Alexander Technique and Physical Therapy
About Idelle
Body Sense Inc.
The Alexander Technique
Lymphedema



IDELLE PACKER, M.S., P.T.
146 Merrill's Chase, Asheville, NC 28803
Phone/Fax: (828) 687-0407; e-mail

LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST
CERTIFIED TEACHER OF THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE




HIGHER EDUCATION
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Program in Physical
  Therapy, New York, NY, Master of Science in Physical Therapy, 1995
  Marcia E. Ebert Award for Clinical Excellence, 1995
American Center for the Alexander Technique, New York, NY,
  Teacher certification, 1976-1979
Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, Bachelor of Arts, 1971

WORK EXPERIENCE
Director/owner private practice, physical therapy, Body Sense, Inc., May 1995 to
  present, CT and NC
Physical Therapist, Park Ridge Hospital Out-patient Physical Therapy, October
  2002 to Present
Brevard Music Center, Brevard, NC, Master Teacher of the Alexander
  Technique, 2001 to present
Guest Professor UNCA, Drama Department, Movement for Actors; Dance
  Department, winter, 2001
Interplay, participant and teacher of dance improvisation, Asheville, NC,
  winter/spring 2001
Head of physical therapy, Physical Intelligence, Inc., Center for Prevention
  and Rehabilitation, Weston, CT, January 1996 to June 2000
Physical therapist, Advanced Center Rehabilitation Medicine, Norwalk, CT, May
  1995 - March 1997
Teacher of the Alexander Technique, private practice, Greenwich, CT, 1979
  to present
Teacher of corrective/therapeutic exercise, group instruction and "one-on-one",
  1975 to present
Professional dancer, New York, NY, 1971 -1991
Founder, director, teaching member, Moving Arts Collaborative, Greenwich, CT,
  1989 to present
Teacher of functional anatomy, Greenwich Country Day School, guest teacher,
  1989 -1991
Director of Back Clinic, American Fitness Center, Greenwich, CT, 1984 - 1986
Teacher of Anatomy and Injury Prevention for the Dancer: Manhattan School of
  Ballet, New York, NY, 1975 - 1982; Arts Center, Darien, CT, 1992
Faculty of Dance Education Department of 92nd Street YMYWHA, New York,
  NY, 1972 -1980
Associate Professor of Dance Education, SUNY, New Paltz, NY, 1977, 1978


CONTINUING EDUCATION
Current Concepts in Shoulder Rehabilitation, College of Physicians & Surgeons of
  Columbia University, October 29, 1994
Parkinson's Disease &Quality of Life Symposium, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical
  Center, New York, NY, October 20-21, 1994
Physical Therapy Management of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction in the Pregnant
  Client, Section on Obstetrics and Gynecology, APTA, JFK Medical Center,
  Edison, NJ, July 22, 1994
Neuro Developmental Technique, Norwalk Hospital, CT, January 21, 22, 1996;
  September 18, 19, 1997
Neuro Developmental Technique Approach to Gait with the Hemiplegic Patient, Norwalk Hospital, CT,
  September 21, 22, 1996
Seminar in Rheumatism, Hartford, CT, May 1, 1996; May 9, 1997;
  May 7, 1998 Patellofemoral Dysfunction, April 23, 1999
Patellofemoral Dysfunction, Greenwich Hospital, April 23, 1999
Breast Cancer Related Upper Extremity Lymphedema, Newton, MA, April 29-
  May 2, 1999 Advanced/Certification Breast Cancer Related Upper Extremity Lymphedema Management, Newton, MA,
   April 29 - May 2, 1999, Philadelphia, PA, November 5-7, 1999
Advanced/Certification Breast Cancer Related Upper Extremity Lymphedema Management, Newton, MA,
   Philadelphia, PA, November 5 to November 7, 1999
Somatic Expressions of Trauma, Asheville, NC, December 14, 2001
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Education and Practice Update, Asheville, NC,
   July 25, 2002
Development of Transitional Movements, Neuro Developmental Technique, Charlotte,
   NC, May 16, 2003
Natural Approaches to Pain Management, Asheville, NC, March 29, 2006
Anatomy of Core Strengthening, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Duke University, Durahm,
   NC, April 1, 2, 2006
Lymphedema Management Upper and Lower Extremities, Elizabeth Augustine,
   Columbus, OH, June 23-25, 2006
Finding Balance, Dance Science Seminar, Winston-Salem State University, June 22 -23,
   2007


PRESENTATIONS
Lymphedema Prevention, Anatomy, Treatment: Breast Cancer Survivor Group,
  Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC, January 2006
Integrated Medicine Series: Brevard College Continuing Education Lecture Series 2001 to 2005
Alexander Technique in the Treatment of Stroke: Chester Cozier Medical Center, Philadelphia,
  Conference on Stroke, November 2004
Injury prevention for the musician through the Alexander Technique:
  Brevard Music Center, June to August 2001, June to August 2002
Application of the Alexander Technique in the Therapeutic Setting:
  In-service: Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Park Ridge Hospital, December 2003
  NC Chapter American Physical Therapy Association, November 2003
  Schubert Club, Greenwich Arts Center, January 1999
  American Society of the Alexander Technique, Amherst College, June 1999
  Columbia University Program in Physical Therapy, assisting Deborah Caplan, PT:
    New York, NY, April 1993 to September 1996
  Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, CT, September 1995, June 1996, July 1997
  White Plains Hospital Center, White Plains, NY, July 1994
    United Hebrew Geriatrics, New Rochelle, NY, October 1994
  Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, CT, March 1993
Kinesio Taping for the Upper and Lower Extremities, Wake Forest University School of
  Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, April 13-14, 2007

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Physical Therapy Association, Women's Health Section, 1995 to present
American Society of the Alexander Technique (AmSAT), founding member, 1987
  to present


PUBLICATION
Packer I. The Alexander Technique and Childbirth. The Alexander Review, the
  Independent Journal of the F.M. Alexander Technique. 1987;2(1):18-22.
Packer I. The Alexander Technique. The Encyclopedia of Complementary Health
  Practices. Springer Publishers. 1999; 291-294.
Columnist for Rapid River Magazine, Asheville, NC, Oct '02 - May '03

Workshops
Image Gallery

"Talk about a man (woman)'s individuality and character: It's the way he (she) uses himself (herself)"
F.M. Alexander from The Essential Writings of F. Matthias Alexander: The Alexander Technique - (Carol Publishing Group, 1990) edited by Edward Maisel