.
Introducing Alexander Technique to performing artists as a practical 'tool' to prevent injury, enhance performance ability and manage performance anxiety.
Conducting Post-Graduate (CPD) training, (see Post-Grad Study).
Offering individual Alexander Ante-Natal Classes, (see Pregnancy).
Diana also enjoys studying music, playing the Irish folk Harp, country walks and travel.

Continuing Professional Development & Teaching:-

In 2004 Diana presented at the 7th International Congress for the F.M. Alexander Technique in Oxford, England. Diana's paper entitled, 'Talking' Hands - From the Conceptual into Reality is published in the 2004 Oxford Congress papers. Available from :- office@stat.org.uk
In 2007 Diana presented at ACAT the American Centre for the Alexander Technique in New York where she gave lectures, workshops private lessons and instructed trainees. She also taught in Boston at Ruth Kilroy's Alexander Teacher Training school.
In 2008 Diana returned to New York for a further teaching visit. She also undertook an MBSR Intensive (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Training for Health Professionals in Mind/Body Medicine with Professor Joh Kabat-Zinn from the University of Mass. Medical School. See www.umassmed.edu/cfm
Since 2008 Diana has regularly presented Alexander workshops at the Australian Institute of Music, Sydney to the students in music theatre.
In 2009 Diana presented a workshop at the AUSTAT Conference, in Wynyard, Tasmania.
In 2011 Diana gave a series of workshops to teachers in Performing Arts at the Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College, Burwood, Sydney.
In September 2011 Diana conducted a STAT (London) hosted CPD workshop, gave private lessons and taught on a teacher training school.
In October 2011 conducted workshops in New York, gave private lessons and assisted Alex Farkas teaching the music students at Bard College Conservatory of Music, upstate New York.