About us


'Spineworks' specialise in providing an experience that is rejuvenating, uplifiting and informative, sharing our knowledge in the following fields: Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Meditation, Alexander Technique and more, we offer group courses and individual sessions in the UK and Europe.

Our courses range from half day workshops to 10 day retreats - please see our 'courses' section for details.

Robert Ripley                

Teacher and Therapist       

Robert has been practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong and Meditation for the last thirty years and has been teaching for seven years.   His teachers include: Dr Shen Hongxun, Erle Montague and Tony Court.

Robert runs weekly classes in Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire as well as weekend workshops and retreats both in the UK and abroad.

He is also a therapist offering sessions tailored to the needs of the individual and drawing on thirty years of experience.  Robert trained as an Alexander Technique teacher in Philadelphia, US, and also has training in NLP and hypnotherapy.   

 Bel Spencer MSTAT                    

Alexander Technique Teacher

Bel graduated as an Alexander Technique teacher in 2005 and trained at the Bristol Alexander Technique training school association (BATTSA) with Alexandra Burrows.   She has since gone on to do further postgraduate training, at the Fellside Alexander Technique training school and also studied Rosa Louisa Rosi, Lucia and Elizabeth Walker, and Kathy Madden.

Furthering a keen interest in the healing exercises of Qi Gong, Bel completed a teacher training programme in 2008 with Dr Shen Hongxun, exploring the system of Taijiwuxigong.

Drawing on these different but complementary backgrounds of Alexander Technique and Qi Gong her aim is to help people re-discover the dynamic use of their bodies.  She is particularly interested in empowering people with tools so that they will be able to help themselves and improve the quality of their lives. 

Bel runs weekly group courses in the Monmouthshire area as well as individual sessions.  For details please ring 01594 531 129  or contact the Chepstow Natural Health Centre on 01291 627 722