He was their last hope, the desperate solution, the final wacky choice before the lid of their coffin was fastened over the top of their finally resting heads.

And of course – as we know – FM came through.

In January 2016 I am coming to London with a team of teachers to answer the question this blog is posing. We've even set up a free online course at this link to warm you up! I also endeavour to answer this question below...

Alexander’s discoveries are my passion; they have been my life and work since the age of 20, and I intend to be living and teaching them up to my last breath.

I have been writing about group teaching in my last two blogs. This is my last post on that.*

Actually, these three blogs are based on a series of 3 emails sent to Alexander teachers living in the UK about a Symposium ATSuccess has organised for Jan/Feb 2016 in London. It kicks off with a free online course (click here to join).

In my previous blog I looked at how effective you can be as a teacher when working in groups. It was part of my introduction to a free online seminar that you can join here on building a successful practice.

Previously I asked: Is group teaching even ethical given the importance of “experience” in our learning model?

This question could be applied today to the idea of giving lessons on Skype. However, group teaching is my focus, so more about that…

Back in the day when I was training in London during the 70s, group teaching was considered a cheaper, lower grade version of learning Alexander's discovery. Some people still think this way. This wisdom is premised on the idea that giving pupils’ an experience is king: what you are teaching is a sensation.

I agree - when your primary means of education is first to deliver an exceptional experience, then prolonged physical contact with a pupil is pretty much essential. This in turn leads to a world of “hands on” and intensive one on one teaching.

Last week in BodyChance, a woman wanted to explore bending.

It seemed like a simple activity. Even a little boring if I'm honest. Ho hum.

All about understanding the use of your legs: bending hips, knees and ankles. Blah, blah. She was interested, because when she bends, she hurts her back. She wanted to find an easier way. In her mind, this was a "physical" activity, not a "mental" one.

"What's the situation?" I asked.

***

This is the text of a letter I wrote recently to a friend who wondered why I seem to actively offend so many people in the AT world with my position on Tablework. This is what I wrote back...

***

Dear Friend (who shall remain anonymous),

The tablework/constructive rest thing is an important component of my whole sales and marketing thrust - the idea is to do what the students wants, not what you prescribe.

Anyone could copy what I have done in Japan. Why doesn't anyone do that?

Because it is too dam hard. Right now, I am planning on building a new biz in Japan and I constantly go into overwhelm: How will I do it? Who do I ask for help? How do I convince people about my idea? These are all questions that seek answers, and while in the midst of asking these questions, I easily become emotionally frightened and panicked.

You run a wonderful workshop (you think) with a group of 20 people. You ask them to fill out feedback forms and it is all effusive. Except for one. One is highly critical, almost vicious. It happened to me in London once.

Which one do you think about the most? You know the answer and so do I.

Customer complaints need to be stacked up against customer behaviour. One person's vociferous heckling may give you the impression that your entire crowd is unhappy and ready to walk out the door.

Are they walking out the door?

People ask me: why am I so against tablework, hands-on practise and teaching individually?

Good question.

I ask it to my Self often, because it appears I am against the flow of an entire profession. All three of these are revered and valued, yet here I am stating unequivocally that I do not support this vision of our work.

No wonder I get attacked.

I don't see it as attack though, I see it as people defending their own position. Fair enough. What else can you do when someone (like me) appears to be undermining all that you hold valuable in your work?