Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Tasmania in 1869. He aspired to become a Shakespearean "reciter", and his theatrical career was off to a promising start when recurrent vocal difficulties began to set in. In search of relief, he consulted doctors: the various treatments and remedies they recommended did not succeed in alleviating his condition, and as a last resort, he was advised to rest his voice. Although this seemed to address the problem for a time, Alexander found that as soon as he went back to reciting, his vocal difficulties returned.

Determined to overcome his problem, Alexander decided to undertake some investigation of his own. Through long and patient observation using three mirrors, Alexander discovered that when he went to recite, he tended to pull his head back and down in such a way that depressed the larynx and caused him to shorten the stature. He noticed that this tendency was exaggerated as greater demands were made upon his voice, and closer scrutiny revealed that it was also present in everyday activities, although to a lesser degree. Further inquiry and exploration led him to discover many things about how the mind and body are connected, and the way we function as a psychophysical whole. He also came to understand that there was a dynamic relationship between the head, neck, torso and limbs. When the neck, head and spine are well-coordinated, there is a dynamic tensional balance in the body, and the entire organism tends to function well. When the inner coordination of the neck, head and spine is disturbed, this tends to set up a pattern of misuse and undue tension throughout the whole organism, which can lead to a variety of discomforts, ailments and even diseases.

Having addressed his own difficulties (and, in doing so, greatly improved his overall health and well-being), Alexander was eager to resume his career in the theatre. However, he was increasingly called upon to help other actors with similar issues. This soon led to referrals from physicians of patients with various chronic ailments. Alexander was eventually persuaded to move to England, where his work gained greater prominence. He maintained a busy teaching practice until the week before his death in 1955.