F.Matthias Alexander - The Man and His Work: Memoirs of Training in the Alexander Technique 1931-34

The Alexander Technique encompasses several unique discoveries about how we operate as human beings. The Technique promotes release and coordination and enables us to improve our health and well-being. How we use ourselves affects how we function; a certain dynamic relationship of the head, neck and back will integrate our bodily movements and bring about the best functioning of the organism. From 1904 until his death in 1955 F. Matthias Alexander lived and taught in London. His work was endorsed by many doctors who wanted it included as part of medical training. Several of his pupils publicly supported the Alexander Technique, including Aldous Huxley, George Bernard Shaw, Henry Irving, John Dewey, and Sir Stafford Cripps. Lulie Westfeldt was the only teacher from F. M. Alexander's first teacher training course to write extensively about her experiences both as a student and as a teacher of the Alexander Technique. She studied with Alexander for four years and taught the Technique for 26 years. As a child Lulie Westfeldt suffered from polio and she underwent several operations but these failed to help her. In her book she relates the remarkable beneficial effects which the Technique had on her physical and mental health and well-being. The many case histories from her teaching illustrate the Technique's wide field of application. As well as providing an authentic and critical account of Alexander's teaching Lulie Westfeldt explains the fundamental principles of the Alexander Technique.