I Help You Free Yourself From Tension, Pain, and Stress—and Rediscover Flow, Balance, and Ease
Hi, I’m Maaike Aarts, a professional violinist and certified Alexander Technique teacher with over 23 years of experience. I’ve helped hundreds of musicians overcome tension, pain, and stress to move freely, perform with ease, and reconnect with their full creative potential.
You might feel stuck because:
- You don’t yet know how to practise and work without stress.
- Your movements feel stiff and tense, but you don’t know how to change that.
- You try to improve your posture without solving the root cause of the problem.
- You struggle with negative thoughts but don’t know how to shift to a more positive mindset.
- Your breathing is shallow and restricted, and exercises provide only temporary relief.
I can show you how to:
- Identify and change hidden habits that cause pain, stiffness and tension.
- Re-coordinate inefficient movement patterns.
- Enhance comfort, performance and freedom of expression in music.
- Improve your mindset, breathing and overall well being.
- Be more calm, balanced and energetic.
My approach
My approach is never one-size-fits-all. I act as a detective— uncovering your unique blind spots, solving your individual puzzle, and addressing your specific needs step by step. Together, we’ll create a path toward lasting freedom, ease, and balance.
What People Are Saying
“Maaike is a wonderful teacher and an inspiring person! My general well-being improved immensely thanks to her guidance.”
— Pedro Raposo, Double Bass Player, Academy Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
“Although Maaike is not a flutist (but a violinist) she helped me tremendously! She really made me feel connected to my body and freed my breathing. I was very surprised that she could hear everything; she is a real musician.“
—Sarah Ouakrat, First flutist Ballet Orchestra
“The pains in my shoulders, back and hands often started when sitting
behind my desk at work, but also when biking, reading, or simply talking to people. Now, most days I am pain-free, but my lessons with Maaike have done much more for me than ‘simply’ getting a grip on the causes of these pains.“
—Maaike Warnaar, lecturer Leiden University
“Alexander Technique lessons with Maaike are being so crucial for me since I was already some years having pain in hands and arms while I play double bass; with the pain the confidence on my playing decreased a lot since I could not trust my body anymore. Neither teachers or physiotherapists could give me the key for the muscle relaxation.
By changing my old habits for new ones, AT lessons are the best way I found till now to solve this issue.“
—Lucia Mateo, Double Bass Player, Ballet Orchestra
“Alexander technique is truly one of the most precious methods for musicians to get to know and handle their body which I have encountered. Maaike is just the right person to teach it, being a splendid violinist herself in addition to her outstanding qualities as a teacher.“
—Winnie Hanel, First Violinist Phion Orchestra
