My beloved Aunt Mono died when she was 96.

The last time I visited her in Grafton, she asked me in a quiet voice:

"Jerry, what is a computer?"

I started out confident, but as I watched her listen, her eyes started to get glassy and I knew I'd lost her. She had no reference for my explanations. Part of the problem was that, well – it was too many things: a typewriter, a TV, a filing cabinet, a telephone..

The more I tried to explain, the more incomprehensible it became.

Today is the 58th anniversary of Alexander’s death.

He died October 10th, 1955. So yeah, his copyright has run out in most places, but not his long persuasive influence on the work. Chair and table work is still the international norm, and a BodyChance purpose is to change that totally over the next 25 years. I want to live to see it.

While in London this August, I was reminded of a ubiquitous retailers obsession the Brits have – 3 for 1 campaigns. Buy two books, get a third for free. Same with shirts, potato chips, hotel rooms, soft drinks – it's endless. What is this?

It's something that works.

I noticed it working in my Self at the airport as I was leaving for Japan. I was looking for a book to read on the 13 hour trip back home – I still prefer a book to a kindle – and I found several candidates. So I had to nail it down to one.

Or did I?

Tomorrow, on Saturday September 28th, Cathy Madden officially launches BodyChance’s first school in the United States.

Those participating are entering into the first of 3 x 2 year modules that are prerequisites before entering the 2nd stage of education. 2nd Stage education is where you educate your Self to be a teacher, with BodyChance’s support.

2nd Stage Teaching Practice

A year ago today I sat down to start a new adventure.

It all began in print, starting with this daily blog, based on the advice of my mentor and business coach Paul Lemberg. After hearing my story he remarked "Jeremy, if you have woken up crying every morning for a year, it's time for you to change something." He was talking about Japan, and my need to situate my life in an English-speaking environment.

"It's simple" he coached "Open more studios overseas."

However, for that you need partners.

Before I die, I wonder how long my automated email system will be?

5 years? More?

At the moment some of them are about a year long. And they keep growing. For our Prolist (people interested in teacher education) I am now writing a new email each week, adding to it's already considerable length. It is like a slow drip Chinese torture, and my guess is that 70% or more of them are just spammed out, but there is a devoted 20% who open and read them: that is the person I am writing to.

I heard recently that for the first time, a new generation of teenagers emerging in the States are not rushing out to get a driver's license. When all your friends can be texted, videoed or walkie talked from your bedroom, who needs a license to drive a car?

So Daryl Joyce, an Alexander Technique teacher from the UK who once visited BodyChance in Tokyo, has decided to join as a Lite Member of ATCS to focus on increasing his online presence. Smart move.

I just pitched for a new book in Japan, which will not mention Alexander Technique on the cover, and will instead be "60 Exercises To Improve Your Life".

The idea came from two cheerful lady Editors who love the work, but need to convince their company bosses back in their 24 story building to back a book about it. Their marketing department is telling them that people want to buy "How To" books, so they came to BodyChance's Meguro studio determined to find a successful formula for a new book. This is a powerful, national publisher of considerable market strength.

Cool and trendy people in Tokyo read Cocoro, or at least the younger ones do.

A few years back they sent a curious journalist along to BodyChance to catch the word on Alexander Technique. My introductory group – that my journalistic visitor witnessed - turned out to be especially varied: a dancer exploring a leg lift, a shopkeeper concerned about his cash register manner, a salaryman fearful of his boss and a yoga exercise on the floor; among many others over the course of 90 minutes.

Those teachers in my 30 Day Challenge are heading into overwhelm now. It is like the grief process – whenever you decide to jumpstart your life (business) there are identifiable stages that occur.

First comes the roaring excitement, the enthusiasm, the joy in finding another 32 teachers just like you: who couldn't care a tiddle where you trained, but rather want to know how your deep passion for the work can be expressed concretely to garner an income, to have a life worth living.