East Bay Teachers
Simone Biase
Simone Biase graduated from the Alexander Training Institute-SF (Frank Ottiwell and Giora Pinkas) in 1982. She taught at the Institute from 1983 until the school closed in 2004. Simone has had a private practice for 34 years in Kensington, working with performers and others who wish to bring more awareness to their habitual patterns of unnecessary tension, resulting in more ease.
Contact: bsimone@sbcglobal.net | (510) 524-4025
Location: East Bay
Galen Cranz
Galen Cranz is Professor of the Graduate School in Architecture at University California-Berkeley, a Ph.D. sociologist, and a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. She defined and taught the field of Body Conscious Design for 30 years as well as social-cultural approaches to architecture and urbanism. Her Alexander practice focuses on teaching those with scoliosis--teens and their parents, adults, and seniors. She aims to teach small groups of those who live with this condition. First, we practice movement and alignment that are central to the Alexander Technique, and second, we explore the role of clothing, furniture, diet, exercise, rest, and sleep.
Contact: https://galencranzconsulting.com/ | galen@berkeley.edu | (510) 517-7589
Location: East Bay
Lena Hart
Lena Hart is currently the resident Alexander Technique teacher at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has a private practice in San Francisco and Walnut Creek, CA. She specializes in helping performers, but has helped people from numerous professions (techies, athletes, retirees) and various ages (11 years to 75 years) improve their abilities and decrease pain.
Lena has been practicing the technique since 2001 and graduated from The Alexander Educational Center of Berkeley. She is AmSAT certified. She received her M.F.A from the University of Tennessee and her BA from Washington University in St. Louis.
Contact: AlexanderTechniqueSFBayArea.com | lessons@alexandertechniquesfbayarea.com
Location: East Bay / San Francisco
Evelyn Hess
Evelyn Hess qualified as an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique teacher from ATI-LA in 2004. She has worked with singers and musicians to help them optimize their performance, as well as helped people in their every day lives to experience less pain and more ease and enjoyment throughout their day. Evelyn specializes in working with presenters and performers who want to improve their voice and physical presentation skills, whether they are performing on stage, speaking to large audiences, or leading a team of colleagues..
Contact: www.evelynhess.com | hessevelyn@yahoo.com
Location: East Bay
Kay Hogan
Kay Hogan M.Ed. graduated from The Alexander Educational Center in Berkeley California in 1996 and from 1999 to 2003 she studied natural vision work with Peter Grunwald. Until recently Kay has studied The Dart Procedures with Marie Stroud. She has a two Master’s Degree in Education one of them in counseling. More recently, while still a bodyworker practicing Hellerwork, she teaches The Alexander Technique full-time linking movement and structure with the brain and the senses, the most important being vision. She has a private practice in The Contra Costa County area and works with seniors, adults and children.
Contact: www.kayhogan.com | kayhogan@kayhogan.com | (925) 676-3696
Location: East Bay
Laura Klein
Laura Klein received her AmSAT and STAT certifications from Ed and Linda Avak in 1987. Since then, she has maintained a busy private practice in Berkeley, trained Alexander teachers, and given workshops and lectures at universities, workplaces, and for organizations. Laura is a professional jazz pianist and works extensively with musicians, both privately and as an Associate Professor of the Alexander Technique at the California Jazz Conservatory. Laura’s students include teachers, scientists, software professionals, writers, doctors, artists and therapists, and range from middle-schoolers to seniors. Laura is committed to helping students successfully overcome problems that interfere with their everyday life and well being.
Contact: www.lauraklein.net | lauraanneklein@gmail.com | (510) 845 6619
Location: East Bay
Amy Likar
Amy Likar, performing and teaching artist, is a member of the Oakland Symphony and is frequent freelance performer throughout the Bay Area.
Amy has studied the Alexander Technique for over 20 years and received her teaching certification and training from the Alexander Training Institute of San Francisco in 2002, studying with Frank Ottiwell, Robert Britton, Larry Ball, Rome Earle, Simone Biase and John Coffin. She has also studied the Alexander Technique and Body Mapping over the past 20 years with Barbara Conable.
Amy maintains an active studio and coaches young students to professionals.
Contact: www.amylikar.com | amy@amylikar.com
Location: East Bay
Susan Overton
Susan Overton began studying the Alexander Technique when she suffered from chronic neck pain. Understanding how her habits of movement interfered with her natural coordination allowed Susan to become completely pain-free, avoiding neck surgery, while improving her coordination, balance, poise, and posture.
After completing a 3-year AmSAT-approved training course, Susan broadened her understanding by studying with a variety of teachers and attending national and international conferences. She served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the American Society for the Alexander Technique.
In 2010, Susan co-founded the Well-Balanced Center in downtown Lafayette and currently teaches in her Berkeley studio, designed for Alexander Technique instruction.
Contact: www.atmovefree.com | susanovtn@hotmail.com | (510) 325-8595
Location: East Bay
Elyse Shafarman
Elyse Shafarman holds a Master’s Degree in Physiological Psychology and Alexander Technique Teacher Certification from Frank Ottiwell (2003). Elyse is on the faculty of American Conservatory Theater’s MFA program and Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. She maintains a private practice in San Francisco and Berkeley. Her background as a modern dancer and professional training in psychology, yoga, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction influence her work.
Contact: www.bodyproject.us | elyse@bodyproject.us | (415) 342-6255
Location: East Bay / San Francisco