Homepage for Sydney Laurel Harris, Alexander Technique and "The Body Is the Messenger"


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	About Sydney Laurel Harris
	Sydney Laurel Harris, BA, AmSat certified, RIE certified, came to the Alexander Technique as an actor and creative drama teacher. A founding Board member of the Alexander Training Institute of Los Angeles and faculty member, Sydney was also an assistant trainer at the Alexander Training Institute of San Francisco from 1977 to 1984. She has taught the Technique in private practice and in numerous academic and public settings since 1977. Sydney offers the Alexander Technique in semi-private groups and in private lessons. Over the years her work with the Alexander Technique has been powerfully enhanced by her training and experience in additional psychological, developmental and human potential/spiritual realms. These include Family Systems Therapy, Resources for Infant Educators (RIE), Energy-balancing, Peak Potentials and Sensory Awareness. Sydney believes that the body is the messenger and that it is a medium that can be used to gain deeper understanding of feelings and thoughts. By learning to tune into your body and its messages, you uncover hidden patterns that have contributed to pain, discomfort, and/or blocks.

	The application of the Alexander Technique is natural for musicians, who are already comfortable observing themselves, listening, and thinking as they practice. Working with the Technique improves the quality of their tone and projection, creating a fuller, more resonant sound. Sydney has been very gratified to help musicians recover from occupational injuries and prevent future injuries while improving the quality of their performance.
	*Testimonials:* “I developed a painful condition in my neck and shoulder area. The pain was not only very distracting, but severely limited the rotation of my head. I began weekly lessons with Sydney Laurel Harris and within a month the chronic pain was gone and I was able to fully rotate my head.” ~ Dennis Charles "All performing artists look to simplify & be most efficient in our use of energy. The Alexander Technique as taught b someone as gifted as Sydney Laurel Harris is a key to unlock a treasure that seems simple, but is as complex as our own bodies; a Chinese puzzle with infinite practical uses." ~ Larry Pressman, film & television actor “Thank you so much for coming to my Upper School Chorus class… My students loved it and commented on how useful it was and how they noticed a difference in just the short amount of time. I look forward to the next time.” -- ~ Amy Rosigno, Viewpoint School “The Alexander Technique is invaluable in teaching movement and posture. Teaching movement and posture provides a concrete way to begin “Fundamentals of Acting” class. The student is then free to begin the complicated creative process. Though I began practicing the Alexander Technique in my own acting career, there was a marked improvement in my own appearance, a lessening of tension, an increase in vitality and endurance. " ~ Edwin H. Barron, M.A., retired professor, Theatre Department
	*Sydney acknowledges her wise and inspiring teachers:*
	Frank Ottiwell ~ Alexander Technique Giora Pinkas ~ Alexander Technique Fred Ford, MD ~ Family Systems Therapist Magda Gerber ~ Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) Brugh Joy ~ Energy-balancing Carol McCall ~ Listening Charlotte Selver ~ Sensory Awareness Trainers ~ Peak Potentials
	Sydney also had the opportunity to do work with first-generation Alexander Technique teachers: Patrick McDonald, Peter Scott, Walter & Dyllis Carrington, and Marjory Barstow.
sharris@alexanderusa.com 805-644-7845 Ventura, CA