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 one became more conscious of one's own bodily movement. 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. Alexander did not originally conceive of his technique as therapy, but it has become a form of alternative medicine. 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. In 1923, Dewey wrote the introduction to Alexander's Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual. Fritz Perls, who originated Gestalt therapy, credited Alexander as an inspiration for his psychological work. See also Psychomotor learning Motor skill consolidation Neutral spine George E. Coghill Nikolai Bernstein Citations External links Mind–body interventions Postural awareness techniques Somatics