The Alexander Technique is named after Frederick Mathias Alexander (or F.M as he was known to his friends)

Alexander was born in 1869 in Tasmania, Australia. He was a keen actor and loved the work of Shakespeare. He moved to mainland Australia to pursue his love of acting and began a career reciting the works of Shakespeare.

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 find any cause of his problem. Therefore Alexander reasoned that it could be something that he was doing to himself to cause the problem with his voice.

Using mirrors and careful observation of himself Alexander then spent many years discovering his Technique which not only cured him of his voice problems but was to become a Technique of far reaching benefits.

In 1904, in order to gain more recognition for his Technique, and prompted by an eminent Sidney surgeon, he moved to London, where he worked until his death in 1955.

Here Alexanders Technique became popular among many including the Shakespearean actor Sir Henry Irving, eminent thinkers George Bernard Shaw and Aldous Huxley, the great neurologist Sir Charles Sherrington and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps.

In London he also set up his school to train teachers of his Technique so that his work could continue to be passed on today.