Elyse Shafarman holds a Masters
Degree in Physiological Psychology
and is a teaching member of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT). She teaches the Alexander Technique to actors
in training at
American Conservatory Theater's
MFA Program and has been in
private practice in San Francisco and Berkeley, CA since 2003.

 

Ms. Shafarman trained with
Frank Ottiwell at the Alexander Training Institute - San Francisco, pairing the 1600 hours of experiential learning required to teach the technique with a scientific investigation of the effects of Alexander Technique on muscle tension during computer use. She had the honor of presenting her findings at the American Psychological Association (APA) annual meeting in Toronto.

 

A word from Elyse:

"I began my study of the Alexander Technique as a Modern Dance Major at SUNY Purchase. Pre-professional training for dancers is rigorous. I was trying so hard to improve my dancing, that my neck, shoulders and hips were locking up with tension. I felt trapped because my best efforts were having a negative effect. My first Alexander teacher was Jane Kosminsky, who was also a dancer. The technique immediately improved my balance, extensions, jumps and pirouettes and gave me a delicious sense of lightness and ease; as though I was floating. The fascinating bit was that these improvements did not come through muscular effort or striving. Efficient coordination emerged as I learned how to prevent habitual tension. It was a process of learning how to do less, not more.

In my current work with clients and in my own practice of dancing Argentine Tango, I find the Alexander Technique continues to be a simple and profound means to calming the nervous system, preventing pain and injury and opening energetic channels in performance."

 

Ms. Shafarman has taught Alexander Technique classes at venues throughout the SF Bay Area, including: Cabrillo College Dance Department; The California Biofeedback Society; Elephant Pharmacy; The Golden Gate Boys Choir; The French American International High School; Mission Yoga; PricewaterhouseCoopers, San Francisco State University’s Holistic Health Department and Organizational Psychology Department; The San Francisco Somatic Wellness Program; The San Francisco Main Library; Temescal Arts Studio and UCSF's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

 

Ms. Shafarman keeps her Alexander skills sharp through continuing education in the technique, while broadening her perspective through training in allied somatic disciplines including: Body-Mind Centering; Gyrotonics; Feldenkrais; Mindfulness Based Meditation, Pilates and Yoga. In her free time, she dances Argentine Tango, and was recently awarded the TangoCalifia scholarship to attend Nora’s Tango Week.

 

Elyse is honored to help people of all ages and vocations find freedom in motion.