About Alain Lafontaine, MA
Certified Alexander Technique Teacher, AmSAT, ATI
H.H.P.

Alain received his teaching certification from the Alexander Technique Institute of Los Angeles in 2006, completing over 1,600 hours of training, and he is now a teaching member of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT). Alain also received an Alexander Technique teaching diploma from the Performance School in Seattle in 2003. In addition, Alain is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Massage Therapist (Cert #17223) by the California Massage Therapy Council (CMTC).

At the age of 26, Alain Lafontaine’s promising career as a piano instructor was interrupted by a cerebral hemorrhage that put Alain in a coma for 18 days and paralyzed the left side of his body, resulting in severe neurological pain.

A grueling recovery period ensued in which Alain had to relearn how to walk and to properly use his body for daily tasks, as well as the finer hand and finger movements required to play piano. His healing journey took him further than he imagined and included training with Dr. O. Carl Simonton, who popularized the mind-body connection in fighting cancer and other illnesses and who wrote the famous books Getting Well Again and The Healing Journey.

To overcome lingering limitations in his left hand, Alain began studying the Alexander Technique, which enabled him to improve his piano-playing abilities pain free. Since his original illness, Alain has run nine marathons, and in 2003 he completed a master’s degree in piano pedagogy at San Diego State University. In spite of persistent neurological pain, Alain has continued to successfully manage his pain with the Alexander Technique and functions normally.