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Who was F. M. Alexander ?

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Frederick Matthias (F.M.) Alexander, was born in 1869 in Wynard, a small town on the north coast of Tasmania. He was an actor. who liked to perform Shakespeare, and gave solo shows in Australia.
He developed an early interest in Shakespeare, and determined to become an actor. He trained as a reciter in Melbourne, supporting himself with various jobs, but began developing vocal and throat problems. Continuing with his career never-the-less, he was forced to begin his investigation into the problem when chronic hoarseness began to seriously affect his ability to perform.
When no medical treatment helped him, he looked at his own movement for the source of his vocal trouble.
Through nine years of rigorous self-observation and experiment, he solved his problem, developed a full, rich voice and discovered what he named the primary control.

Alexander observed that the relationship between the head, neck and torso is primary in controlling posture, movement and function. Compressive movement habits interfere with the function of the body's ingenious design. Eliciting the primary control restores the innate postural reflex - a natural, dynamic force that counters gravity and easily guides the torso upward.

Leaders in the field of mind/body medicine and behavioral science throughout this century have supported Alexander's innovative research. Clinical studies have shown that the Technique improves breathing capacity and posture, modifies stress responses and is, for those who suffer from chronic pain, the preferred method for long-term pain relief.

Having solved his voice problem, he worked in Auckland New Zealand, Melbourne and Sydney, giving performances and teaching his new method for "changing and controlling reaction". He moved to Sydney in 1899 and was director of the Sydney Dramatic and Operatic Conservatorium between 1900 and 1904.

Moving to London in 1904 he worked with actors and others and wrote his first book, Man's Supreme Inheritance, published in 1910. He wrote three further books, The Use of the Self, Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual and The Universal Constant in Living.

He lived in the United States from 1940 to 1943 and died, still working, in London in 1955.