Alexander was an Australian Shakespearean actor, whose career took a plunge when he began to loose his voice on stage. Doctors told him to rest and, finding that helped his condition, he wondered if he had been doing anything which had caused his problem.
Having set up a series of mirrors to observe himself speaking lines, he noticed that the stress of performance was causing him to duck his head, putting pressure on his vocal folds and tightening his throat. This interfered with his breathing and created tension throughout his whole body. He also observed that the very thought of having to project his voice triggered off these reactions, which led him to believe that the mind and body were more closely related that he had supposed.
Alexander then began slowly to correct what he called his ΓÇ£ startle reflex pattern ΓÇ£,
and was eventually successful in recovering his stage voice. His technique was so effective that he began to teach it and, in 1904, was invited to London to demonstrate his methods.
In 1932, he set up his Academy for Voice Studies in Sydney, Australia. His technique has always been taught one-to-one, with a teacher observing a pupil and assisting awareness and correction of unnatural posture. In Britain all reputable teachers have completed a three-year course at a London school recognised by the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique.
Alexander himself moved to America, where he suffered a stroke when he was 78 and amazed doctors by using his method to regain the entire use of his body and faculties. He died in 1955, having seen his technique gain international recognition and widespread use amongst actors, dancers, athletes, singers and musicians.
