Vera Cavling (1920–2011), Danish teacher of the Alexander Technique.
Life
Vera Cavling, née Kjær, was very frail in her early youth, suffering from fatigue, insomnia and chronic headaches. She and her sister, Else Kjær, went to London in 1948 and had lessons from F. M. Alexander as well as several other teachers at Ashley Place.
In 1950 Vera Cavling and her future husband, Jens Cavling, joined Marjory and Wilfred Barlow’s training course, the first training course not run by Alexander. This came to an end when Alexander discovered they were running a training course and wrote to Wilfred Barlow asking him not to train teachers.
Vera Cavling went back to Denmark and started teaching a form of relaxation method, much inspired by the Alexander Technique. After the death of her husband in 1962, she travelled to London and trained at the Constructive Teaching Centre with the Carringtons, 1962–64. She was the second Danish teacher of the Technique (Ove Bjarkild being the first).
She taught in Copenhagen, having a very busy practice with a long waiting list. She continued to visit London teachers almost annually. She taught until 1989 when, at the age of 69, she was forced to retire through ill health.
Writings
An article based on an substantial interview with Vera Cavling was published as ‘Vera Cavling – A portrait of a life with the Alexander Technique’ by Jean M. O. Fischer.[1]
Obituary
‘Vera Cavling’ by Mary McGovern.[2]
Vera Cavling •17 December 1920 – 20 April 2011
