In MemoriamThis page honors the cherished members of our Alexander Technique International community who have passed on. Each tribute reflects the profound impact they made through their teaching, service, and presence. Here, we remember their lives, celebrate their contributions, and share their obituaries so their legacy may continue to inspire all who follow in their footsteps.
David GormanTribute Written By Tommy Thompson:
Many of you in ATI know David Gorman either through his functional anatomy workshops, his seminal books, including ’The Body Moveable’, a marvelous and comprehensive anatomical reference with thousands of hand-drawn illustrations, and ‘Looking at Ourselves’, a collection of pivotal realizations and lessons informed by the Alexander Technique, and of course by his invaluable service during the founding years of ATI, when in 1993 I inherited the position as ATI’s interim chair of the executive board and I asked David if he would assist me as the board secretary. After some moments of reflection he consented. And ATI is the better for all his contributions.
I first met David in 1982, when he was invited to ACAT by Judith Leibowitz to give one his state of the art Functional Anatomy workshops for ACAT in NYC. I was impressed then and have remained impressed in all of our ventures together throughout our 44 years of collaborative friendship. I asked might I observe his workshop. I had no idea what to expect. He gestured to take a seat. He was distinctly unique in his presentation, teaching barefoot as always and wearing his signature vest, referring to both to his skeleton model for mapping and easel for drawing, He was filled with vitality; and with an amazing ability to communicate the most subtle aspects of functional anatomy. David was truly brilliant in all aspects.
David died this month, February 7. 2026, very peacefully in the company of his wife, Eileen and two sons, Walker and Elliot—after a five year progressive bout with neurodegenerative disease.
How does one best remember one’s friend and colleague when past is prologue to their passing into everlasting life? Often, and especially for David, you bequeath what you yourself have learned so that others lives might be enriched. David certainly left the gifts of his understanding. He remained as unintentional teacher during his journey; affecting the lives of all who were witness by his going ‘gently into his goodnight’.
What better legacy can one leave?
Epilogue: ATI came into being as a manifestation of a collective dream of a relatively small group of people. David was integral to our process as were many others and we in ATI remain indebted to all of his signature contributions.
His website,https://learningmethods.com/,is still administered by his son Elliot and it contains a wealth of inspiration. All is free except for ‘The Body Movable’ and ‘Looking at Ourselves’, which soon will be available for purchase once again.
David Arthur Gorman Obituary David Arthur Gorman was born on February 3, 1950, in Kitchener, Ontario. He was an artist, a scientist, a writer, and above all, a lifelong explorer. He was driven by a profound curiosity about understanding how things work, in the human body and in the mind. That curiosity shaped the course of his life. David's brilliant mind led him to make innovative discoveries about human functioning and how the way we think impacts our being. Trained as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, he remained deeply committed to learning, questioning, and refining his understanding throughout his life. He continually re-examined his experience and research, allowing his work to evolve over decades. From this dedication emerged his own approach, which he named LearningMethods. For more than forty years, David devoted himself to teaching individuals and groups around the world. He was a path opener, helping others recognize new possibilities within themselves and within their professions. Students of all ages and from many countries found that David's work transformed their lives. A natural leader, David played a central role in founding and shaping professional organizations in the United States and Europe. He trained teachers in the United Kingdom through his Alexander Technique training course and offered workshops internationally in his own approach. His influence continues through the many students and professionals he mentored over the decades. In 1980, David also gave the world a beautiful 650-page anatomy book, entirely hand-drawn and handwritten in its first edition. It stands as a testament to both his scientific knowledge and artistic talent. Now in its sixth edition, the book continues to support students and professionals around the world. He possessed an extraordinary capacity for work, matched by his deep generosity and empathy. He gave freely of his time and attention to friends, colleagues, and students, always willing to listen, support, and encourage. Countless students describe David as a life changer, a guide whose insight and presence altered the course of their lives in lasting and meaningful ways. In his final years, David faced a neurological illness with quiet courage and clarity. Even in his last days, his mind remained steady and perceptive. He understood that his time was limited, accepted it with grace, sharing precious moments with his sons, Walker and Elliot, and with his wife, Eillen. He left this world very peacefully, with his wife and two sons by his side on February 7th, 2026. David’s life bridged science and art in a way that felt seamless. The background image above is one of his remarkably lifelike drawings. In the mid-1970s, he spent time dissecting and drawing in the human anatomy lab at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. In a profound full circle, he chose to donate his body to the same anatomy lab at the University of Guelph, continuing his dedication to learning and teaching even beyond his lifetime. Many of his articles are available on the LearningMethods website, https://learningmethods.com, recently updated by his son Elliot. His wife, Eillen, always knew that David had a life mission. Through his decades of teaching and writing, he clearly lived that mission completely, with integrity, depth and devotion. A private celebration of David’s life will be held in Toronto in June for his family. There will also be a separate virtual gathering open to everyone who knew and loved David. This will be a time to share stories, reflect, and honour all that he brought into our world. For the Zoom link and details, please contact: [email protected]. In lieu of donations, we invite you to visit David’s website to explore his articles and books. Reading, sharing, and keeping his work in circulation is a meaningful way to honour his life and continue to help and inspire others.https://learningmethods.com Glenna BatsonTribute Written By Renee Jackson: One summer evening at Sweetbriar College in Virginia, Alexander Technique students and teachers gathered for the Talent show and sharing. At one point, a skilled teacher and dancer got up to do an improvisational dance and began a backbend. And we were all transfixed by her movement. It was such a deep and amazing movement, back and back and back—so beautiful.She reminded me of a bridge.Glenna Batson was the dancer, and such a glorious mover she was. And she was a wonderful bridge—an expert in dance, somatics, research, Alexander Technique, and life in general. Glenna’s generosity as a teacher, whether she was teaching somatics or the Alexander Technique or human origami, is legendary. It is delightful to see many of her former students and colleagues remember her for her laughter, and her reminders not to be too serious! For many years I was very much in awe of her, and couldn’t imagine that I would ever have any bodywork or spiritual work to offer her in return. When she first became ill (over 10 years ago—during which time she managed to serve as a Congress director in Limerick, Ireland!), I was fortunate to get to know her better and do energy work with her. She was as strong in her receptivity as she was in her teaching, and she taught me so much—as all great learners do. I will miss her humor, her strength of character, her willingness to reinvent movement, and her determination to live life on her terms. May we all laugh and move better for having had Glenna in our lives.
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