The technique was discovered by Frederick Matthias Alexander, who was born in Australia and who lived from 1869 until 1955.

Alexander used to work as an actor but experienced many problems with his voice during his career. When regular doctors could not help him with the hoarseness and the loss of his voice he reasoned that it was probably something he was doing himself that caused these problems. So Alexander started a research only to find out he was using excessive muscular tension and a bad posture while reciting. He understood that not only should he prevent doing that but he also needed to achieve a more efficient use of both his body and his voice for optimal function and performance.             

After long experimentation F.M. Alexander developed a method for better coordination and movement of his body. He got rid of his voice problems and attained better general health.

Early 20th century he moved to London where he started to teach his technique and in 1932 he began the first Teachers Training in the Alexander Technique.

F.M. Alexander wrote four books: Man's Supreme Inheritance (1918), Constructive Conscious Control of the Individual (1923), The Use of the Self (1932) and The Universal Constant in Living (1941).