About Alexander

The Alexander Technique was discovered by an Australian actor, Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), who in 1888 had to give up the stage because his voice kept disappearing. When no doctor could find a cure, Alexander sought to find a cure himself. Nine years of self-observation and examination lead him to the discoveries that have since been empirically validated for the last 100 years. His cure centered upon the discovery of primary control which is the integral relationship between the head, neck and torso.

INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN, THINK UP!

Time, gravity and resignation have a way of bringing us down – quite literally. Alexander discovered that this reactive tendency to pull ourselves in and downward compresses our upright design. If that sounds too far-fetched, just take a look…

Even as teenagers, we start to pull down.

When sitting, for example, many of us lean our heads forward, slouch, cross our legs, and crowd our respirations with hunched shoulders and narrowed backs. It seems normal to sit in this casual style. Unconsciously, we plop down, typically unaware of the repercussions of our weight distribution and body integration.

But, over time, sitting and standing habits bear postural imprints that may lead to achiness, pain, shallow breathing, shoulder strain, hip disorders, muscular biases, even poor concentration and low energy.

Correcting the “problem” by “sitting up straight and tall” only creates new, forced tension and pulling on our muscles.

Learning gradually to “undo” postural habits by first becoming aware of them and secondly, changing the way we think about our entire bodies – not just a segment – can have a lasting and positive impression on our activities and functioning.

For in-depth reading, consider these articles in the links listed. You’ll see how leaders in the field of medicine and behavioral science have also supported the principles of the Alexander Technique. Clinical studies show that the Technique improves breathing capacity and posture and modifies our response to stress.

History of the Alexander Technique
Medical Endorsement of the Alexander Technique
Science and the Alexander Technique
Frequently Asked Questions