A new free online course has been launched to try and reduce the stress of the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members of the Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (ISATT) are to offer hundreds of hours of free training online to help people deal with the tidal wave of stress caused by Covid.
ISATT members work extensively with people dealing with stress and anxiety, especially in the field of stage performance, helping them learn very effective coping skills.
The Alexander Technique is an internationally proven method which teaches people how to change faulty postural habits, thereby enabling improved mobility and posture, while relieving tension and stress.
Niall Kelly, of ISATT, advised: “The increase in prescribing rates is being largely attributed to the challenges that have been posed by the repeated lockdowns, and the disruption in all of our lives. Unfortunately, there is also a reported reduction in, or absence of, psychological counselling services to the public. Working collectively, we have put together a specific programme that can help people in dealing with the extra everyday stress that has crept into our lives.”
A panel of Alexander Technique teachers will provide a number of 30 minutes online sessions free of charge. They will focus on four crucial coping skills for managing and reducing anxiety and stress, regardless of the source. ISATT is also setting up a podcast to increase the availability of the sessions, both as audio webinars and recorded podcasts.
Niall added, “People should always follow medical advice, and anyone prescribed medication by their doctor should complete their course. These webinars are designed to help people before they reach a stage where medical intervention is needed. Everyone has been affected in different ways by Covid, and the Alexander Technique can help many people to continue with their lives with a weight lifted from them.”
Find out more at www.isatt.ie