Meet the Team – Dave Carr

We have a wonderful team at BodyMinded Alexander Technique. Dave Carr is one our teachers, we asked Dave a few questions, enjoy getting to know Dave…

Tell us why BodyMinded Alexander Technique makes you smile?

It doesn’t make me smile so much as it inspires a feeling of security and confidence. In applying Alexander Technique to whatever I’m doing I know I’m using all my resources and doing the best I possibly could, and naturally confidence and security come with that. It’s been really cool to stand in front of large groups, coordinate myself, and observe the confidence in my communication – it certainly wasn’t there before studying AT!

When you are not teaching BodyMinded Alexander Technique what makes you smile? 

Two things come to mind.

I like connecting with people I care about. I’ve been very gradually getting better at this – studyin

g NonViolent Communication has helped me a lot. Reading the book by that name, written by Marshall Rosenberg, I remember the emotions that came up. There was the excitement of realising that I’d found the tools I’d been searching for, the “letting-go” as I realising my part in the issues that had come up in all my previous relationships, and the inspiration to apply these ideas. Later on I found it was one thing to know what to do, and another altogether to apply the ideas. It’s an ongoing process…

The other thing that I deeply enjoy is writing and playing music, which was the reason I began my Alexander journey in the first place – to learn to play without injuring myself. I play electric guitar, classical guitar and banjo, in a range of styles. I used to have my own band, ‘Dave Carr’s Fabulous Contraption’, which played progressive folk metal. I get a lot of joy from interacting with an audience onstage, from challenging myself to come up with music that I would want to listen to, and to engage in the meditative process of practising.

Share with us the top 3 people that inspire you

There are so many people I could mention. My partner, my family, my friends, my teachers, my mentors, my favourite musicians and speakers… I’m blessed to have so many to choose from 🙂

The first person who came to mind was Cathy Madden – I’m inspired by her deep dedication to the authentically presenting and applying the Alexander Technique to what she does, by her obvious love of what she does (teaching AT), by her constant updating of her ideas, by her skill in perceiving what is going on with someone and saying just the thing that guides them to the change they want to make, and by her caring nature.

The next person who came to mind is Greg Holdaway – he communicates so clearly and skilfully, keeping the work fun and stimulating. It was with Greg that I realised that the Alexander Technique is scientifically valid, that it really works, and that it can be simple and accessible. He is a constant reminder of what excellence in communication can look like.

The third person that comes to mind, interestingly, is another teacher. But this time it is a guitar teacher, and one I’ve never met. Guthrie Govan is a guitarist who does things on the instrument that I would never have thought possible if I hadn’t seen him doing them. On top of that he’s so great at communicating how he does it, and has obviously thought about it a whole lot – he has a wealth of knowledge at his disposal. He’s someone who does what he loves, has reached an extraordinary level of facility, and on top of all that is extremely humble. He reminds that virtuosity has the word ‘virtue’ at its root.

If you invited me over for dinner what would you cook?

I’d check what your dietary requirements are – I have a lot of experience with people who have very specific diets (including myself)! I’d probably do something with roast vegetables – they taste amazing and are so easy to prepare. I might make a spinach pie to go with it.

What’s your top tip for using BodyMinded Alexander Technique?

I’d suggest connecting it to a task –

when you repeatedly coordinate yourself as you go to do something, it becomes easier and easier to apply it, until it becomes so accessible that the coordination just happens almost automatically. I notice this in myself when I teach a group, and when I play classical guitar. And those tasks have become more enjoyable as a result 🙂

You can get in touch with Dave here