Eiji Tanimura

Eiji Tanimura is one of the most distinguished Alexander Technique educators in the world. He holds the rare title of Master Teacher (authorised by Rika Cohen in 2012) — a recognition reserved for those with exceptional mastery and an unparalleled ability to transmit the Technique at the highest level.

As the founder and director of the Japan Alexander Technique Center, Tanimura has built a comprehensive, multi-city teacher training programme spanning Tokyo, Nara, Oita, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima. His training courses are renowned for their rigour, depth, and capacity to produce highly skilled teachers who carry his influence across Japan and beyond.

What sets Tanimura apart is his unique integration of Eastern body-mind practices with the Alexander Technique. Since 1985, he has served as an advisor to the International Yoga Association and founded the Japan Bodywork Research Association, exploring the relationship between movement, awareness, and consciousness beyond traditional frameworks. This cross-disciplinary approach makes his teaching especially valuable for performing artists seeking holistic, embodied solutions.

Tanimura has actively participated in five major International Alexander Technique Congresses — Sydney (1994), Freiburg (1999), Oxford (2003), and Lugano (2008, 2011) — engaging with leading teachers worldwide. He is also a prolific author and editor. His books include Releasing the Body: Alexander Technique and Thinking Innermovement – What is Inner Movement Science? For over 20 years, he edited the newsletter Inner Move and currently publishes the quarterly AT journal Innermove.