Alexander Technique articles from DIRECTION Journal

About F. Matthias Alexander's Technique...

FMheadpic
"This story of perceptiveness,
of intelligence and of persistence,
shown by a man without medical training,
is one of the true epics of medical research and practice."
Nicholas Tinbergen, Nobel Prize Oration, when receiving Medicine/Physiology Prize (1973)

Historical Background

The Alexander Technique was developed in Sydney and Melbourne at the turn of the century by an Australian actor, Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955).

By age 19, Alexander (FM) had developed a voice ailment of hoarseness. Medical practitioners of the day, unable to successfully treat his condition, advised him to rest his voice. As an actor his voice was the instrument of his livelihood. F.M.'s frustration grew with the severity of his condition. His voice was to was to completely fail during a public acting performance.

With steadfast determination, but without any medical training, F.M. decided to attempt to find the cause of his own malady as the attempts of medical practitioners to treat the symptoms, had dramatically failed, evidenced by his eventual complete voice loss

Over the course of ten years with the assistance of strategically placing mirrors, Alexander meticulously observed his manner of co-ordination during both speaking and reciting to determine what he might be doing to himself, to cause his loss of voice.

Resulting from this intensive work on himself, Alexander came to the conclusion that modern society was causing individuals into grossly misusing the human system of locomotion, and this in turn, was causing dysfunction in other systems of the body (see Health Principle for a further discussion).Alexander's experiments and technique set out a method for re-learning good habits of co-ordination or 'use' of the neuromuscular system.

Upon the advice of an eminent surgeon of the time, FM Alexander left Australia in 1904 for London and never returned. His work proved so popular it led him to working with intellectuals such as George Bernard Shaw and Aldous Huxley, and politicians including Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Israeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion. He also taught extensively in America and yet again names of distinction such as author, philosopher and educationalist, John Dewey.

The Alexander Technique Profession Today

The Alexander Technique is taught in 26 countries. There are nine internationally affiliated Societies overseeing a profession of approximately 2,000 teachers. Over the last five years the profession has been experiencing exponential growth-currently there are approximately 300 to 400 hundred new teachers qualifying annually. Many new training schools are opening every year. In Australia, [Alexander's there are currently four teacher training centres-three in Sydney and one in Melbourne. AUSTAT (Australian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique) has a current membership of 102 Teaching Members with a further 35 Student Members.

The Alexander profession has an increasingly high regard among forward-thinking health professionals. A number of Sydney's leading orthopedic surgeons, as well as a large number of medical and para-medical practitioners, refer patients to Alexander Technique teachers for preventative treatment.

Several insurance companies-among them GIO, NRMA, Switzerland Insurance, MMI, CRS, Australian Human Services Group-have authorised workers compensation and accident rehabilitation payments for Alexander Technique lessons. ©, Direction Seminars, 1995

Health Principle

Use affects structure, affects functioning

Definitions for...

Use

When pronounced like "loose" not like "lose", refers to our manner of co-ordination in everyday activities. Our own body use.
Individual able to make an intervention to alter co-ordination or use via exercises, self-awareness of posture/co-ordination, fitness programs and so on.

Structure

Our muscular and anatomical structure-joints and muscles and their inter-relation
Intervention to change structure effected via treatments such as surgery, sonar or heat therapy, chiropractic adjustments and so on.

Functioning

Physiological processes such as respiration, cardio-vascular function, digestive processes etc. The balance of the bodily systems goes to create an overall state of well-being.
Intervention to change function effected via various treatments that either;
1) Restore harmony between various systems of the body e.g. acupuncture; or
2) Alter specific functions e.g. hormonal treatments.

Explanation of Use/Structure/Functioning Relationship

Alexander work seeks to improve the overall standard of use in the locomotive system, resulting in improvements in the functioning in other systems of the body.

How I co-ordinate my movements, or use, will ultimately shape my skeletal and muscular structure. The "dentist's stoop" or the excessive muscular structure of weight-lifters are examples of structural changes induced by particular uses of the body.

In turn my general structure will influence function-the dentist may experience back ache, the weight-lifter increased strength.

The basis of this health principle as it relates to Alexander's discoveries is that my day-to-day co-ordination or use-the locomotive interactions of the skeletal, articular, nervous and muscular systems-is exerting a constant influence on the standard of functioning of other systems of the body-respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

Training and Professional Standards

There are qualified Alexander Technique Teachers and Teacher Training Schools throughout the world
Each country where teachers and training schools are found will also have a national society. Although they vary in minor way from country to country, the national society in each country teacher training standards, qualification criteria, a national/international Code Of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Most countries with a National Society also have more than one teacher training school
Training standards for teachers enshrined in Society's constitution
Three year full-time training in AUSTAT accredited training schools
Alexander Societies world-wide are; Australia (AUSTAT), Canada (CANSTAT) Denmark (DFLAT), England (STAT), Germany (GLAT), Israel (ISTAT), South Africa (SASTAT), Switzerland (SVLAT) and the United States (NASTAT)]
There is one International Society (ATI)

Testimonials

"I recommend the Alexander treatment as an extremely sophisticated form of rehabilitation, or rather redeployment, of the entire muscular equipment, and through that of many other organs. Compared with this, many types of physiotherapy which are now in general use look surprisingly crude and restricted in their effect, and sometimes even harmful to the rest of the body." Professor N. Tinbergen, Acceptance Oration for the Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology, 1973.

"The Alexander Technique gives us all the things we have been looking for in a system of physical education; relief from strain due to maladjustment and consequent improvement in physical and mental health; and along with this a heightening of consciousness on all levels. We cannot ask more from any system; nor, if we seriously desire to alter human beings in a desirable direction, can we ask any less." Aldous Huxley, an excerpt from his book "Ends and Means"

"I have given a good deal of attention to some of the various methods [of physical education], and have formed a definite opinion as to which is the best of those that came under my observation. I should, without hesitation, give First Place to the system associated with the name of Mr F. Matthias Alexander. He has secured remarkable results." Dr. Alexander Leeper, in a report to the Australian Federal Government's Schools and Registration Board, March 11th, 1909

"His [Alexander's] procedure and conclusions meet all the requirements of the strictest scientific method It [Alexander's technique] bears the same relation to education that education itself bears to all other human activities." Professor John Dewey, From his introduction to Alexander's book The Use of the Self

Benefits From Applying Alexander Technique Teachings

During the 100 years that Alexander's work has taught it has had a profound impact on the training of musicians, actors and dancers. These days there is hardly any important training centre in the Western world that does not utilise Alexander's discoveries in the training of performing artists.

For example, John Cleese developed his goose-step style "funny walk" as a result of his interaction with the Technique. In the Superman movies Christopher Reeves (prior to his tragic accident) used the Technique to define the physical difference between his dual characters of Clarke Kent and Superman. If you watch any one of these movies with Christopher Reeves, you can see him put the principles of the Technique to work as an actor. As Superman he would "Go Up" to stand tall in a manner that displays an obvious ease and balance in movement. When the cape came off, Clarke Kent would "Pull Down" or slump and with the loss of balance, his movements become awkward, unbalanced and clumsy in accordance with that character.

This kind of utilisation by performing artists attests to the efficacy of the work, because they demand a high standard of co-ordination of themselves for their skilled activities, and will accept only what they know will provide physical and performance improving results. The Alexander Technique does. For example it is interesting to note that of all performing artists, it is musicians who have derived the most from Alexander's work. This group, perhaps more than any other, must attune their co-ordination to a staggering level of refinement. It is in this context that Alexander's work becomes essential in the highly competitive professional arena.

Similarly all occupations, as with just living life itself with a physical ease of movement, can drastically improve physical performance or even critical performance such as with athletes. To an athlete a second faster on a 100m sprint can be the difference between reaching a competitive standard or not. The use of Alexander's discoveries will make this difference.

Who's Using it?

Below is a small sampling of some Institutions that have and/or still do utilise Alexander Technique teachers for the training of their students:

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AUSTRALIA

Conservatorium of Music, Sydney

Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO)

National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA)

Victorian College of the Arts (VCA)

Newcastle Conservatorium of Music

Elders Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide

West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)

Actors Studio (Sydney)

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ENGLAND

Royal College of Music

Guildhall School of Music

The Royal Northern College of Music(RNCM)

Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RADA)

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA)

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USA

Juilliard School of Music

Old Globe Theatre, San Diego

American Conservatory Theatre

San Francisco Conservatorium of Music

Universities of California, Maryland, Austin, Boston, Ann Arbour and Michigan