In May of 2015, I completed a year-long certificate program in Contemplative Psychotherapy at the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science. The program focused on Compassion-Based Psychotherapy and Social Transformation with faculty including Joe Loizzo, Pilar Jennings, Emily Wolf, Miles Neale, Mark Epstein, Robert Thurman, and Richie Davidson. I had no intention to train as a psychotherapist, but I had long been interested in Buddhist Psychology, contemplative practices, and neuropsychology. I engaged in the program hoping to expand my capacity as an Alexander Technique teacher.

Over the course of the year, in addition to attending weekly lectures, leading guided meditations, and participating in peer supervision groups, each student worked on a capstone project. My capstone project involved giving a series of three, free private Alexander Technique lessons to six classmates in the certificate program. I was interested in exploring how the Alexander Technique and our Nalanda studies might inform, enhance or intersect with each other. I was especially intrigued by the possibilities of such an exploration with so many of my fellow students being experienced psychotherapists, psychiatrists and/or in the mental health and helping professions. I asked the volunteers to write journal entries after each lesson and reflections at the end.

It was immensely rewarding and informative working with my cohorts. I felt fortunate for the opportunity to work with such insightful and experienced professionals and explore together how our studies and the Alexander work could mutually enhance each other.

Some of their reflections can be read here.

Also in preparation for the project, I gathered my notes from the year and distilled how the material we covered over the year personally intersected for me with the Alexander Technique.  My summary can be read here.