Spirituality of the Body: Bioenergetics for Grace and Harmony

by Alexander Lowen

Links the western concept of relation to a Supreme Being, the Eastern tradition connecting spirit and breathing, and the bioenergetic connection of psychic peace and free-flowing physical energy

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Self Help, Mental Health, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Health

Hardcover

First published May 1, 1990

About the author

Alexander Lowen (1910–2008) was an American physician and psychotherapist. The story of his life is a story of how he honored the body and healed his mind-body split. It is also the story of how, along the way, he helped mankind.

During his lifetime, Lowen earned four college degrees: his Bachelor of Science; his Bachelor of Law (L.L.B); his Doctor of Sciences of Law (J.S.D.); and his medical Degree (M.D.). He developed Wilhelm Reich's beliefs into Bioenergetic Analysis and created a large and viable organization, the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (IIBA) to sustain and promote his therapeutic approach. The IIBA now has over 1500 members and 54 training institutes worldwide. Bioenergetic Analysis is now practiced not only in the United States, but also in Canada, Europe, Latin America, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and other countries.

Dr. Lowen has authored 14 books (translated to as many as eight different languages, collectively) as well as numerous articles and other professional publications. He also has presented his ideas in untold numbers of interviews, on video and audio tapes, and lectures worldwide. The establishment of the Journal for Bioenergetic Analysis gave him much satisfaction since it provides an ongoing forum for examining and furthering the ideas he pioneered. When asked during an interview in 2004 what has given him the most meaning in life, he responds without hesitation, feeling the pleasure and life of the body.

Reviews

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Lowen's later books, and one can really sense his ideas and visions coming together in this work. It remains an important work on the relationship of spirituality and embodiment, as well as on the necessity - both for the individual and for society - to remain connected to the body.
Lowen is one of the great psychiatrists and thinkers of the last century. His books are much less dated than one might imagine. I hope that, as modern psychiatry returns to its senses, his legacy will be one of the starting places for bringing the body back into the individual and collective healing process.

[Oleg Zaezdny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly great book. Probably different people would find different takeaways from it, but to me this book helped understand how our bodies hold all our suppressed emotions, fears, and trauma, and how by turning our attention to the body, feeling and releasing the tensions in it, and feeling the body itself can heal us and bring us back to integrity. I didn’t even do all the exercises provided in the book, still I got much closer to my body and feel like I resolved one emotional issue I had been struggling with for two years - I realized I had a tension in my chest when I was thinking about that story, and instead of running away from this feeling, I kept feeling the tension, took deep breaths, and pretty soon I felt the tension dissolved on its own.

One of the strongest points made in the book is that if we suppress our feelings, if we don’t listen to the body, we lose sensitivity, and eventually we don’t really feel alive. And that by listening to our body and seeking to connect with it, not running away from it, we can reconnect with our true selves, and ultimately live our true life.

This books does a great deal at explaining the difference between ego and soul, and how the body can help us reconnect with the soul.

The only downside to the book is that sometimes it seemed a bit repetitive, and same things could be said more concisely. Anyway, this is a great book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is into mindfulness, who wants to better understands themselves, and who seeks to reconnect with one’s body and one’s soul.

[Marek Dorsz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I read! A lot of practice and guidance. Highly recommended!!!

[Andrew Rettig · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for the vast majority of the population who are wrapped up in their egotistical drive for success, wealth and power. We are in desperate need of more people like Alexander Lowen preaching truth on our modern epidemic of the split between the mind (ego and will) and our feelings (the body). Lowen correlates the lack of integrity and values of the Western world with the declining state of the environment which we desperately rely on to survive. Please give this a read along with Lowen's other books.

[Dr. Rae Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must to read, re-read, and share...

[Fuji-tsutsuji]

„Ale płaskość wskazuje również na brak pełni życia. Gdy określamy coś jaki płaskie, to mamy na myśli, że rzecz ta pozbawiona jest koloru, smaku i oryginalności.”
„Płacz jest jak deszcz: czasami delikatny, a czasami gwałtowny, lecz zawsze niezbędny do życia na ziemi. Tak jak ziemia bez deszczu wysycha i pęka, podobnie życie bez łez staje się pustynią. Jeżeli nie potrafimy płakać, odcinamy się od innych ludzi.”
„W przeciwieństwie do małych dzieci, dorośli posiadają zdolność odkładania na później przyjemności. Gdy dziecko jest głodne, chce natychmiast coś zjeść. Może więc wziąć do jedzenia cokolwiek, co jest pod ręką. Natomiast osoba dorosła potrafi znosić głód do chwili, gdy posiłek i sposób jego podania spełnią jej oczekiwania.”

[Katarzyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Można dać mniej niż 1 gwiazdka?

[Iwo * *]

❤️

[Nataniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jest w porządku, jak się puści koło uszu niektóre twierdzenia które raczej są domysłami autora na temat zasad życia czy całego freuda (wolę po prostu czytać gdy zaznacza że to jego zdanie czy że nie wie do końca czegoś), ale generalnie sensownie opisuje tu mechanizmy pracy z ciałem - najważniejsze teraz znaleźć chęci na ćwiczenia...

[Alicja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Matheus André · Rating 4 out of 5]

O livro é interessante ao propor exercícios e insights buscando a flexibilidade, a leveza, a integração e a graciosidade do corpo, frequentemente ignorado pelo Ocidente. Por isso um título mais apropriado seria "A graciosidade do corpo" ou "A recuperação da graciosidade do corpo". Acredito que Lowen se embaralha nos conceitos. Sua noção do espiritualidade carece de complexidade e de rigor. Produzir um estado de "espiritualidade do corpo" por si mesmo por meio das técnicas indicadas pode ser um caminho de abertura mas não a posse da verdadeira espiritualidade, a qual independe dos esforços da vontade humana.

[Carlos Rioja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book wich explains that many psychic illnesses can be improved through the work with the body.

[Marilia Pinheiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma boa introdução em bioenergética. A leitura flui bem para quem está se familiarizando com o assunto.