THE POISE PROJECT: alexander technique for the 21st century

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THE POISE PROJECT

2023 TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES

WE ARE PROUD OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2023 - Our eighth year of activity!

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2023 Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Baer, J.L. & Cohen, R.G. (2023) Does neck flexion improve performance? Effects on reaction time depend on whether responses are expected. SN: Applied Sciences 5, Article number 106.

  • Cohen, R.G. & *Hocketstaller, J. (2023). Postural instructions affect postural sway in young adults. Gait & Posture, 100, 193-195. PMID: 36584422Cohen, R. G., & Hocketstaller, J. (2023). Postural instructions affect postural sway in young adults. Gait & posture, 100, 193–195.

  • Colletta, K., Kletzel, S., Hirsch, M., Wegen, E. V., Gross, M., Walker, S., & Devos, H. (2023). Practical Strategies for Managing Freezing of Gait at Home for People Living With Parkinson Disease. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 104(9), 1551–1555. Article PDF.

  • Gross, M., Lansang, N. M., Gopaul, U., Ogawa, E. F., Heyn, P. C., Santos, F. H., Sood, P., Zanwar, P. P., Schwertfeger, J., Cogan, A. M., Akinwuntan, A., & Faieta, J. (2023). Response to Letter to the Editor on "What Do I Need to Know About Long-Covid-related Fatigue, Brain Fog, and Mental Health Changes?". Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 104(11), 1966–1967. https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(23)00154-5/fulltext

  • Gross M, Lansan, N., Gopaul U, Ogawa EF, Heyn PC, Santos FH, Sood P, Zanwar PP, Schwertfeger J, Faieta J (2023). What do I need to know about long-covid-related fatigue, brain fog, and mental health changes? Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 104(6), 996–1002. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10028338/pdf/main.pdf

  • Johnson, M. B., & Cohen, R. G. (2023). Altered coordination strategies during upright stance and gait in teachers of the Alexander Technique. Frontiers in aging, 4, 1090087.



January 2023

  • engAGED, National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults

    • Participated in virtual summit focused on how to deliver hybrid programming. Co-hosted by Older Adults Technology Services (OATS).

  • Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Led an in-depth 10 hour online training to prepare Alexander technique teachers in how to work with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. Two teachers were trained: 1 in Canada; and 1 in France.

    • Also 1 teacher in the United States received a shorter training focused on his upcoming group workshop in Greensboro NC.

  • Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART)

    • Attended webinar on non-pharmacological interventions for treating dementia. January 23

    • Attended all-day symposium on cognition-oriented treatments in aging and dementia, January 27

  • Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grant 2023

    • Submitted a grant application to develop a peer-to-peer training program for Black family care partners in North and South Carolina to deliver the “Partnering with Poise” course online to a broad network of regional Black caregivers. Proposal was not funded.

February 2023

  • Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Alliance

    • Attended webinar on aspects of anxiety and “Off” periods in people living with Parkinson’s disease.

    • Attended webinar on self-care for family care partners.

    • Attended webinar of the use of touch in helping people living with Parkinson’s disease.

  • Alexander Technique Basic Training for Teaching Online

    • Led an in-depth 6 hour training in how to teach AT online, including a variety of technical information, as well as innovative strategies for deliver embodied learning in this medium. Special information about working with people living with Parkinson’s disease was a focus. 1 teacher in Canada was trained.

  • ACRM Athlete Development & Sports Rehabilitation Networking Group

    • Began work on an rapid review of research literature focused on team sports participation’s impact on academic achievement and psychosocial wellbeing.

  • Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART)

    • Attended webinar on methods to quantify resilience and reserve in people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

  • engAGED, National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults

    • Attended webinar on co-hosted by the Diverse Elders Coalition on social engagement of tribal elders.

March 2023

  • International Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Society
    Clinical Practice Conference

    • Attended 2.5 hour virtual clinical practice conference featuring presentations by clinicians from India.

  • National Institute on Aging

    • Attended 3.5 hour virtual symposium, “Start-Up Challenge and Bootcamp to Foster Diversity and Accelerate Innovation”.

    • Attended three-day virtual summit, “Dementia Care & Caregiving Research Summit”.

  • Davis Phinney Foundation

    • Gave 60 minute presentation with Q&A on the role of AT and the AT specialist in improving quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families to 25 staff members of Davis Phinney Foundation.

  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

    • Attended two-day symposium and workshop for clinicians on inclusive participation in clinical research.

April 2023

  • Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Led an in-depth 13 hour online training to prepare Alexander technique teachers in how to work with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. 6 teachers were trained: 3 in UK; 1 in Canada; 1 in the US; and 1 in Germany.

  • Refugees and Health Disparities Panel

    • Was a panelist at a presentation on refugees for occupational therapy students hosted by the University of Illinois, Occupational Therapy Department.

  • ACRM Arts & Neuroscience Networking Group

    • Gave 60 minute presentation with Q&A on the role of AT and AT specialists in rehabilitation. Co-presented with Tommy Swanson, AT teacher who is training as a music therapist in a clinic with teenagers on the autism spectrum; and Nina Reed, a care partner of a person living with dementia and participant in our “Partnering with Poise” course.

May 2023

  • engAGED, National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults

    • Participated in two-day virtual summit focused on social engagement of older adults. Co-hosted by Commit to Connect.

  • National Council on Aging
    6th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium

    • Participated in day-long symposium, including breakout room conversations on the impact of pain on older adults social engagement.

  • French-Speaking Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Led two in-depth 12 hour online trainings for French-speaking AT teachers (with simultaneous translation) on how to prepare Alexander technique teachers in how to work with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. 8 French-speaking teachers were trained: 5 in France; 1 in Belgium; 1 in Switzerland; and 1 in Germany. Materials were translated into French.

June 2023

  • Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Journal

    • Executive Director, Monika Gross is First Author in a co-authored peer-reviewed paper published in the June 2023 Archives (Volume 104, No 6): “What Do I Need to Know About Long-COVID-related Fatigue, Brain Fog, and Mental Health Changes?”, which can be viewed here: https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(23)00154-5/fulltext

  • Spanish-Speaking Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Led two in-depth 14.5 hour online trainings for Spanish-speaking AT teachers (with simultaneous translation) on how to prepare Alexander technique teachers in how to work with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. 12 Spanish-speaking teachers were trained: 4 from Uruguay; 3 from Spain; 2 from Argentina; 2 from Brazil; and 1 from Mexico. Materials translated into Spanish.

  • Alexander Studies Online

    • Executive Director, Monika Gross was interviewed by Charlotte Woods of the Asheville Studies Online project on “How to Make Connections With Professionals in Fields Other Than Alexander Technique” to help AT professionals begin to attend international conferences and learn how to speak about AT to medical and educational professionals and researchers. The recorded interview has be shared on the ASO website. https://www.alexanderstudiesonline.com/blog/the-34th-edition-of-the-aso-newsletter

July 2023

  • 6th World Parkinson Congress
    Barcelona, Spain, July 4-7, 2023

    • Participated in four-day conference in Barcelona. Over 2600 delegates attended from over 60 countries, including medical professionals, allied health professionals, researchers, people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, and support group leaders. We presented a research poster “‘Partnering with Poise’: Retention of cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits for care partners of people living with Parkinson's disease at 6 and 12 months after completion of an in-person Alexander-based group course ”.We also led a lovely “Partnering with Poise” 90-minute workshop for 20+ care partners in the Care Partner Lounge, a sanctuary dedicated to the care of the many care partners attending the conference. This was followed by a well-attended 60-minute “Poised for Parkinson’s” workshop in the Renewal Room, a space dedicated to the well-being of people living with Parkinson’s in attendance from around the world. The Poise Project Barcelona team members, Coni Fabiani and Xavier Ortiz, assisted at both workshops. Relationships were renewed from our seven years of international conferences, and new partnerships were forged. YOU CAN VIEW OUR RESEARCH POSTER BY CLICKING HERE.

  • “Poised for Parkinson’s” Workshop Curriculum Teacher Training

    • Two teachers in Spain were trained in replicable curriculum for a two-day and a four-day workshop Poised for Parkinson’s: Manage Balance, Walking, and “Freezing” adapted from The Poise Project’s full 9 week “Poised for Parkinson’s” course curriculum as part of The Poise Project’s commitment to an international AT Replicable Programs Project.

August 2023

  • English-Speaking Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Led in-depth 13 hour online training for AT teachers on foundations for working with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. 13 teachers were trained: 4 from Finland; 3 from the United Kingdom; 3 from the United States; 1 from Netherlands; 1 from Canada; and 1 from Italy.

  • Alexander Technique Liberation Project

    • Gave PowerPoint presentation and Q&A about The Poise Project. To ADLP members.

  • Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Grant

    • Submitted grant proposal to deliver three “Partnering With Poise” online courses to North and South Carolina residents, with one course led by Nina Reed for, Black-identified care partners as a peer-to-peer delivery experiement. $6,000 grant was awarded in November.

  • International Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders Soceity Conference 20243
    Copenhagan Denmark, August 27-31, 2023

    • Had a four-member Poise Project Team to advocate for AT at a five-day conference in Copenhagan. 5,200 delegates attended from 105 countries, including medical professionals, allied health professionals, and researchers. TPP Team had AT teachers from Copenhagan, Ireland, and England. We had a nonprofit exhibit table with materials and networked with delegates and exhibitors. We were among 15 non-profit and 49 for-profit exhibitors there.

September 2023

  • English-Speaking Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Courses

    • Led two in-depth 13 hour online trainings for AT teachers on foundations for working with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. 27 teachers were trained: 9 from the United States; 5 from the United Kingdom; 2 from Netherlands; 2 from Switzerland; 1 from Sweden; 1 from Canada; 1 from Australia; 1 from Japan; 1 from Israel; 1 from Germany; 1 from France; 1 from Finland; and 1 from Estonia.

  • Medical Rehabilitation Research Resource Network (MR3) Retreat, hosted by the Medical University of South Carolina, September 7-8,2023.

  • Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART)

    • Attended webinar on non-pharmacological interventions for treating dementia, September 12

  • “Poised for Parkinson’s” Workshop Curriculum Teacher Training, Online & In Person

    • Led training in two-or-four-day symptom-focused workshop curriculum, “‘Poised for Parkinson’s: Manage Balance, Walking & Freezing". One teacher in Findlay, Ohio was trained. We will reach out in 2024 for collaboration there with the Davis Phinney Foundation Ambassador program.

October 2023

  • Recordings Group - Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Met with teachers who were viewing the four recordings of the September AT for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course for questions and discussion. 2 teachers were trained: 1 in the United Kingdom; and 1 in Canada.

  • “Poised for Parkinson’s” Workshop Curriculum Teacher Training, In Person - Helsinki Finland

    • Led training in two-or-four-day symptom-focused workshop curriculum, “‘Poised for Parkinson’s: Manage Balance, Walking & Freezing". Trained 9 AT teachers in the protocol: 4 from Finland; 3 from the United Kingdom; 1 from the United States; and 1 from Portugal.

  • 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference, Helsinki Finland, October 16-18

    • Participated in three-day conference in Helsinki. Over 1100 delegates attended from 48 countries countries, including medical professionals, allied health professionals, researchers, people living with dementia, and family care partners. Monika Gross gave an oral presentation as part of a panel of four presentations titled "Informal carer support and training" . The presentation was titled "‘Partnering with Poise’: Retention of benefits 12 months after Alexander technique online group course for care partners of people living with dementia". It was attended by over 70 delegates, including care partners of people living with dementia, clinicians, and researchers from across Europe and beyond. The Poise Project team members, Erica Donnison (UK), Hope Gillerman (USA), and Sirpa Tapaninen (Finland) assisted at our booth in the exhibit area. YOU CAN VIEW A RECORDING OF THE ORAL PRESENTATION BY CLICKING HERE.

  • Alzheimer’s Foundation of America “Educating America Tour: North Carolina Alzheimer’s & Caregiver Conference
    Raleigh NC, October 18, 2023

    • The Poise Project had an AFA Member Nonprofit exhibit table and team presence to advocate to care partners and people living with dementia about Alexander technique programs, including the “Partnering with Poise” program. Contact information for care partners was gathered for our next courses in February-August 2024.

  • Alexander Technique International ACGM 2023, Boone NC

    • Presented on The Poise Project’s recent activity, and our strategic model for partnering with the public and professionals in other fields to create AT based programs for target populations; create AT based continuing education courses for industry professionals; identify funding sources and delivery systems to provide alternatives to current private pay models to meet the needs of more socioeconomically diverse populations; initiate research projects to build evidence-based protocols; create jobs for AT professionals through a strategic, targeted approach; create pre- and post-graduate training to prepare AT teachers to meet the demands for these new industry jobs; create internships and entry-level job opportunities for AT graduating trainees; and create AT based curriculum for primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions.

November-December 2023

  • Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US)
    13th Annual Conference: Decolonizing Medicine: Recentering Climate Health and Equity in the Spectrum of Care,
    Austin TX. November 2-4, 2023

    • Participated in three-day conference. Led a 30 minute experiential workshop: “Alexander Technique: Refreshing Your “I am” “ Networked with integrative medicine clinicians who focus on providing health care for underserved, low income, and marginalized communities. Discussed potential partnerships with The Poise Project for group medicine delivery of AT in their clinics.

  • Modern Pain Science for AT Teachers Course, Online.
    November 6-December 11

    • Attended a six-week course in contemporary pain science led by Tim Cacciatore and Mari Hodges.

  • Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Led an in-depth 13 hour online training to prepare Alexander technique teachers in how to work with people living with Parkinson’s, including the many motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, the stages of progression, the causes, the current medications and treatments, and the specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching this population. 16 teachers were trained: 8 in the United Kingdom; 1 in Canada; 1 in the United States; 1 in Germany; 1 in South Africa; 1 in the Netherlands; 1 in France; 1 in Austria; and 1 in Denmark.

  • Recordings Group - Alexander Technique for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course

    • Met weekly for questions and discussion with a group of teachers who were viewing the four recordings of the September AT for Parkinson’s Basic Training Course. 4 teachers were trained: 3 in the United States; and 1 in Australia.

Throughout 2023

  • The Developing Self USA

    • Meetings during the year with US team members of a newly-formed US working group, a branch of The Developing Self UK, on the ongoing project to bring AT-related curriculum to children and youth in primary, secondary, and tertiary school settings. Also continued with ongoing WhatsApp and Zoom meetings with The Developing Self UK project.

  • Davis Phinney Foundation

    • Had Zoom meetings with Mel Dizon, Communications & Education Director, and with Kayla Ferguson, Grants Program Manager.

  • International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association (ISMETA)

    • Attended monthly international Somatic Cafés and Community Connect meetings throughout the year with somatic movement educator and therapist colleagues on a variety of subjects, including Coloniality in Somatics.

  • Alexander Teachers of the Mountain Area

    • Monthly online and in person meetings led by regional AT members, including Glenna Batson; Idelle Packer; Sarah Barker; Robbin Marcus; Erik Bendix; Lisa First; Charlotte Anderson; Meredith McIntosh; Corinne Cassini; and Ingrid Forsyth Knight.

  • Alexander Technique Liberation Project

    • Participated in two ongoing action-group team meetings focused on Alexander Technique Pedagogy, and on making Alexander Technique More Accessible to the Public.

  • Racial Justice Coalition, Asheville NC

    • Joined a grassroots team to support the “Reparations Are Due” efforts for Black residents of Buncombe County, NC.




  • Monthly Meetings of the American Congress for Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Special Interest, Networking, & Taskforce Groups

    • Monika Gross was an active participant in ACRM special interest groups, representing Alexander technique to allied health professionals involved in clinical rehab research and practice, and working on articles and other team projects.

      • Aging Research & Geriatric Rehabilitation NG

      • Aging Research & Geriatric Rehabilitation NG Cognition in Aging TF

      • Athlete Development & Sports Rehab NG

      • Arts & Neuroscience NG

      • Arts & Neuroscience NG Translational TF

      • Brain Injury Interdisciplinary SIG Cognitive Rehabilitation TF

      • International ISIG

      • International ISIG - Refugee Empowerment TF

      • Military-Veterans Affairs NG Brain Injury Focus on Behavioral Health TF

      • Neurodegenerative Diseases NG

      • Neurodegenerative Diseases NG Parkinsonism & Related Movement Disorders TF

      • Neurodegenerative Diseases NG Alzheimer’s Disease TF

      • Stroke ISIG Movement Interventions TF

      • Pain Rehabilitation NG

      • Stroke ISIG Aphasia & Other Communications Disorders TF