Body, Breath and Being explores the Alexander Technique through the experiences of those who have studied it and benefited from it. These include:

• A keen amateur sportsman who was „reborn“ after being resigned to a lifetime of pain.
• A photographer who overcame a debilitating back problem that was interfering with his professional work.
• A pregnant woman who used the technique to relieve indigestion and handle her changing posture.
• A musician who managed an asthmatic problem that was affecting her playing.

„Body, Breath and Being“

• is ideal for both beginner and expert
• includes over 100 full colour photographs and diagrams
• provides practical experiments in every chapter
• includes a CD of detailed instructions and advice.

The book offers a new view of the way we use our bodies and the consequences not only on our health, but also our approach to life.

Introductory book about good body use, based on the Alexander Technique.

A brief and easy all-round introduction

A fascinating memoir, in interview form, on the life and thoughts of Marjory Barlow. Marjory Barlow grew up with the Alexander Technique, and the Alexander Technique grew up with her. She started daily lessons on her 17th birthday with her uncle F.M. Alexander, and joined his teacher training course a year later. She was 21 when she qualified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique and she stayed on as her uncle’s assistant for a further four years. She ran her own training course from 1950 until the 1980’s.

An Examined Life is Marjory’s opportunity to gather and share the unique experiences of her seven-decade career. It includes Appendices with Marjory Barlow’s two Memorial Lectures, as well as stories and aphorisms collected by several teachers trained by her.

After having lessons in the Technique in New York, Binkley moved to London in 1950 to have lessons with F. M. Alexander and subsequently trained as a teacher (1953-57). Often referred to as „the Binkley diaries“ this is the most extensive and vivid record of how Alexander taught in his late years. Binkley re-edited his manuscript a few times over the next 30 years and included relevant paragraphs from Alexander’s books and autobiographical material, making the book a detailed and personal case history. It shows how profoundly and subtly the Technique works.

An elegantly written and meticulously researched biography. From his harsh beginnings in Tasmania to his growing success in Melbourne, Sydney and London, etc. it reveals the strengths and weaknesses of a man who, though an enigma to his contemporaries, is now recognised as one of the most remarkable innovators of his time.

Walter Carrington is renowned for his insight into the teaching and training of the Alexander Technique. He trained with F. M. Alexander in the 1930s and has been training teachers in the Technique continuously since 1946. Since 1955 Walter Carrington has been reading from Alexander’s books to his students and commenting upon the texts.
In these conversations with Sean Carey Alexander’s four books are investigated. Not only are the main themes of each book discussed but also specific points which help to elucidate Alexander’s thinking and teaching.
Many diverse subjects are explored: diet, psychoanalysis, Zen, politics, democracy, individualism and also many practical teaching considerations, such as breathing, the use of the hands and the role of language in teaching.
Various criticisms levelled at Alexander and his technique are also addressed. Interesting and pertinent passages from Alexander’s books are examined – always from the practical perspective of teaching and learning the Technique. In this way many issues which may appear outdated in Alexander’s books are given a modern setting and shown to be as relevant as ever.
This intelligent and succinct guide to Alexander’s writings is essential reading for anyone wishing to better understand and appreciate the Technique.

A compilation of 40 scientific and humanistic papers on the Technique – most have been published only in scientific journals and some have not previously been published. Some of the papers are „Problems of Tension and Fatigue,“ „Kinesthetic Perception and the Postural Reflexes,“ „Posture as a Function of Time,“ „Startle as a Paradigm of Malposture,“ „Altered States of Consciousness“ and „Head Balance as Postural Mechanism in Man.“

Frank Pierce Jones (1905-1975) trained with F. M. and A. R. Alexander 1941-44. Drawing on his long association with F. M. and A. R., Jones relates the story and development of the Technique. It is the most comprehensive biography of Alexander’s extraordinary life published to date. For twenty-five years Jones conducted original scientific research into the Technique using a variety of methods including multiple-image photography (investigating changes in movement patterns), X-ray photography (examining the head-neck relationship) and electromyograms (measuring muscles in different head-neck relationships). The most important results are presented and Jones explains some of the underlying mechanisms at work, including how the conscious mind activates anti-gravity reflexes. In „Notes on Teaching,“ Jones summarizes his teaching experiences and sets out principles for good teaching practice.

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 Technique.
She studied with Alexander for four years (1931-34) and taught the Technique for 26 years. As well as providing an authentic and critical account of Alexander’s teaching Lulie Westfeldt explains the fundamental principles of the Alexander Technique.

A comprehensive introduction followed by a great deal of material of interest to instrumentalists and singers.

This book is based on the proven principles of the Alexander Technique, which encourage good use of the body and greater awareness of the way it functions. The authors show the reader how to achieve and maintain fitness without injury and how to overcome self-imposed limitations to enjoyable and successful running. Copiously illustrated, The Art of Running can transform both training and performance of novice and experienced runners alike.
Based on the established principles of the Alexander Technique, this book takes readers through a method detailing the physical, mental and emotional aspects of safe, efficient and effective running.

Are you an actor who routinely loses his voice before the end of a run? As a serious student of singing, do you wish those high notes would come more easily? Do you need courage to sing outside the shower?
In this book, designed for both teachers and students of the speaking and singing voice, Jane Heirich addresses some common problem areas of the voice-teaching world: breath management, voice projection, resonance building, „breaks“ in the vocal range, and the relevance of overall poise to vocal output. The step-by-step approach through which she takes the reader allows new skills to develop for both beginning and experienced students/performers.
This book is the culmination of decades of work integrating two approaches that will have a profound impact on your voice, the centuries-old Italian bel canto singing tradition and the FM Alexander Technique.

Demonstrates how the Alexander Technique can be applied to riding, not only to improve riding skills but also to overcome problems and faults. It covers how the Alexander Technique can improve muscle tone and suppleness, breathing, balance and co-ordination, and communication with the horse. This book introduces and discusses the Technique as applied to riding. It explains the fundamental terms and describes the lying-down procedure. It shows how to discover one’s sitting bones and joints (and the importance thereof) and the significance of the use of the back. It also discusses balance, riding styles, the independent seat, training of the horse, communication with the horse, and BodySense techniques for Riding.

Alexander’s first book in which he sets out many of his basic ideas. Must reading for the serious student of the Alexander Technique.

Alexander’s second book on his technique.

This landmark book was written by the founder of the Alexander Technique. The text explains how F.M. Alexander conceived and refined his method and also gives some examples of applying the Technique. With an introduction by Dr. Wilfred Barlow, and an introduction by Professor John Dewey reprinted from the 1939 edition. Includes two prefaces by F. M. Alexander. Relates how, after the loss of his voice, Alexander pioneered a method of improving the „use“ of his body musculature in all positions and movements and cured his vocal problems without medical aid. Describes the incorrect „use of the self“: how people stand, sit and move in a manner which may cause suffering.

Alexander shares knowledge accumulated in the course of more than 45 years of practical teaching experience. It contains his most mature and consummate thoughts on the Technique.

The Authorised Summaries of F. M. Alexander’s Four Books by Ron Brown is a good place to start if you want to read Alexander’s words in a skillfully edited form.

A compilation of articles, published letters and lectures on the Technique. It contains 16 articles and letters written before Man’s Supreme Inheritance (1910), six letters published between 1924 and 1948, three lectures (of which two are reported almost verbatim) given between 1925 and 1949, „teaching aphorisms“ – observations and instructions from lessons, a forward and a chapter for an unfinished book, „Alexander and the Doctors“ and an autobiographical sketch covering Alexander’s first 35 years. Each paper is preceded by an introduction which gives the historical context. Additional material includes a foreword by Walter Carrington, 90 pages of notes with references, 5 facsimiles, a chronology of Alexander’s writings and two appendices.

These two volumes contain almost all known existing letters by F.M. Alexander. They collect, in complete and unabridged form, all the letters which have been made available to the editor, in total 685 letters.

A collection compiled from Alexander’s books with an extended introduction to Alexander and his ideas by Edward Maisel.

Dr. barlow studied with F.M. Alexander himself, practising for over 40 years. Here he explains the technique for correct use from a medical viewpoint: how use affects our health. Full of illustrations, photos, x-rays.

Walter Carrington began his diary on his return to Ashley Place after the War and it records his life as an assistant teacher, both giving private lessons and working on Alexander’s training course. Carrington’s preface explains the background and the setting for the diary which covers the period of March to November 1946 with an additional entry from 1947. It catches the atmosphere of the time and provides some interesting Alexander quotations. The book includes a list of students on Alexander’s course 1931-55, facsimile of the prospectus, an introductory pamphlet to the Technique from 1951 and 30 pages of notes with additional information on events and people referred to in the diary.

This book offers a clear look at how the „Technique“ can be used in daily life to enhance health and well-being. It is primarily designed for people already taking Alexander lessons. With step by step illustrations for applying the technique to lying down, walking, sitting, using stairs, writing, driving, lifting, squatting, etc.

This book explains Alexander’s discovery, discusses how the Technique is taught, and describes the steps necessary to learning and mastering the Technique, including: „Direction and Movement“, „Getting a Pupil’s Head to Go Forward and Up“, and „Giving Directions, Doing and Non-Doing“. It is essential reading for teachers and students alike.