Who is F.M. Alexander
Fredrick Matthias (F.M.) Alexander was born in 1869 in Australia. Fueled by an ambition to recite Shakespeare, Alexander discovered that he would lose his voice after performing. This loss of voice prohibited him from performing, and led him to explore ways to remedy this dilemma. Alexander hypothesized that he was doing something to himself in the act of performing that was resulting in a loss of his voice. After observing himself in the mirror for many moons, he discovered that he was in fact doing something to himself, namely pulling his head back in space, and compressing his larynx. Alexander continue learning about his habitual tendencies not only in reciting, but also in the act of living. Alexander, now garnering a reputation as "the breathing man," began teaching his method in workshops. The Alexander Technique started with F.M., and has passed down from generation to generation to present day.
For more information on F.M. Alexander and his journey, check out "F.M.: The Life of Frederick Matthias Alexander" by Michael Bloch and "The Use of The Self" by F.M. Alexander (specifically the chapter title "Evolution of a Technique." |