Maaike Aarts | Alexander Technique teacher @ Think Up
@thinkupacademy.bsky.social
Helping people unlearn unhelpful habits affecting posture, movement, stress, and limiting beliefs since 2002.
👉 Download my Think Up app: thinkup.nl/en/app/
👉 Let's connect on IG! instagram.com/thinkupacademy
👉 Download my Think Up app: thinkup.nl/en/app/
👉 Let's connect on IG! instagram.com/thinkupacademy
I’ve been diving into breathwork lately — nose breathing, gentle pauses, and slower, softer breaths. It’s helped me understand how vital CO₂ is, and how much we tend to over-breathe. If you’re curious, Patrick McKeown’s book on the Buteyko method is truly eye-opening. 🌿
November 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I’ve been diving into breathwork lately — nose breathing, gentle pauses, and slower, softer breaths. It’s helped me understand how vital CO₂ is, and how much we tend to over-breathe. If you’re curious, Patrick McKeown’s book on the Buteyko method is truly eye-opening. 🌿
I’ve just printed new flyers for my upcoming trip to London, where I’ll be teaching a masterclass for upper strings at the Royal College of Music 🎻
About my new flyers:
🎵 One introducing my course “Freedom and Ease for Violinists and Violists”
🎶 The other is a flyer for my free Think Up app
About my new flyers:
🎵 One introducing my course “Freedom and Ease for Violinists and Violists”
🎶 The other is a flyer for my free Think Up app
November 3, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I’ve just printed new flyers for my upcoming trip to London, where I’ll be teaching a masterclass for upper strings at the Royal College of Music 🎻
About my new flyers:
🎵 One introducing my course “Freedom and Ease for Violinists and Violists”
🎶 The other is a flyer for my free Think Up app
About my new flyers:
🎵 One introducing my course “Freedom and Ease for Violinists and Violists”
🎶 The other is a flyer for my free Think Up app
Over the past week we got to babysit these two gorgeous dogs. So sweet, cuddly, and full of personality — it was such a joy having them around!
I’ll definitely miss the snuggles… but I won’t miss the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m wake-up calls, the extra fur on everything, and the dog perfume in the house!!
I’ll definitely miss the snuggles… but I won’t miss the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m wake-up calls, the extra fur on everything, and the dog perfume in the house!!
September 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Over the past week we got to babysit these two gorgeous dogs. So sweet, cuddly, and full of personality — it was such a joy having them around!
I’ll definitely miss the snuggles… but I won’t miss the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m wake-up calls, the extra fur on everything, and the dog perfume in the house!!
I’ll definitely miss the snuggles… but I won’t miss the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m wake-up calls, the extra fur on everything, and the dog perfume in the house!!
I wanted to share how I create audio guides for my Think Up app.
I write and rewrite the texts, then record them while trying to actually live the Alexander Technique myself (😅).
After that, I edit everything in Logic Pro
Then my husband works his MAGIC with the mastering 🎧!
I write and rewrite the texts, then record them while trying to actually live the Alexander Technique myself (😅).
After that, I edit everything in Logic Pro
Then my husband works his MAGIC with the mastering 🎧!
September 14, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I wanted to share how I create audio guides for my Think Up app.
I write and rewrite the texts, then record them while trying to actually live the Alexander Technique myself (😅).
After that, I edit everything in Logic Pro
Then my husband works his MAGIC with the mastering 🎧!
I write and rewrite the texts, then record them while trying to actually live the Alexander Technique myself (😅).
After that, I edit everything in Logic Pro
Then my husband works his MAGIC with the mastering 🎧!
Being productive doesn't have to mean having a tight jaw, shoulders pressing up, and breathing in a shallow way.
✨ Your body CAN move through the day with you, instead of against you.
Try noticing where you’re holding on... and then let it go with a gentle sigh as you read this.
✨ Your body CAN move through the day with you, instead of against you.
Try noticing where you’re holding on... and then let it go with a gentle sigh as you read this.
September 4, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Being productive doesn't have to mean having a tight jaw, shoulders pressing up, and breathing in a shallow way.
✨ Your body CAN move through the day with you, instead of against you.
Try noticing where you’re holding on... and then let it go with a gentle sigh as you read this.
✨ Your body CAN move through the day with you, instead of against you.
Try noticing where you’re holding on... and then let it go with a gentle sigh as you read this.
My flyers for the Alexander Technique Congress have arrived!! Looking forward to a week of inspiration, connection and fun in Dublin, where I will take workshops on teaching AT to school children and learning more about how AT can help with trauma.
August 3, 2025 at 6:58 AM
My flyers for the Alexander Technique Congress have arrived!! Looking forward to a week of inspiration, connection and fun in Dublin, where I will take workshops on teaching AT to school children and learning more about how AT can help with trauma.
I’m looking forward to tuning into my all-inclusive awareness while reconnecting with the incredible nature of Norway and Sweden.
I may pop in here occasionally, but regular posts and practices will be back in September.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer. Take care! 🌞
I may pop in here occasionally, but regular posts and practices will be back in September.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer. Take care! 🌞
July 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I’m looking forward to tuning into my all-inclusive awareness while reconnecting with the incredible nature of Norway and Sweden.
I may pop in here occasionally, but regular posts and practices will be back in September.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer. Take care! 🌞
I may pop in here occasionally, but regular posts and practices will be back in September.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer. Take care! 🌞
Looking back on a truly wonderful Alexander Technique summer week in France with Doris Hochscheid! Grateful for the inspiring participants and fulfilling week.
Feeling nourished in every way — body, mind, and spirit.
✨ Come join us next summer in beautiful Fontaines St. Clair! ✨
Feeling nourished in every way — body, mind, and spirit.
✨ Come join us next summer in beautiful Fontaines St. Clair! ✨
July 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Looking back on a truly wonderful Alexander Technique summer week in France with Doris Hochscheid! Grateful for the inspiring participants and fulfilling week.
Feeling nourished in every way — body, mind, and spirit.
✨ Come join us next summer in beautiful Fontaines St. Clair! ✨
Feeling nourished in every way — body, mind, and spirit.
✨ Come join us next summer in beautiful Fontaines St. Clair! ✨
I've got a book recommendation for you to read this summer: Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté 📚
He brilliantly uncovers the true root causes behind trauma, stress, addiction, political polarization, and environmental destruction.
Timely to understand WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
He brilliantly uncovers the true root causes behind trauma, stress, addiction, political polarization, and environmental destruction.
Timely to understand WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
June 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I've got a book recommendation for you to read this summer: Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté 📚
He brilliantly uncovers the true root causes behind trauma, stress, addiction, political polarization, and environmental destruction.
Timely to understand WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
He brilliantly uncovers the true root causes behind trauma, stress, addiction, political polarization, and environmental destruction.
Timely to understand WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
Here's what real relaxation is:
June 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Here's what real relaxation is:
Do you really know how to relax?
You can be still... and still feel tension. 🤷♀️
Clue: Relaxing is not passive, nor downward. It's a gentle ACTIVE practice of LETTING GO to return to clarity, openness, and presence.
Swipe to know how! ➡️
You can be still... and still feel tension. 🤷♀️
Clue: Relaxing is not passive, nor downward. It's a gentle ACTIVE practice of LETTING GO to return to clarity, openness, and presence.
Swipe to know how! ➡️
June 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Do you really know how to relax?
You can be still... and still feel tension. 🤷♀️
Clue: Relaxing is not passive, nor downward. It's a gentle ACTIVE practice of LETTING GO to return to clarity, openness, and presence.
Swipe to know how! ➡️
You can be still... and still feel tension. 🤷♀️
Clue: Relaxing is not passive, nor downward. It's a gentle ACTIVE practice of LETTING GO to return to clarity, openness, and presence.
Swipe to know how! ➡️
Imagine you're a soaring eagle, looking down while flying, observing both your body and the world below.
Do you notice you don't have to choose between observing your body or the space? How do you feel?
That's the golden zone called All-Inclusive Awareness.
Do you notice you don't have to choose between observing your body or the space? How do you feel?
That's the golden zone called All-Inclusive Awareness.
June 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Imagine you're a soaring eagle, looking down while flying, observing both your body and the world below.
Do you notice you don't have to choose between observing your body or the space? How do you feel?
That's the golden zone called All-Inclusive Awareness.
Do you notice you don't have to choose between observing your body or the space? How do you feel?
That's the golden zone called All-Inclusive Awareness.
Jogging, computer work, or any activity becomes much more effortless when we are aware of the space around us... and I want to share how you can practice this!
Send me a message on my Think Up Academy FB page or Instagram to listen for free for a month.
Limited to the first 30! Details👇
Send me a message on my Think Up Academy FB page or Instagram to listen for free for a month.
Limited to the first 30! Details👇
May 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Jogging, computer work, or any activity becomes much more effortless when we are aware of the space around us... and I want to share how you can practice this!
Send me a message on my Think Up Academy FB page or Instagram to listen for free for a month.
Limited to the first 30! Details👇
Send me a message on my Think Up Academy FB page or Instagram to listen for free for a month.
Limited to the first 30! Details👇
Learn more here:
May 20, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Learn more here:
If your hands feel stiff, your shoulders sore, or your playing feels harder than it should be... tension might be holding you back more than you think.
But here’s the thing — your grip isn’t the root of the problem. It starts somewhere else.
Swipe through to find out why and how to unlearn it ➡️
But here’s the thing — your grip isn’t the root of the problem. It starts somewhere else.
Swipe through to find out why and how to unlearn it ➡️
May 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
If your hands feel stiff, your shoulders sore, or your playing feels harder than it should be... tension might be holding you back more than you think.
But here’s the thing — your grip isn’t the root of the problem. It starts somewhere else.
Swipe through to find out why and how to unlearn it ➡️
But here’s the thing — your grip isn’t the root of the problem. It starts somewhere else.
Swipe through to find out why and how to unlearn it ➡️
Have you ever noticed that daydreaming, recovering, and resting during the day can turn into collapsing and heaviness in the body?
Well, there's an Alexander Technique practice to rest that includes alertness: Active Rest.
It allows the body to decompress, while awareness stays open and present.
Well, there's an Alexander Technique practice to rest that includes alertness: Active Rest.
It allows the body to decompress, while awareness stays open and present.
May 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Have you ever noticed that daydreaming, recovering, and resting during the day can turn into collapsing and heaviness in the body?
Well, there's an Alexander Technique practice to rest that includes alertness: Active Rest.
It allows the body to decompress, while awareness stays open and present.
Well, there's an Alexander Technique practice to rest that includes alertness: Active Rest.
It allows the body to decompress, while awareness stays open and present.
Is your body and mind stuck on high alert?
This might be why. ➡️ Read on to reset.
#alexandertechnique #mindbodyawareness #stressmanagement #focus
This might be why. ➡️ Read on to reset.
#alexandertechnique #mindbodyawareness #stressmanagement #focus
May 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Is your body and mind stuck on high alert?
This might be why. ➡️ Read on to reset.
#alexandertechnique #mindbodyawareness #stressmanagement #focus
This might be why. ➡️ Read on to reset.
#alexandertechnique #mindbodyawareness #stressmanagement #focus
Compared to the extreme types of attention, All-Inclusive Awareness is an integrated focus where you remain aware of your whole body, your activity, and the space around you ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
Do you recognize this middle space in your own experience?
#alexandertechnique #allinclusiveawareness
Do you recognize this middle space in your own experience?
#alexandertechnique #allinclusiveawareness
April 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Compared to the extreme types of attention, All-Inclusive Awareness is an integrated focus where you remain aware of your whole body, your activity, and the space around you ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
Do you recognize this middle space in your own experience?
#alexandertechnique #allinclusiveawareness
Do you recognize this middle space in your own experience?
#alexandertechnique #allinclusiveawareness
The truth?
Stopping isn’t weakness.
Small adjustments can prevent injury.
Listening builds resilience — not quitting.
✅ Start noticing where tension creeps in.
Your body is asking you to listen.
Stopping isn’t weakness.
Small adjustments can prevent injury.
Listening builds resilience — not quitting.
✅ Start noticing where tension creeps in.
Your body is asking you to listen.
April 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The truth?
Stopping isn’t weakness.
Small adjustments can prevent injury.
Listening builds resilience — not quitting.
✅ Start noticing where tension creeps in.
Your body is asking you to listen.
Stopping isn’t weakness.
Small adjustments can prevent injury.
Listening builds resilience — not quitting.
✅ Start noticing where tension creeps in.
Your body is asking you to listen.
Think You Know What Think Up Is? 🤔
You might be surprised! It’s not just about the body or posture, it's simple, and open for everybody.
Swipe through to clear up the misconceptions and see how it can actually help you move with more ease. ➡️
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
You might be surprised! It’s not just about the body or posture, it's simple, and open for everybody.
Swipe through to clear up the misconceptions and see how it can actually help you move with more ease. ➡️
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
April 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Think You Know What Think Up Is? 🤔
You might be surprised! It’s not just about the body or posture, it's simple, and open for everybody.
Swipe through to clear up the misconceptions and see how it can actually help you move with more ease. ➡️
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
You might be surprised! It’s not just about the body or posture, it's simple, and open for everybody.
Swipe through to clear up the misconceptions and see how it can actually help you move with more ease. ➡️
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
Download the free app today! Scan the QR code in the image or visit thinkup.nl/en/app
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
April 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Download the free app today! Scan the QR code in the image or visit thinkup.nl/en/app
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
#ThinkUp #AlexanderTechnique
If you're guilty of tensing your eyes and leaning forward towards the music during performance... well, I've been there too.
Here's one simple shift that helped me stay calm and present: activating panoramic vision.
#ThinkUp #ThinkUpAcademy #violinist #musician
Here's one simple shift that helped me stay calm and present: activating panoramic vision.
#ThinkUp #ThinkUpAcademy #violinist #musician
April 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
If you're guilty of tensing your eyes and leaning forward towards the music during performance... well, I've been there too.
Here's one simple shift that helped me stay calm and present: activating panoramic vision.
#ThinkUp #ThinkUpAcademy #violinist #musician
Here's one simple shift that helped me stay calm and present: activating panoramic vision.
#ThinkUp #ThinkUpAcademy #violinist #musician
Here's how:
April 2, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Here's how:
Is tension really the price of mastery?
👉 Swipe through to uncover what’s holding you back — and how to break free.
👉 Swipe through to uncover what’s holding you back — and how to break free.
April 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Is tension really the price of mastery?
👉 Swipe through to uncover what’s holding you back — and how to break free.
👉 Swipe through to uncover what’s holding you back — and how to break free.
🌻 Alexander Technique Summer Retreat 🌻
📅 5-11 July 2025 | 📍 North-East France
Discover ease in movement, better posture, calm, breath and mindful coordination—all in a stunning retreat setting.
🔗 More info: www.thinkup.nl/en/workshops...
#AlexanderTechnique #MindBodyBalance #Retreat2025
📅 5-11 July 2025 | 📍 North-East France
Discover ease in movement, better posture, calm, breath and mindful coordination—all in a stunning retreat setting.
🔗 More info: www.thinkup.nl/en/workshops...
#AlexanderTechnique #MindBodyBalance #Retreat2025
February 28, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🌻 Alexander Technique Summer Retreat 🌻
📅 5-11 July 2025 | 📍 North-East France
Discover ease in movement, better posture, calm, breath and mindful coordination—all in a stunning retreat setting.
🔗 More info: www.thinkup.nl/en/workshops...
#AlexanderTechnique #MindBodyBalance #Retreat2025
📅 5-11 July 2025 | 📍 North-East France
Discover ease in movement, better posture, calm, breath and mindful coordination—all in a stunning retreat setting.
🔗 More info: www.thinkup.nl/en/workshops...
#AlexanderTechnique #MindBodyBalance #Retreat2025