Alexander Technique Austria

AT.AT History of origins - How it all began

 

1994

A workshop entitled: "A Creative Look at the Alexander Technique" organised by Martina Süss and led by Melissa Matson lays the foundation for our (Austrian) Alexander Community which has been growing steadily ever since.

1997

Growing interest in a creative approach to the AT leads to the formation of the "Institut Alexanderbewegung", offering particular training and development opportunities: The first 2 year course in the Alexander Technique starts in 1997.

1999

During the first two trainings, a committed group of students identifies the need for a strong professional organisation capable of networking nationally and internationally to provide the framework for ongoing training and professional development.

2001

This leads to the formation of "AT.AT Alexander Technik Österreich" with the following aims and objectives:

1. Effective PR - with the aim of becoming a recognised source of information for the public and the Austrian National Health System.
2. To serve the needs of Austrian AT teachers in respect of communication, information exchange and networking.
3. To develop professional guidelines and standards of quality for AT teachers in Austria.
4. To realise the vision of a strong Austrian organisation with clearly defined relations to ATI (Alexander Technique International).

Our initial vision was to have a creative and vital organisation. We do not see ourselves as an organisation that just offers services to its members, rather as a group of contributors that applies the principles of AT as it works together.
We aim to achieve

• a well functioning network of internal communication
• promotion of the AT to the wider public

Thus we hope to facilitate continuing professional development.

Since 2001

• May 2001: Our Association organises the first of a series of continuous training courses for AT teachers and practitioners.
• Regular supervision groups with Melissa Matson
• AT teachers team up in jour-fixe groups who meet 3-4 times per year.
• Diverse working groups are active and busy. The Austrian association is presented at the international Congress in Ireland in October 2001.
• Ongoing development of ideas that were born at the foundation meeting. This website is planned and interested members of the group agree its content and design.
• A new executive committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting of 2009 and has been active since then. Intensive and productive board meetings are held 3-4 times each year.