Charley Sabghir began learning the Alexander Technique in the fall of 1978 in New York City. His interest in the Technique had been peaked while a student of dance during his undergraduate years at the State University of New York at Albany. After nearly two years of almost daily Alexander lessons with various teachers in New York, he entered the Alexander Technique teacher training course at the American Center for the Alexander Technique, under then director Judith Leibowitz.  After two semesters of training with Judith, he left New York and joined the Alexander Technique teacher training course at the Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique of Joan and Alex Murray. Charley attended their three year teacher training course and qualified to teach in May, 1983. He remained with the Murrays for another two years as an assistant teacher on the training course. In July of 1985 Charley moved to Tucson and has taught the Technique here since then; he returns to Urbana periodically to continue training with the Murrays. Charley is a certified teaching member of both the American Society for the Alexander Technique and the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, UK.

Alexander Technique Teaching experience:

Charley has worked with a wide range of people from many walks of life, including:

1. •  computer and office workers
   

1. •  persons with various physical challenges, such as: stroke,
   

       undue muscular tension, repetitive stress injury, scoliosis,  

       fibromyalgia, muscular tremors, arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease,

       focal dystonia, difficulty with balance and walking, breathing

       difficulties, and various neck, back, elbow, shoulder, and hand

       problems

1. •  artists and performers, including painters, potters, actors,
   

       dancers, singers, and musicians

1. •  athletes, including runners, hikers, golfers, swimmers,
   

       martial artists, yoga and t’ai chi practitioners, and    

       horse riders (particularly dressage riders)

1. •  public speakers
   

1. •  medical doctors
   

1. •  teenagers, university students, teachers, and professors
   

       from various disciplines

1. •  pregnant women
   

1. •  seniors and retirees facing the often tough challenges of aging
   

1. •  Charley was the Alexander Technique teacher at the
   

       Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in Ashland, Oregon

       from 2002-08.

Interests outside of the Alexander Technique.

Charley began the study music at an early age. He has played various instruments, and pursued saxophone performance as an undergraduate at the State University College of New York at Fredonia. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in music from the State University of New York at Albany in 1978. Charley is a great fan of jazz and classical musics. Currently, among other musical pursuits, he is working with composer Larry Delinger to prepare his scores for publication.

Other training:

1. •  Vipassana meditation as taught by S. N. Goenka
   

2. •  Landmark Education

Yang style t’ai chi has been an interest for over a decade, and Charley particularly enjoys finding ways to adapt t’ai chi forms and practice for his students.

Charley has keeps a beautiful Lipizzan/Dutch cross horse and continues a longstanding interest in “backyard” dressage and horsing around.

As an Arizona certified elementary school teacher, Charley was a classroom teacher in Kindergarten, fourth grade, and remedial reading, and continues to substitute teach in schools in the Tucson area.