Dan Cayer

I came across Dan's teaching after over a year of desperately trying to cure low back pain. I thought I had to find a way to fix the pain (which was proving impossible) but I saw in working with Dan that what my nervous system and body needed was more space, relaxation, compassion to be able to do its own healing. To this day, the teachings I learned from Dan have been some of the most beneficial in caring for chronic back pain I experience. He is a very skillful and authentic teacher and I recommed any one with chronic pain (physical or emotional) to work with him.

I am a person who aspires to live in a balance of body, mind and spirit. I have an artificial hip that tilts that sometimes. I wanted to attend Dan's retreat to learn about the Alexander technique and how it can help me to reach my balance. During the 2-day workshop I have learned about the basics of the Alexander technique, practiced several different natural moves and postures and learned ways of correcting them, learned deeper level of meditations that were very beneficial to me. Dan is naturally a very kind, intuitive, empathetic person, he is all inclusive in his communication style, has a great ability to listen and helps his students with hands-on guidance.

I had a wonderful experience with Dan in his I took a 4 week class with that combined meditation and Alexander Technique. I had fallen off the wagon, so to speak, with my meditation practice and the class was the perfect way to get back into it. Dan has a really gentle and empathetic approach to teaching and meditation that made me feel very comfortable. And his unique way of blending in Alexander Technique was super-helpful. It made me take a more embodied approach to meditating, beyond observing my breath. And for my daily life, Dan helped me naturally adjust my standing and sitting so that I wasn’t causing myself as many aches and pains. Who knew human tailbones are so far behind us ;-) ? I recommend this class for a wide range of interests, from mindfulness to physical.

I have been studying the Alexander Technique for many years now (very consistently for the last eight years). I have had several wonderful teachers all of whom gave me different and valuable insights. I began studying with Dan less than six months ago and have been blown away by his raw talent and giftedness for the technique. It's as though he has a sixth sense and can read where you are on any given day and adapt accordingly. As a former cellist I carry lots of stress in my neck and shoulders. Dan has been able to guide me to loosening this tension in ways that have been simply amazing.

In addition to teaching me the Alexander Technique, Dan has given me guidance around my meditation practice including how to sit comfortably on the cushion. He is kind, compassionate and insightful. I recommend him without reservation.

Dan is a great teacher and a wonderfully warm, empathetic person. He was my teacher for nearly a year, and I still look to him as a mentor and a friend. I came to him in fear and depression from chronic joint pain. His own experience using the Alexander technique and other mindfulness practices to find freedom from his own chronic pain was encouraging and empowering. He gave me some powerful tools to work with pain, but even more helpful was that he really listened to me and met me in my distress, at a time when no other doctors or healers did. And I was inspired enough by his work to begin training to teach the Alexander technique myself. Especially if you are looking for freedom from (or within!) pain, Dan is a great resource.

(PS. I can't attest to his swimming instruction, only to his Alexander lessons.)