Cathy Dowden Alexander Technique

We've all heard the safety briefing before a flight:

*"Put your own oxygen mask on first before assisting others."*

It's practical advice for an emergency, but it's also a powerful reminder for everyday life.

So many people spend their days caring for others, supporting family members, helping colleagues, meeting deadlines, and responding to everyone else's needs. Over time, it becomes easy to ignore the signals that our own mind and body are sending us.

We push through fatigue.
We tighten our shoulders.
We hold our breath.
We tell ourselves we'll rest later.

The Alexander Technique invites us to pause and notice these habits before they become our normal way of being.

When we learn to recognise unnecessary tension, improve our awareness, and respond to ourselves with the same care we offer others, we create the conditions for greater ease, balance, and resilience.

Putting yourself first doesn't mean neglecting others.

It means recognising that your wellbeing is not separate from your ability to support the people around you.

Just like on a flight, when you take care of yourself first, you're in a much better position to help those who depend on you.

What might change if you gave yourself permission to pause and take a breath today?

Here's how to support equity in the arts and independent artists.

I just donated to TILLY - this brilliant project that supports Australian women in music and I thought it might interest you. You can check it out and support it by going to:
https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn00000cvTjUMAU/tilly-a-mentorship-for-women-in-music

All donations are tax-deductible and matched dollar-for-dollar, maximising your impact.

Artist Project: TILLY: A Mentorship for Women in Music TILLY is a mentorship program for women in music designed by singer, artistic director, and community engagement consultant Pauline Maudy.

🎹🎼🎻Calling all local musicians and singers 🎶🥁🎸🥁🎺

Play with more power, ease and presence without pushing or forcing.

Join Melbourne Alexander Technique teachers Cathy Dowden and Karen Anderson for a practical, hands-on 3 hour workshop designed specifically for musicians.

Cathy has worked extensively with performers and presented at festivals including CresFest, Maldon and Cygnet. Karen brings a rich background in performance and movement, and teaches across acting studios and universities.

Together, they offer a grounded, practical approach to helping you play with more freedom and less strain.

In this workshop you’ll explore:
• body mapping for clearer coordination
• balancing effort and release in real time
• coordinating breath and movement with ease
• generating intensity without force

Whether you’re performing, rehearsing or practising, you’ll gain tools you can apply immediately to support tone, presence and injury prevention:

📍 Cross Street Music Hall, Brunswick East
📅 Sunday 28 June 1pm to 4pm
💰 Full fee $180. Early bird $153 until 31 May
Low income option available.

Spots are limited!
Register via link in bio.

Does your body feel like it’s working harder than it needs to?

Many people live with ongoing tension, stiffness or fatigue without realising how much of it comes from unconscious habits in the way they sit, stand, work and respond to stress.

Alexander Technique is a practical learning process that helps you notice those habits and discover different options.

It’s not about being fixed, it's about learning how you create tension and realising you have other choices.

You begin to notice, you experiment and respond differently.

You don’t need to be fit or flexible, you just need to begin.

If you’re curious, start with a single session and experience the difference for yourself. You can work with me:
• In-person in Melbourne, through private lessons or group classes
• Online from anywhere in Australia or internationally

You will find booking links on my website: https://www.cathydowden.com.au or you are welcome to connect with me directly any time: 0401 485 836

Join me for a free Alexander Technique workshop at East Brunswick Village.

If you would like to move with more ease, reduce tension, and feel more comfortable in your body, this one-hour Come & Try workshop is a great place to start.

In this gentle, hands-on session, I will guide you through simple techniques to help you:
• reset your body to comfort
• reduce tension and breathe easier
• feel more coordinated and balanced
• discover how small changes can create big improvements

This workshop is suitable for all mobility levels and is perfect if you are new, curious, or looking for a refresher:

📍 EBV Display Suite, 8 Bluestone Way, East Brunswick Village
🗓 Tuesday 5th of May and Tuesday 7th July
⏰ 6.00 to 7.00 pm
🎟 Free event. Bookings essential as numbers are limited. Link is in bio or visit my website and click on BOOKINGS

Come ready to learn, reset, and de-stress. I would love to see you there.

Ready to make lasting changes to how you move, feel and respond to daily life?

My small group Alexander Technique classes run as 6-week series, giving you the time to really learn, practise and integrate new habits in a supportive group setting.

You’ll build skills week by week that you can take into your home, work and everyday life.

Across the sessions you’ll learn how to:
• release unnecessary stress & tension
• reduce pain and strain
• move with more ease and confidence
• calm your nervous system
• develop practical strategies you can rely on

This is about learning things for yourself and being able to apply them in real life. Many people find they cope better with daily demands, with more awareness, ease and choice.

✨ Choose the class that suits you:

👌🏼General / Introduction Alexander Technique
✔️Mondays (Coburg) – 6.30pm
Suitable for beginners or going deeper.
Explore movement, posture and everyday activities through practical, guided exercises Learn to sit, stand and move more comfortably

👌🏼Carers & Parents: De-Stress your body & mind
✔️Wednesdays (East Coburg) – 1.15pm
A supportive space to reduce stress, reconnect with your body and restore balance while managing multiple demands
Focus on stress reduction, body–mind connection and nervous system regulation for sustainable self-care.

👌🏼Better Balance 55+
✔️Wednesdays (East Coburg) – 2.30pm
Focus on balance, mobility and confident movement in a gentle, practical and beginner-friendly class.
Also supports posture, breathing, tension release and comfort in daily activities

Bookings via the website or by phone. Low income discounts are available.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to reach out via social media, email: [email protected] or call 0401 495 836.

We’re well and truly back into routines. Work rhythms have picked up, school terms are underway, and many of us are spending longer stretches back at the screen.

And with that often comes the familiar pattern: leaning in, tightening the shoulders, bracing the neck, collapsing through the back… all without even realising it.

When I’m working with someone at the computer, I’m not “correcting posture.”
I’m helping them notice what their body is doing and unlearn the habits that create strain in the first place.

A small shift in awareness changes everything:
• releasing the neck instead of holding it
• letting the feet connect with the ground
• allowing the spine to lengthen, not stiffen
• softening the shoulders so the arms can move freely

These gentle adjustments don’t take effort, they come from removing the extra work your body doesn’t need to do.

The result?

More comfort, less tension, clearer breathing, and more sustainable focus as you move through your day.

If you’re back at work or study and want to move through the year feeling lighter in your body, the Alexander Technique can make an enormous difference.

You don’t have to push through discomfort.
You can learn a better way to sit, move, and simply be.

Want help getting started? Let me know and we can explore this together.