The Alexander Technique was first developed in the 1890s by an Australian named Frederick Matthias Alexander. As a young and promising actor, Alexander faced a problem which risked ending his career - his voice would become increasingly hoarse during performances, until he could barely produce any sound at all. He consulted doctors, but they could not diagnose any specific disease or cause of the hoarseness. If there were no clear medical cause for his problem, Alexander reasoned that he might be doing something wrong when reciting, leading him to strain or "misuse" his own vocal organs. As his only resort was self-help, he decided to observe his way of speaking and reciting to see whether he could spot anything unusual and find a solution.
He set up a three-way mirror to observe himself, and noticed that every pime he began to speak, he tightened the muscles of his neck, lifted his chin and tilted his head back and down. The resulting pressure on the spine restricted his breathing and shortened his stature.
Alexander developed his technique to encourage and maintain this balance through conscious attention and control: this balance was extremely important for overall coordination and many other functions, such as breathing, posture, freedom of the joints in moving the whole body, using the arms and hands for skilled activities, staying calm under pressure, and maintaining good overall health.
From 1894, Frederick Matthias Alexander had flourishing practices in Melbourne, and later in Sydney, until this teaching became his main occupation. A number of doctors referred patients to him, including Charles Bage, the Melbourne doctor he had once consulted for his voice trouble; actors also flocked to him for help. In 1904, in order to gain more recognition for his Technique, and prompted by his friend JW Steward MacKay, an eminent Sidney surgeon, he moved to London, where he worked until his death in 1955.
Description and benefits of the Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is a method which can help you perform all your usual activities without unnecessary tension. It is a subtle and thoughtful discipline, but essentially practical and problem-solving. The Alexander Technique works through re-establishing the natural relationship between the head, the neck and the back - the "core" of the body that supports the strength of the limbs and which provides the structural environment for breathing and for the internal organs.
The Alexander Technique helps you perceive the cause of skeletal and muscular problems. It can get to the heart of the problem by helping you change your movement style. For example if you slump with curved shoulders and a bent spine when you sit, you are overworking some muscles and under-using others. This muscular imbalance is evidenced by a collapsed or rigid posture. You are unconsciously compressing spinal vertebrae if you over-arch the back or bend at the waist rather than the hip joint. Another instance is sitting for sustained periods as this is the most challenging activity for the human spine.
The benefits of the Alexander Technique is that it can enhance personal performance across the whole spectrum of human activity, so it helps anyone whether they are a dancer, an elite athlete, a computer operator, a singer, a musician, an actor or a secretary by learning to access the natural relationship between the head, neck and back, conscious and reasoned body awareness, spatial awareness and behavioural awareness are developed so that long-held patterns of movement, posture, breathing and muscular tension, and habits that, for example, affect our learning abilities and psychological stress reactions can be reassessed.
The Alexander Technique makes you stronger, more relaxed and more alert. Aches and pains fade, you feel calm, confident and self-reliant; you can think clearly, have more stamina, recover from injury more quickly and can cope with stress better.
Governing bodies of the Alexander Technique
The Society of Teachers of The Alexander Technique (STAT) this is the oldest and largest professional society of teachers of the Alexander Technique. All teaching members (MSTAT) have successfully completed a 3-year, full-time training course approved by the Society.
Professional Association of Alexander Teachers (PAAT) is a group of Teachers who aim to teach the Alexander Technique to the highest standards.
The Interactive Teaching Method (ITM) this associationfocus’ on the active study and application of the principles which form the foundations of and provide the power for Alexander's Technique.
Alexander Technique International (ATI) is a world-wide organization of Alexander teachers and students.
