Fumiaki Tanaka
I first came across the Alexander Technique in 1993 while studying acting in the US. I was fascinated by its holistic approach and its potential for performer training.
I came to the UK to study for a Master's in Physical Theatre. My research in performer training naturally led me to join a 3 year Alexander Technique teacher training course in 2000. Along with lecturing theatre in drama schools and universities, I have been teaching the Alexander Technique in the UK and Japan.
I have a diverse training background in movement, mind-body work, and spiritual practices. I studied Tai Chi and gymnastics from an early age, and I explored different somatic works, dances, and martial arts as part of my performer training. I became a teacher of Laban (a form of movement analysis) and have studied with many of Rudolf Laban's disciples. In order to deepen my skills in the Alexander Technique and cultivate a deeper understanding of energy, I trained and qualified as a Craniosacral therapy practitioner.
Although I am originally from Kyoto - home to thousands of temples in Japan, I first became interested in Buddhism and Taoism in the US. I explored different meditation techniques and mindfulness, and I eventually qualified as a Three Principles facilitator to share this understanding.
The heart of all my practices is mindfulness. It is the essential quality that underlies all these works and is fundamental to my approach whether in the Alexander Technique, Craniosacral Therapy, the Three Principles, and Theatre practice.
I am a member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) and a registered member of the Craniosacral Therapy Association of the United Kingdom (CSTA). I am also fully insured, and DBS checked.