Dedicated teacher and healer
MARGUERITE van der Merwe of the South African Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique pays homage to one of the pioneers of the body-movement technique in the country, YVONNE BECKER. BECKER died last Sunday at her home in Newlands after a short illness.
Becker was 86 years of age and had spent her adult life in Cape Town as a schoolteacher and librarian, and for more than three decades as a teacher of the Alexander Technique.
She was well known in educational and cultural circles throughout the city. Becker was one of the pioneers of the technique in South Africa.
It is a century-old method of psycho-physical re-education in movement and postural habits, developed to teach people to use their bodies in the way nature designed, and is a way of becoming aware of, and enhancing, activities in daily life.
The profession has teachers and training centres in many countries.
Leading figures in this country who were involved with, and endorsed, Alexander’s work include Professor Raymond Dart, Professor Phillip Tobias and Bram Fischer.
Internationally are included luminaries such as Nobel Prize winners (Sir Charles Sherrington and Professor Niklaas Tinbergen); Professor John Dewey, “Father of Modern Education”; writers (Aldous Huxley, Sir George Trevelyan); prominent medical specialists; and many distinguished people in the sports and performing arts arenas.
Becker was a great educator who recognised the benefits of the Alexander Technique, investing much of her life into it with a zest and passion that is, and will be, remembered with gratitude by many with whom she came into contact – schoolboys, children of all ages, children of parents who had had Alexander work and then sent their own children to her.
She is remembered as an exceptionally fine Alexander Technique teacher and trainer.
Her kindness, sharp mind and loving nature were a huge inspiration. She led the way for several generations of teachers.
For more than three decades Becker played an active and significant role in the international and local Alexander Technique world.