About Melissa Brown
I used to be a Type A perfectionist. I needed to excel in everything. I was always overthinking and working too hard. This was quite a difficult way to live. I managed but was pretty stressed out – especially since my first career was as a civil rights attorney.
Though I loved the job, it was extremely demanding. I remember when I was a young public defender trying my first small misdemeanor case, my supervisors joked that I prepared as if I was going to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Then I found the Alexander Technique
Dance has always been a big part of my life and I came to Alexander Technique to become a better dancer. I achieved this goal! I become much more coordinated and flexible; I moved with more ease and freedom; and my posture improved immensely. I even stopped experiencing pain in my arthritic knee by learning to release tension and allow for more space in the joint.
But I quickly discovered that I was changing emotionally as well as physically. I not only moved better but also felt better. I was more grounded and less stressed.
At that time, I didn’t even know what the mind/body connection was, but I began to notice that the skills I was learning to release physical tension and move with more freedom also made me generally calmer and easier.
I had the tools I needed to center myself in both body and mind!
Now, even when I have a long to-do list, I can take a break and walk in the park. I am not always “in my head” and can be present-in-the-moment. I remember the day when I realized that I had never been aware of how many species of birds there are in Riverside Park! I simply had been too preoccupied to notice.
Becoming an Alexander teacher changed my life!
The experience was so profound that I changed professions and became an Alexander Technique teacher. I love sharing the Technique with my students so that they can feel better and move with more poise and ease.
I help people improve their posture. People in pain find relief and feel better by learning how to release the holding and stiffening that so often accompanies discomfort. People with movement restrictions find balance and poise so that they can move more freely. People who are experiencing stress learn to identify their tension patterns and let them go.
Alexander Technique for actors
Teaching the Alexander Technique for actors has been a large part of my work and it is thrilling to see how effective it is. Performing can be anxiety-producing, yet as actors release tension and become more grounded and poised, they stop judging themselves and their acting improves!
They become present-in-the-moment.
Emotions can flow. Performances become more authentic and compelling. My acting students truly resonate with the Alexander Technique and I love seeing the transformation.
When I was on trial as an attorney, I encountered some of the same issues that actors experience in performance, but once I found the Technique, I had the tools I needed to deal with them. Knowing how helpful this was for me under pressure in court and in life in general, I feel especially invested in sharing Alexander Technique with actors.
Working with you
As I proceed on this amazing journey that is the Alexander Technique, I look forward to continuing to teach as well as learn from my students. There is so much to discover.
What I’ve been up to
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
TRAINING ACTORS AT AADA
I'm happy to share the news that in the fall of 2022, I joined the faculty at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. At ADDA, I offer classes to actors on the Alexander Technique as part of the conservatory's program first year Core Curriculum. It’s been wonderful to teach at an institution that includes AT as a central part of its actors' training!
Manhattan JCC
INTRODUCTORY CLASS
As an Alexander Technique Practitioner, I have been teaching a weekly class at the Manhattan JCC for several years where we explore ease in movement, improved posture and stress reduction to promote overall health and well-being.
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE CLASS FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON’S
At the JCC, before the pandemic, I provided hands-on instruction to students with Parkinson’s in a weekly class that is part of a program supported by the Northwell Health Network.
Odyssey House
CLASS FOR STAFF
Odyssey House is a comprehensive social services agency that provides programs to address substance use. An exciting part of my work is conducting workplace assessments to help employees adjust their workstations to ensure proper alignment as well as comfort.
CLASS FOR RESIDENTS
I also teach a weekly Alexander class at one of their residential facilities in East Harlem that provides assistance to HIV positive clients. Given my background as a civil rights attorney, I have always been committed to advocacy work and it has been a very meaningful for me to be able to continue to work with people from underserved communities.
My Studio
CLASS FOR PERFORMERS
I have been teaching a weekly Alexander Technique class for actors where we explore centering activities that allow students to have greater presence onstage and be more, grounded, free and compelling in their work.
ALEXANDER TEACHER - ONGOING OPEN CLASSES
I teach a weekly Alexander Technique class in NYC for anyone who is looking to explore the work.
Riverside Initiative for the Alexander Technique (RIAT)
RIAT TRAINING PROGRAM
I have been invited to assist in the RIAT training program, where we teach students to become Alexander Technique teachers. RIAT is a three year program where students complete 1,600 hours of class in order to be certified in the Technique.
Actors Connection
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE WORKSHOPS FOR ACTORS ONLINE
Over the past several years, I have been teaching introductory workshops to actors. Alexander Technique is a particularly powerful tool for actors and some Alexander teachers (like me) specialize in working with them.
Maryssa Lynn Studios
CLASSES FOR MUSICAL THEATER STUDENTS
Before the pandemic, I joined the faculty of the Marissa Lynn Studios where I conducted classes in AT for musical theater students and worked with them in preparation for performance.
NYU - Tisch School for the Arts and Fordham University
CONSERVATORY PROGRAMS FOR ACTORS
Over the past several years, I have been invited to assistant teach weekly classes for undergraduate actors at two universities – NYU Tisch School for the Arts and Fordham University. In both of these programs, students are required to take a weekly Alexander Technique class for one semester.
Recent Alexander Technique workshops
Manhattan JCC
ONLINE WORKSHOPS AT THE MANHATTAN JCC
In these workshops, as we explored the Technique, we learned ways that it helps us confront some of the challenges that we faced with Covid 19.
Seton Hall University
ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE WORKSHOPS FOR ACTORS
Over the past year as an Alexander Teacher, I have taught workshops to actors at various institutions, including Seton Hall University and Iona College. I have also worked with a group of talented musical theatre students from Monterrey, Mexico!
Susan Komen
WORKSHOP FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
As a survivor myself, it was very rewarding for me to teach this workshop. I look forward to volunteering with more organizations for survivors in the future.
Jewish Theological Seminary
This workshop was part of the orientation programming for rabbinical and cantorial students. We explored the mind/body connection.
Subscribe and get the Guided Rest audio free!
Subscribe to my newsletter and receive this Alexander Technique Guided Rest Audio to help you release unnecessary tension, and find more ease and freedom. Plus other tips to help you experience the Alexander Technique.