Help yourself to live, move and breathe more easily
Art of Breathing, Qigong & Alexander Technique Belfast & Lisburn
I offer one-to-one and small group teaching in the Alexander Technique, Qigong and The Art of Breathing from my quiet studio in Drumbeg, near Belfast and Lisburn.
If you are seeking effective ways to improve your posture and performance, alleviate pain, excessive tension, or stress, support recovery and self-healing, or reconnect with yourself and wholeness, you may find help here.
Each approach I offer aims to help you understand how to use your body as it is designed to be used and to provide you with practical ways to breathe, move, and live more freely.
What I Offer
Alexander Technique Belfast & Lisburn
Find ease in movement, posture and breath
The Alexander Technique is a subtle but powerful way of helping you move through life with less effort and more agency. People often come to me with back or neck pain, poor posture, work-related physical stress, or a feeling of being “out of sync” with their own body. Often, they’ve tried many other things before finding relief with the Alexander Technique.
What happens in a typical session?
During a session, we work together with curiosity at your own pace. You will remain fully clothed while I guide you using gentle touch and straightforward verbal cues. There is nothing to get right, and you won’t be required to hold any specific postures. Instead, we will gently enquire into everyday movements such as sitting, standing, reaching, or walking, and begin to identify and release habits that disrupt your natural coordination and poise.
Many people report feeling long-held tensions dissolving as their bodies recalibrate and reorganise into a more coherent natural whole. The work of supporting ourselves gets distributed more evenly through the whole musculoskeletal sytem rather than overloading certain areas such as the neck, jaw and shoulders. Movement becomes lighter and freer as the muscle tone becomes more elastic and responsive.
People come to the Alexander Technique for many reasons:
- To improve their professional performance
- Chronic back or neck pain
- Fatigue or discomfort from poor posture
- Anxiety or stress
- Movement restrictions after injury
- To improve their energy levels
- A desire to move more easily and confidently
- To pay more attention to their bodies
Qigong Classes Online and in Person
Qigong is a series of rhythmic movements coordinated with breathing that promote calmness, energy, focus, and overall well-being. I teach a form called Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi, known for its simplicity and deeply relaxing and energising effects. You don’t need to be flexible or fit, the practice meets you where you are. The movements are slow, adaptable, and suitable for most individuals, including those experiencing stress, fatigue, or physical tension.
I offer group classes online and private one-to-one sessions here in Drumbeg near Belfast and Lisburn. I am also available to take groups at your location. Shibashi Qigong is a lovely complement to the Alexander Technique with their shared focus on balance, breathing and poise.
- People with a sedentary lifestyle find Qigong offers a gentle way to reconnect with their body.
- For people navigating life changes, Qigong supports physical stability and mental clarity.
- People recovering from injury, grief, burnout, or illness find it helpful for restoring energy and promoting self-healing.
- Performers, teachers, and public speakers use Qigong to calm nerves, centre attention, and align breath with voice and intention.
Art of Breathing
Reconnect with your natural breathing rhythms
My Breathwork sessions follow Jessica Wolf’s Art of Breathing system. This approach combines Jessica’s extensive experience with both the Alexander Technique and Carl Stough’s Breathing Coordination, offering simple and practical tools to help you reconnect with your natural breathing rhythm.
The Art of Breathing is beneficial for anyone who uses their voice or body professionally, including actors, singers, public speakers and athletes. Additionally, it can assist individuals experiencing respiratory issues, anxiety, post-viral fatigue, or musculoskeletal pain.
The Art of Breathing can help people dealing with:
- Anxiety or stress-related breath restrictions
- Voice fatigue or pressure related to performance
- Residual breath tension after illness or trauma
Benefits can include
- A calmer presence under stress
- A renewed vocal and physical confidence and vitality
- An enhanced connection to one’s own natural rhythm and sense of well being
Meet Your Teacher — Colin Beattie
Breathwork, Qigong, Alexander Technique Belfast & Lisburn
I am a fully qualified teacher registered with the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) since 2001. I teach the Alexander Technique, the Art of Breathing, and Qigong in Northern Ireland from a peaceful, dedicated space in Drumbeg, just outside Belfast, as well as online.
I discovered both the Alexander Technique and Qigong in my mid-twenties while seeking relief from back pain and inflexibility, and looking for solutions to balance and coordination issues. They have been valued companions ever since, helping me understand how to move, breathe, and live with more ease and flow.
My teaching style is calm and responsive, tailored to your specific goals as we explore together how to meet your needs. I guide you in becoming aware of—and then unlearning— psychophysical habits that may hinder you.
Location & Access
I teach from a quiet, private space in Drumbeg, between Belfast and Lisburn, just 10 minutes drive from Sprucefield. There is free parking on-site, and detailed directions are available on the Location page. Classes can also be arranged at suitable venues in the Belfast area. If you’re searching for a gentle introduction to Breathwork, Qigong or Alexander Technique in the Belfast or Lisburn area, please get in touch.
FAQs
Is the Alexander Technique suitable if I’m in pain or recovering from an injury?
Yes. It’s beneficial when pain limits your movement or creates habitual tension.
How many lessons do I need?
That is entirely up to you. Some people are happy with what they have achieved after just a few sessions. Others use Alexander Technique as an ongoing practice and integrate it into their lives alongside other things they do for self-care or wellbeing.
Is it like yoga or pilates?
Not to the extent it’s about physical activity, focusing on poses or actively working on flexibility. The focus in Alexander Technique is on how you move in everyday life. However, many people that enjoy the gentle physical nature of yoga also appreciate Alexander Technique.
Ready to Begin?
Book a trial session to explore Breathwork, Qigong or the Alexander Technique with Colin Beattie. Calm, personalised guidance in a relaxed setting or online.