About Me

View from my Alexander Technique teaching roomI trained as an Alexander teacher from April 1992 to April 1995 at The Constructive Teaching Centre, Holland Park, West London. The training school was run by Walter and Dilys Carrington. Walter trained with Alexander from 1936 to 1939 and after the war was Alexander’s assistant from 1945 to 1955 until Alexander died. Walter then took over the training of teachers and continued to do so until his death in 2005 at the age of 90, providing a direct link to the source of the Technique. Sadly Walter died peacefully in his sleep on August 7th 2005 at the age of 90. He leaves an immeasurable legacy and gift to the world and will be hugely missed by all those who knew him. It was a tremendous privilege to have been trained by him. Click here to read his obituary.

After qualifying I was an assistant teacher at the centre, working there on the training course and privately every Friday until Walter’s death. The training course continued at new premises under Ruth Murray, who was Walter’s assistant director for many years. I continued to teach on Ruth’s course every Friday until 2015.

I was also an assistant teacher at The Alexander Technique Studio, the training course run by Karen Wentworth in Balham, south west London. I taught on the course every Thursday from its inception in 1997 until 2017.

Eventually I decided to focus my attentions on teaching privately in Burford, Oxfordshire where I teach on  Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Thursdays I still teach in privately in London from the Alexander Technique Centre in Imperial Wharf, London SW6.

I am a member of STAT – The Society of Teachers of The Alexander Technique. STAT was founded in 1958 and is the internationally recognised representative body for the Technique with affiliated societies across the world. All STAT members have completed a three year, full-time training with a minimum of 1600 hours tuition. We are fully insured and bound by a Code of Professional Conduct.
From 1995 to 2000 I was the press and publicity officer for STAT and a member of their governing Council.

I am the only man in mainland Britain to have trained in The Art of Breathing with Jessica Wolf (the other man in the UK is my friend Colin Beattie who lives in Northern Ireland). The Art of Breathing is a synergy of the work of F.M. Alexander and Carl Stough. Learn more about it here.

I have a special interest in cycling and the Alexander Technique. I have worked with many pupils on and off their bikes, both on the road and on rollers. I have had special ‘Alexander’ bikes built for me and currently ride a Pedersen bicycle which allows the cyclist a very upright riding attitude. If you are interested in working on a bike or would like some advice/input on ‘Alexander-type’ bicycles please don’t hesitate to contact me. Happy cycling!

I also have three lurcher dogs which means I get plenty of walking practice in the beautiful Cotswold countryside.

Joe Searby 01993 822450 / 07970 611077 / joe@searby.net