THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
WHO WAS FREDERICK MATTHIAS ALEXANDER?
F.M. Alexander (1869-1955), an actor who began his career as a Shakespearean orator, developed chronic laryngitis while performing. Determined to restore the full use of his voice, he carefully watched himself while speaking, and observed that undue muscular tension accounted for his vocal problem. He sought a way to eliminate that restriction. Over time, he discovered and articulated a principle that profoundly influences health and well-being: when neck tension is reduced, the head no longer compresses the spine and the spine is free to lengthen. Alexander restored his own natural capacity for ease by changing the way he thought while initiating an action. From this work on himself and others, he evolved a hands-on teaching method that encourages all the body's processes to work more efficiently - as an integrated, dynamic whole.(From the 1996 North American Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique Directory)
Nicholas Brockbank, a British Alexander Technique teacher, has written an excellent article titled What Did Alexander Discover - And Why is it Important?
Just about every description of the Alexander Technique has some biographical information about Frederick Matthias Alexander, or "FM" as he is often referred to in the Alexander community. The Society of Tachers of the Alexander Technique provides a nice short biography of Alexander, Origins and History of the Alexander Technique. Another particularly useful source can be found at About the Alexander Technique, part of an excellent Australian site. The Teaching of F. Matthias Alexander provides an in-depth look at the man and his work by his neice, Marjory Barlow.
Click here to view a collection of photos (and a video) of F. M. Alexander
If you would like to learn more about Alexander's life, four good starting points are:
FM - The Life of Frederick Matthias Alexander: Founder of the Alexander Technique by Michael Bloch, F. Matthias Alexander 1869-1955: A Biographical Outline by Walter Carrington, Up From Down Under by Rosslyn McLeod and Frederick Matthias Alexander - A Family History by Jackie Evans.
To find out how to order these and other books about the Alexander Technique click here: Alexander Technique Bookstore(USA and Canada) in Association with AMAZON.COM and AMAZON.CA or Alexander Technique Bookshop(UK) in Association with AMAZON.CO.UK
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