Editing Alexander technique (section)

==History==

The Alexander technique is based on the personal observations of Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869–1955). Alexander's career as an actor was hampered by recurrent bouts of [[laryngitis]], but he found he could overcome it by focusing on his discomfort and tension, and relaxing. Alexander also thought posture could be improved if a person became more conscious of their bodily movements.<ref name=pp/>

While on a recital tour in New Zealand (1895), Alexander came to believe in the wider significance of improved carriage for overall physical functioning, although evidence from his own publications appears to indicate it happened less systematically and over a long period of time.<ref name="bloch">{{Cite book |last=Bloch |first=Michael |title=F.M.: The Life of Frederick Matthias Alexander: Founder of the Alexander Technique |publisher=Little, Brown |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-316-86048-2 |location=London}}</ref>{{rp|36}}

Alexander did not originally conceive of his technique as therapy, but it has become a form of [[alternative medicine]].<ref name="ee150">{{Cite book |last=Ernst |first=Edzard |title=Alternative Medicine&nbsp;&ndash; A Critical Assessment of 150 Modalities |publisher=Springer |year=2019 |isbn=978-3-030-12600-1 |pages=153–154 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-12601-8 |author-link=Edzard Ernst |s2cid=34148480}}</ref>

When considering how to classify the Alexander technique in relation to mainstream medicine, some sources describe it as alternative and/or [[complementary medicine|complementary]], depending on whether it is used alone or with mainstream methods. The American [[National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health]] classifies it as a "psychological and physical" complementary approach to health when used with mainstream methods. When used "in place of" conventional medicine, it is considered "alternative".<ref name="NCCIH3/10/2023">{{cite web | title=Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What's In a Name? | website=NCCIH | date=10 March 2023 | url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name | access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref>

===Influence===

The American philosopher and educator [[John Dewey]] became impressed with the Alexander technique after his headaches, neck pains, [[blurred vision]], and stress symptoms largely improved during the time he used Alexander's advice to change his posture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ryan, Alan |title=John Dewey and the high tide of American liberalism |publisher=W.W. Norton |year=1997 |isbn=0-393-31550-9 |location=New York |pages=187–188}}</ref> In 1923, Dewey wrote the introduction to Alexander's ''Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual''.<ref>F. M. Alexander, ''Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual'', E. P. Dutton & Co., 1923, {{ISBN|0-913111-11-2}}</ref>

[[Fritz Perls]], who originated [[Gestalt&nbsp;therapy]], credited Alexander as an inspiration for his psychological work.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tengwall |first=Roger |year=1996 |title=A note on the influence of F.&nbsp;M.&nbsp;Alexander on the development of gestalt therapy |journal=Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences |publisher=Wiley |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=126–130 |doi=10.1002/1520-6696(198101)17:1<126::AID-JHBS2300170113>3.0.CO;2-X |issn=1520-6696 |pmid=7007480}}</ref>