Frederick Matthias Alexander and the development of his technique.

Frederick Matthias Alexander - born in 1869 in Tasmania - was a successful actor with a special passion for Shakespearian recitals.

However, in his early twenties, increasing problems with breathing, hoarseness and a failing voice threatened to put an end to his promising career. The doctors diagnosed inflammation of the vocal cords, but none of the suggested treatments proved satisfactory. Eventually, Alexander realized that his problems must be caused by "something he was doing to himself" while reciting. During painstaking self-observation and experimentation in front of the mirror he noted that he was unduly tightening muscles throughout his body in the act of performing. In short, it was the "bad use" of his whole self that caused the "poor functioning" of his voice. By gradually developing a means of consciously changing bad habits, Alexander experienced considerable improvement in his acting and general health.

In 1894 he began teaching his technique, first to singers and other performing artists, focusing on breathing and voice production; but soon its wider benefits were recognized so that doctors sent him their patients who were suffering from a wide range of different conditions. Alexander moved to London in 1904, setting up a busy teaching practice, and in 1931 he started the first training course for teachers of the F. M. Alexander Technique. After suffering a severe stroke at the age of 79, which left his left side paralyzed, he used his technique to fully recover and continued working until his death in 1955. Alexander wrote four books.