The Alexander Technique was developed in the late 19th century by an Australian actor, Frederick Matthias Alexander, who found that he began to lose his voice during performances.
Alexander observed himself with the use of mirrors and found that he had a habit of pulling his neck backwards and downwards before delivering his lines. This movement, he discovered, compressed his spine, chest and ribs.
By focusing on lengthening his neck muscles, he regained his voice control and also relieved asthma and breathing problems he had been suffering from since childhood.
His study into how rethinking and relearning movements could help numerous other problems brought him wide acclaim in Australia.
In 1904, he moved to England and practised there until his death in 1955.
Alexander Awareness Week takes place from June 14th to 20th to co-incide with the centenary of Frederick Matthias Alexander's arrival in Britian.
• Frank Kennedy who is one of five members of the London-based Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (www.stat.org.uk) in Ireland will give a free introductory talk on the Alexander Technique at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15th in the National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, Irish Financial Services Centre, Dublin. For further details call 01 2882446.
• Richard Brennan, who runs the Saoirse Alexander Training Centre in Moycullen, Co Galway is launching the Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers (www.isatt.net) in the Connemara Coast Hotel, Furbo on Tuesday, June 22nd.
For further details call 091 555800.
• This non-profit organisation will be associated with the US-based Alexander Technique International (www.ati-net.com). There are currently six teachers of the Alexander Technique registered with the ATI.