For Kate Morris, her early career seemed destined to lead her into academia.

"I went to university in Melbourne in the late 1980s and did a bachelor of arts in socio-legal studies," she says. "I learnt skills in writing, critical analysis and moved towards heath and law."

After completing an honours degree, Morris began working as a researcher within the community sector, working on issues such as law reform, women's health and health services for refugees.

But it was while working as a research assistant at the Cancer Council Victoria that her career in academia was solidified.

"I discovered a course in human bioethics and started a PhD looking at ethical issues for doctors. I was interested in learning about their fear of making mistakes, particularly in the area of cancer screening," Morris says.

While she finished her PhD, Morris worked on a range of health-based projects at both the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University. Although she enjoyed the intellectual stimulation, she found the desk-bound nature of research challenging.

"[Often] you are chained to a desk doing an extensive trawl through literature," she says. Other times, she would be designing data methods, recruiting participants for studies, entering results or - the curse of academia - tendering for funding.

Although her career was taking off, she surprised many by leaving research for what had until then been her hobby: coaching others to health using and teaching the popular Alexander Technique.

"I'd been training to be an Alexander Technique teacher on the side. It's a hands-on experience that helps free you from unnecessary tension in your body and mind, so co-ordination can flow," she says.

The technique was developed by Australian Frederick Matthias Alexander in the 1890s, initially to help singers and actors with their breathing techniques. It's now used for everything from aiding pain relief to postural alignment.

The initial reaction from friends and family wasn't great. "People were concerned that I was letting go of a big career with financial security and a solid career path. They said it was a hobby, not a job," she says.

Morris quickly proved them wrong. She now runs her own private Alexander Technique clinic, helping everyone from actors to stressed office workers. She also works extensively as a performance coach with musicians.

"I am employed casually by the Victorian College of the Arts and the [Melbourne] Conservatorium of Music to coach their musicians and vocalists," she says. "They might have pain like RSI; insufficiency of breath for wind or vocals; performance anxiety or just not be getting the sort of tone out of their instrument they should.

"We work on everyday movements like sitting, standing walking, breathing and running because it's about the person and how they function."

While her clients appear to be satisfied, her new career has also proved to be the right choice for Morris. "If I work with a theatre group one night, I'm physically and mentally nourished; we have a great time and people go from frowning faces to smiling," she says.

THEN
Salary: $55,000.
Work-life balance: "When you're a researcher, it's hard to put the work down. Even if you go to lovely places, you take your laptop and data so you don't fall behind."
Hours: 40-60 hours a week. "Sometimes I'd spend 16 hours in front of a computer but that was also to do with my working style."

NOW
Salary: $60,000. "I now derive my income from a multitude of sources. You have to do that to make it work."
Work-life balance:"The work itself nourishes me. Life is more relaxed and less competitive. But I do check in on work seven days a week."
Hours: "About 45 hours but I only work 45 weeks of the year."
Miss: "Writing and intellectual and philosophical inquiry."
Challenges:"You have to be a business person. Also, to be a good Alexander Technique teacher you can't just rock up not having taken care of yourself. "