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Why was F. M. losing his voice? After many, many months of observing himself in a mirror, speaking, F. M. noticed the following: when he breathed his neck tightened, causing his chin to lift and his head to compress back into his spine, in turn causing his spine to compress, narrowing his back and lifting his chest. He also observed that he was tightening his legs and gripping the floor with his toes. All of these factors caused undue pressure on his larynx, and hence, the loss of his voice. F. M. began to understand that he was misusing his body, which then determined how his body functioned. He also became aware that his misuse was habitual, automatic and unconscious. Every time he spoke his body went into its habitual response of tightening and compressing.
Becoming aware of his habitual misuse was the first step for F. M., but then he had to figure out how to stop his misuse - his habitual response to speaking. Which he did through the development of various Alexander Technique principles. When F.M. realized he had a way to stop habitual misuse and improve the functioning of the body he began to give lessons in the Technique, teaching not only actors, but doctors and professors of the medical faculty at Melbourne University. Soon he was giving lessons to individuals referred to him by the medical profession. At the encouragement of a well-known physician in Sydney, in 1904, F. M. moved to London to bring attention and recognition to his work. London brought him much success, so much so that in 1930 he began his first teacher-training program.
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In 1947, at the age of 78, F. M. suffered a stroke, which caused paralysis on the side of his face and cost him the use of his left hand and leg. By March of 1948, F. M. had recovered and was back to teaching, and continued teaching until five days before his death, at the age of 87 in 1955. There can be little doubt that Alexander Technique can improve our health and how our body functions. Several first-generation teachers of the Alexander Technique lived long and healthy lives, some of them teaching well into their 80's and 90's: Walter Carrington (1915-2005), Richard Gummere, Jr. (1912-2007), Marjorie L. Barstow (1899-1995), and Marjory Barlow (1915-2006). Elisabeth Walker (b. 1914) is still teaching the Technique today at the age of 94.
Today there are Alexander Technique teachers and teacher-training programs throughout the United States, Amsterdam, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Africa, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Other countries where Alexander Technique is taught include Argentina, Austria, Columbia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Republic of Ireland, South Korea, Spain, and Taiwan. Additionally, there are several world-wide professional societies of the Alexander Technique: Alexander Technique International, The American Society for Alexander Technique, and Alexander Technique Affiliated Societies. And many colleges, universities, and prestigious performing institutions in the U.S. and abroad offer Alexander Technique as a part of their academic curriculum.
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