WEB CHAPTER Wilhelm Reich and Somatic Psychology

The bodys life is the life of sensations and emotions. The body feels real hunger, real joy in the sun or the snow, ... real anger, real sorrow, real tenderness, real warmth, real passion, real hate, real grief. All the emotions belong to the body and are only recognized by the mind. (D. H. awrence, !"##$ In this chapter, we will discuss the work of Wilhelm Reich, the founder of somatic psychology and also body-oriented psychotherapy. He is the godfather of all current therapies that work with the emotional life of the body. Wilhelm Reich was a member of the psychoanalytic inner circle in ienna and led the technical training seminar for young analysts. In his therapeutic work, Reich gradually came to emphasi!e the importance of dealing with the physical manifestations of an indi"idual#s character, especially the patterns of chronic muscle tension that he called body armor. He was also concerned with the role of society in creating instinctual$especially se%ual$inhibitions in the indi"idual. Reich#s uni&ue contributions to psychology include '() his insistence on the unity of mind and body, '*) his inclusion of the body in psychotherapy, and '+) his concept of character armor. Reich was also a pioneer in se% education and hygiene, in the psychology of politics and social responsibility, and in the interfacing of psychology, biology, and physics. Reich was a courageous and stubborn inno"ator whose ideas were far ahead of the time. Personal History Wilhelm Reich was born on March 24, 1 !", in ,alicia, a ,erman--krainian area in .ustria. He was the son of a middle-class /ewish farmer, a 0ealous, authoritarian man who dominated his wife and children. 1he father pro"ided no religious upbringing for his children and insisted that only ,erman be spoken at home. 2onse&uently, Wilhelm was isolated from both the local -krainian peasant children and the 3iddish-speaking /ewish children. He had one brother, three years his 0unior, who was both companion and competitor. Reich idoli!ed his mother. She committed suicide when he was (4 years old, apparently after Reich re"ealed to his father that she was ha"ing an affair with the boys# tutor. Reich#s father was de"astated by his wife#s death. He contracted pneumonia that de"eloped into tuberculosis, and he died three years later. Reich#s brother also died of tuberculosis at the age of *5. Reich was se"erely affected by this series of family tragedies. .fter his father#s death, Reich managed the family farm but continued his studies. In (6(5, when war spread throughout his homeland, the family property was destroyed. Reich 0oined the .ustrian army. He fought as an officer in Italy. In (6(7, Reich entered medical school at the -ni"ersity of ienna. Within a

year he became a practicing member of the ienna Psychoanalytical Society. He recei"ed his medical degree in (6**, at the age of *8. Reich was in"ol"ed in politics as a student and subse&uently sought to reconcile the theories of 9reud and :ar%. .t the uni"ersity Reich met a medical student, .nnie Pink, who became his patient and later his first wife; she later became a psychoanalyst herself 'Reich, (66<). In (6**, when 9reud established a psychoanalytic clinic in ienna, Reich was his first clinical assistant and subse&uently "ice director. In (6*4, Reich became the director of the Seminar for Psychoanalytic 1herapy, the first training institute for psychoanalysts. :any young analysts came to him for personal analysis as well as for training. In (6*=, as a result of his interest in social change, Reich reduced his indi"idual treatments as he became more in"ol"ed in political and social change acti"ities. 9reud encouraged him to do so ':ann > Hoffman, (67<). Reich underwent personal analysis at different times with se"eral different psychoanalysts, but for "arious reasons he broke off from each one. In (6*=, Reich sought analysis with 9reud, who refused to make an e%ception to his policy of not treating members of the psychoanalytic inner circle. .t this time, Reich de"eloped a serious conflict with 9reud. It stemmed partly from 9reud#s refusal to analy!e Reich and partly from their theoretical differences. 9reud was at odds with Reich#s uncompromising insistence that neurosis was rooted in se%ual dissatisfaction. Reich de"eloped tuberculosis at this time and spent se"eral months reco"ering in a sanitarium in Swit!erland. When he returned to ienna after his illness, Reich assumed his pre"ious duties. He also became e%tremely acti"e politically and, in (6*7, 0oined the 2ommunist Party. 1he following year Reich helped found the first se% hygiene clinics for workers, which pro"ided free information on birth control, child rearing, and se% education. In (6+< Reich mo"ed to ?erlin, mainly to enter into personal analysis with Sandor Rado, a leading psychoanalyst. He sought an analyst outside ienna because iennese psychoanalysts had grown uncomfortable with his political acti"ities. In ?erlin, Reich became more deeply in"ol"ed in the communist-oriented hygiene mo"ement. He tra"eled throughout ,ermany, lecturing and helping to establish hygiene centers. ?efore long, as a result of his politics and his radical se% education programs, Reich was unpopular with both the psychoanalysts and the 2ommunists. In (6++ Reich was e%pelled from the ,erman 2ommunist Party. 1hen, in (6+4, he was e%pelled from the International Psychoanalytical .ssociation. .fter Hitler#s rise to power, Reich emigrated to @enmark in (6++. He separated from his wife when they left ?erlin, because of personal, political, and professional differences. . year earlier, Reich had met Alsa Bindenberg, a ballet dancer and a member of his 2ommunist Party cell. She 0oined Reich in @enmark, where they were married. His contro"ersial theories led to his e%pulsion from @enmark and Sweden. Within a period of si% months, Reich had been e%pelled from his two ma0or affiliations$the 2ommunist Party and the psychoanalytic mo"ement$and from three countries. It is not surprising that his

subse&uent writing is somewhat defensi"e and polemical. In Reich#s case, a certain amount of paranoia was not irrational or un0ustified but represented a fairly realistic assessment of his situation. Bater in his career, Reich re0ected communism and socialism, because he felt that both were committed to an ideology at the e%pense of human considerations. He came to think of himself more as an indi"idualist and was deeply suspicious of politics and politicians. In (6+4 Reich and his wife, Alsa, mo"ed to Cslo, Dorway, where he lectured and conducted research in psychology and biology for o"er fi"e years. .fter three years of relati"e &uiet in Dorway, Reich became the target of a "icious newspaper campaign that attacked his emphasis on the se%ual basis of neurosis and his laboratory e%periments with bioenergy. @uring this period of increasing isolation, Reich#s relations with Alsa worsened, and she finally separated from him. In (6+6 Reich was offered the position of associate professor of medical psychology at the Dew School for Social Research in Dew 3ork. He packed up his laboratory and mo"ed to the -nited States. In Dew 3ork he met Ilse Cllendorf, a ,erman refugee who became his laboratory assistant and later his third wife. Reich founded the Crgone Institute to support research on orgone energy, or life energy. 9rom his laboratory e%perimentation he concluded that a basic life energy is present in all li"ing organisms and that this energy is the biological force that underlies 9reud#s concept of libido. Reich began e%perimentation with orgone energy accumulatorsE bo%es and other de"ices that, he claimed, store and concentrate orgone energy. Reich found that certain diseases resulting from disturbances of the Fautomatic apparatusG could be treated, with "arying degrees of success, by restoring the indi"idual#s normal orgone energy flow. 1reatment could be accomplished through e%posure to high concentrations of orgone energy in the accumulators. 1he targeted conditions included cancer, angina pectoris, asthma, hypertension, and epilepsy. -nfortunately, Reich was denied a complimentary .merican medical license and his patent application on the orgone accumulator was refused 'Reich, (666). In (684 the 9ood and @rug .dministration obtained an in0unction against the distribution and further use of the accumulators. .ccording to the 9@., Reich#s claim that the orgone energy accumulators successfully treated disease was unfounded. 1he agency also en0oined the sale of most of Reich#s books and 0ournals. Insisting that the courts were not competent to 0udge matters of scientific fact, Reich "iolated the in0unction by continuing his research. He was e"entually con"icted of contempt of court and sentenced to two years# imprisonment. 1he 9@. burned his books and other publications, many of which were unrelated to the sale or manufacture of orgone accumulators. Reich died in (68= of heart disease in federal prison. #ntellect$al Antece%ents 1here were two great influences on Reich#s professional work$psychoanalysis and :ar%ism. Reich built directly upon psychoanalytic theory and practice. In his e%ploration of effecti"e therapeutic techni&ue, Reich increasingly included working with the body in analysis. 9reud#s concept of libido inspired Reich to in"estigate the role of biological energy in human functioning.

.s a result of his interest in :ar% and social acti"ism, Reich established clinics for the public and attempted to reconcile the theories of :ar% and 9reud. Howe"er, Reich#s acti"ism also alienated him from most of his psychoanalytic colleagues and impelled him to formulate his own theories. Psychoanalysis Reich#s work is firmly rooted in psychoanalytic theory. His early contributions are based primarily on the concepts of character and character armor, which de"eloped out of the psychoanalytic conception of the ego#s need to defend itself against instinctual forces. .ccording to Reich, an indi"idual#s character shows consistent, habitual patterns of defense. Reich came to associate these defenses with specific patterns of muscular armoring. In other words, each pattern of character defense has a corresponding pattern of physical gestures and postures. Reich emphasi!ed in therapy the importance of loosening and dissol"ing muscular armoring, in addition to dealing analytically with psychological material. ?y so doing, the therapist could assist the process of psychoanalysis, as the client released emotions locked into muscular armoring forged in early childhood. Reich#s later work with life energy, or orgone energy, is deri"ed in great part from 9reud#s conception of libido. Bater psychoanalytic theorists ha"e tended to deemphasi!e 9reud#s concept; for 9reud, howe"er, especially in his early writings, libido was a real and potentially measurable psychic energy. HBibidoI possesses all the characteristics of &uantity 'though we ha"e no means of measuring it), which is capable of increase, diminution, displacement, and discharge, and which is spread o"er the memory traces of ideas somewhat as an electric charge is spread o"er the surface of a body. '9reud in Rycroft, (6=(, pp. (4J(8) Reich e%tended 9reud#s libido theory to include all basic biological and psychological processes. 1o Reich, pleasure is a mo"ement of energy from the core of the organism toward the periphery and the e%ternal world; an%iety is represented as a retraction of energy, or mo"ement away from the e%ternal world. Reich e"entually came to "iew therapy as a process in which energy is allowed to flow freely throughout the body, by systematically dissol"ing blocks of muscular armoring. 1hese blocks, he belie"ed, distort and destroy natural feeling and inhibit, in particular, se%ual feelings and pre"ent complete and fulfilling orgasm. Reich, like /ung, mo"ed through the layers of personality and personal unconscious to a wider and deeper le"el of functioning '2onger, (677). Deither contribution was acceptable to 9reud and his followers. Mar&ism Reich#s attempt to reconcile two powerful systems of contemporary Western thought$the theories of 9reud and of :ar%$prompted him to write se"eral books on this sub0ect 'Robinson, (656). Reich argued that '() psychoanalysis is a Fmaterialistic scienceG in that it deals with real human needs and e%periences; '*) psychoanalysis is based on a dialectical theme of psychic conflict and resolution; and '+) psychoanalysis is a re"olutionary science in that it supplements :ar%#s criti&ue of bourgeois economics with a criti&ue of bourgeois morality based on se%ual repression. In 1he :ass Psychology of 9ascism '(6=<b), Reich pro"ides an important analysis of the roots of ideology in the indi"idual character, a topic he felt was insufficiently co"ered by :ar%. 1wenty years before research theory on the authoritarian personality became popular in social science, Reich

discussed the relationship between the ,erman predilection for authoritarianism and the character formation of children in the ,erman lower-middle-class family. Reich#s political interests sparked e"en greater contro"ersy in psychoanalytical circles than did his theoretical inno"ations. In the tense political climate of .ustria and ,ermany during the (6+<s, Reich#s public political acti"ities and his membership in the 2ommunist Party created strain among his fellow analysts. Reich was asked to discontinue his political acti"ities. When he refused, he was dropped from the ,erman Psychoanalytic .ssociation. Ma'or Concepts Reich#s ma0or concepts of bioenergy, orgone energy, and the central role of human se%uality were all deri"ed from 9reud#s concept of libido. Reich added to psychoanalysis the notion of character as an integrated ego defense structure. He also introduced the concept of character armor, the physical aspect of character defenses. Bioener(y In his work on muscular armoring, Reich disco"ered that the loosening of chronically rigid muscles often resulted in peculiar physical sensations$feelings of hot and cold, prickling, itching, and emotional arousal. He concluded that these sensations were the result of mo"ements of freed biological energy, or bioenergy, which he was later to call orgone energy. Reich also found that the mobili!ation and discharge of bioenergy are essential stages in the process of se%ual arousal and orgasm. He called this the orgasm formula, a four-part process that he felt was characteristic of all li"ing organisms '(6=+, originally published in (64*)E (. Se%ual organs fill with fluid$mechanical tension. *. Intense e%citation results$bioenergetic charge. +. Se%ual e%citation is discharged in muscular contractions$bioenergetic discharge. 4. Physical rela%ation follows$mechanical rela%ation. .fter physical contact, energy is built up in both bodies and finally released in the orgasm, which is essentially a phenomenon of bioenergy discharge. 9ull discharge is possible only for those who are relati"ely unarmored. Reich#s psychoanalytic colleagues e&uated male orgasm with e0aculation and could not understand his description of orgasm. )r(one Ener(y Reich gradually e%tended his in"estigation of patients# physical functioning to laboratory research in physiology and biology and e"entually to research in physics. He came to belie"e that the bioenergy in the organism is one aspect of a uni"ersal energy, present in all things. He coined the term orgone energy from organism and orgasm. He e%plained it in this wayE F2osmic orgone energy functions in the li"ing organism as specific biological energy. .s such, it go"erns the entire organism; it is e%pressed in the emotions as well as in the purely biophysical mo"ement of the organsG 'Reich, (6=5, p. +6+). Reich#s e%tensi"e research on orgone energy and related topics has been ignored or dismissed by most critics and scientists. His findings contradict a number of established theories in physics and biology, and Reich#s work is certainly not without its e%perimental weaknesses. Howe"er, his research has not

been dispro"ed or e"en carefully re"iewed and responsibly critici!ed by reputable scientific critics. .s one psychologist who worked with Reich pointed outE In the twenty-plus years since Reich announced the disco"ery of orgone energy, no good-faith repetition of any critical orgone energy e%periment has e"er been published refuting Reich#s results.... 1he fact is, despite 'and partly because of) the ridicule, defamation, and attempts by the orthodo% to FburyG Reich and orgonomy, there is no counter e"idence to his e%periments in any scientific publication, much less a systematic refutation of the "olumes of scientific work which support his position. 'Kelley, (65*, pp. =*J=+, italics his) Crgone energy has the following ma0or properties 'Kelley in :ann, (6=+)E (. Crgone energy is mass-free; it has no inertia or weight. *. It is present e"erywhere, although in differing concentrations, e"en in a "acuum. +. It is the medium for electromagnetic and gra"itational acti"ity, the substratum of most basic natural phenomena. 4. Crgone energy is in constant motion. 8. High concentrations of orgone energy attract orgone energy from lessconcentrated surroundings 'which contradicts the law of entropy). 5. Crgone energy forms units that become centers of creati"e acti"ity. 1hese units include cells, plants and animals, and also clouds, planets, stars, and gala%ies. H$man *e&$ality Reich#s concern with se%uality formed a ma0or theme that he pursued throughout his career. .s a young medical student, Reich first "isited 9reud to seek his help in establishing a seminar on se%ology in the medical school Reich attended 'Higgens > Raphael, (65=). .nd in line with his political commitment, Reich helped the 2ommunist Party sponsor se% hygiene clinics for the working class in .ustria and ,ermany. Reich#s ideas and his clinics were far ahead of their time. In the (6+<s 'around the time :argaret Sanger was imprisoned for ad"ocating planned parenthood for married couples), Reich#s program for his clinics called for measures that were radical then and still contro"ersial today '?oadella, (6=+)E (. 9ree distribution of contracepti"es to e"eryone who wanted them; intensi"e birth control education. *. 2omplete legali!ation of abortion. +. .bolition of the legal distinction between the married and unmarried; freedom of di"orce. 4. Alimination of "enereal disease and a"oidance of se%ual problems through education. 8. 1raining of doctors, teachers, and others in all rele"ant matters of se%ual hygiene. 5. 1reatment of, rather than punishment for, se%ual offenses. Reich stressed the free e%pression of se%ual and emotional feelings within a mature, lo"ing relationship. He emphasi!ed the essentially se%ual nature of the energies with which he dealt, and he found that the pel"ic area of his patients was the most blocked. 9or Reich, the goal of therapy was to free all the blocks in the body, to enable the patient to attain full capacity for orgasm, which he felt was blocked in most people.

Reich#s radical "iews concerning se%uality resulted in misunderstanding, distortion, and "icious 'and unfounded) attacks on all areas of his work, as well as on him personally. Character 1he concept of character was first discussed by 9reud in (6<7. Reich elaborated on this conceptE he was the first analyst to treat patients by interpreting the nature and function of their character, not their symptoms. .ccording to Reich, character is composed of a person#s habitual attitudes and pattern of responses to "arious situations. It includes psychological attitudes and "alues, style of beha"ior 'shyness, aggressi"eness, and so forth), and physical attitudes 'posture, habits of holding and mo"ing the body). Reichian character analysis continues to be an important tool in psychotherapy '/osephs, (668). Character Armor+ Reich felt that the character structure forms as a defense against the child#s an%iety o"er intense se%ual feelings and the accompanying fear of punishment. 1he first defense is repression, which temporarily restrains the se%ual impulses. .s ego defenses become chronically acti"e and automatic, they de"elop into stable character traits that combine to form the indi"idual#s system of character armoring. 2haracter armor includes all repressing defensi"e forces, which form a coherent pattern within the ego. 2haracter traits are not neurotic symptoms. 1he difference, according to Reich, lies in the fact that neurotic symptoms 'such as irrational fears or phobias) are e%perienced as alien to the indi"idual, as foreign elements in the psyche, whereas neurotic character traits 'e%treme orderliness or an%ious shyness, for e%ample) are e%perienced as integral parts of the personality. Cne may complain about being shy, but this shyness does not seem to be meaningless or pathological, as are neurotic symptoms. 1he character defenses are difficult to eradicate because they are well rationali!ed by the indi"idual and e%perienced as part of the indi"idual#s self-concept. Reich continually attempted to make his patients more aware of their character traits. He fre&uently imitated their characteristic gestures 'a ner"ous smile, for e%ample) and postures, or had patients themsel"es repeat and e%aggerate them. .s patients ceased taking their character makeups for granted, their moti"ation to change was enhanced. ,enital Character+ 9reud used the term genital character to refer to the final le"el of psychose%ual de"elopment. Reich applied the term to persons with orgastic potencyE FCrgastic potency is the capacity to surrender to the flow of biological energy, free of any inhibitions; the capacity to discharge completely the dammed-up se%ual e%citation through in"oluntary, pleasurable con"ulsions of the bodyG '(6=+, p. (<*). Reich found that as his patients relin&uished their armoring and de"eloped orgastic potency, many areas of neurotic functioning changed spontaneously. In place of rigid neurotic controls, indi"iduals de"eloped a capacity for self-regulation. Reich described selfregulated indi"iduals as naturally rather than compulsi"ely moral. 1hey act in response to their own inclinations and feelings rather than following e%ternal codes or demands prescribed by others. -ynamics

Psycholo(ical ,ro.th Reich defined growth as the process of dissol"ing one#s psychological and physical armoring, gradually becoming a more free and open human being, capable of en0oying full and satisfying orgasm. :uscular armoring, in Reich#s system, is di"ided into se"en ma0or segments, composed of muscles and organs with related e%pressi"e functions. 1hese segments form a series of se"en roughly hori!ontal rings, at right angles to the spine and torso. 1hey are centered in the eyes, mouth, neck, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, and pel"is. Reich#s se"en armor segments are closely related to the se"en chakras of kundalini-yoga discussed in 2hapter (5, although the fit is not a perfect one. It is interesting to note that Reich mo"es from the top down; the patient is finished once the pel"is, the most important armor segment, is opened and energi!ed. In kundalini-yoga, the mo"ement is from the base of the spine upward, and the yogi is FfinishedG once the thousand-petaled lotus of the brain, the most important chakra, is opened and energi!ed. ?oadella '(67=) offers a more complete discussion of this relationship. .ccording to Reich, orgone energy naturally flows up and down the body, parallel to the spine. 1he rings of armor are formed at right angles to this flow and interrupt it. It is no accident, Reich points out, that in Western culture we ha"e learned to say yes by mo"ing our heads up and down, in the direction of energy flow in the body, whereas we say no by mo"ing our heads from side to side, the direction of the armoring. .rmoring restricts the flow of energy and stops the free e%pression of emotion. What begins as a defense against o"erpowering an%iety becomes a physical and emotional strait0acket. In armored human organisms, the orgone energy is bound in the chronic contraction of the muscles. 1he body orgone does not begin to flow freely as soon as the armor ring has been loosened.... .s soon as the first armor blocks ha"e been dissol"ed, the mo"ement e%pressi"e of FsurrenderG appears more and more, along with the orgonotic currents and sensations. Howe"er, its full unfolding is hindered by those armor blocks that ha"e not yet been dissol"ed. 'Reich, (6=5, pp. 4((J4(*) 1he primary goal of Reichian therapy is to dissol"e the armor in each of the se"en segments, beginning with the eyes and ending with the pel"is. Aach segment is more or less an independent unit and must be dealt with separately. 'See 9igure 6.(.) M$sc$lar Armor+ In Reich#s system, each character attitude has a corresponding physical attitude e%pressed in the body as muscular rigidity or muscular armoring. Reich became aware of this connection as a result of acute obser"ation of his patients# habitual postures and mo"ements, combined with detailed analysis of their character structure. He e%amined in detail his patients# posture and physical habits. Reich would ha"e patients concentrate on particular sources of tensions to become more aware of them and to elicit the emotion that had been constrained in that part of the body. Cnly after the bottled-up emotion was e%pressed, he felt, could the chronic tension be fully abandoned. Reich began to work directly on the muscular armoring in con0unction with his therapeutic sessions. He found that loosening the muscular armor freed libidinal energy and aided the process of psychoanalysis.

Reich#s psychiatric approach was increasingly based on freeing the emotions 'pleasure, rage, an%iety) through work with the body. 1he process, he disco"ered, led to the patient#s intense e%periencing of the psychological material unco"ered in analysis. In the final analysis, I could not rid myself of the impression that somatic rigidity represents the most essential part in the process of repression. .ll our patients report that they went through periods in childhood in which, by means of certain practices ... 'holding the breath, tensing the abdominal muscular pressure, etc.), they learned to suppress their impulses of hate, an%iety, and lo"e.... It ne"er ceases to be surprising how the loosening of a muscular spasm not only releases the "egetati"e energy, but, o"er and abo"e this, reproduces a memory of that situation in infancy in which the repression of the instinct occurred. 'Reich, (6=+, p. +<<) Reich found that chronic muscular tension blocks one of the three basic biological e%citationsE an%iety, anger, or se%ual arousal. He concluded that the physical and psychological armor were essentially the sameE 2haracter armorings were now seen to be functionally identical with muscular HhypertensionI. 1he concept, Ffunctional identity,G which I had to introduce means nothing more than that muscular attitudes and character attitudes ha"e the same function in the psychic mechanismE they can replace one another and can be influenced by one another. ?asically, they cannot be separated. 1hey are identical in their function. 'Reich, (6=+, pp. *=<J*=() 1hree ma0or tools are used in dissol"ing the armorE '() building up energy in the body through deep breathing; '*) directly attacking the chronically tense muscles 'through pressure, pinching, and so on) to loosen them; and '+) maintaining the cooperation of the patient by dealing openly with whate"er resistances or emotional restrictions arise. Reich used these tools in each of the se"en armor segments. /oosenin( the Armor *e(ments (. 1he eyes. 1he eyes are the infant#s main source of contact with the en"ironment and, according to Reich, the first area to be traumati!ed, by the sight of cold, angry, or frightening e%pressions. .rmoring of the eyes is con"eyed by an immobility of the forehead and an FemptyG e%pression of the eyes, which look out from behind a rigid mask. 1he armor is dissol"ed by ha"ing patients open their eyes wide, as if in fright, in order to mobili!e the eyelids and forehead. Patients are encouraged to roll the eyes and look from side to side in order to force an emotional e%pression. *. 1he mouth. 1he oral segment includes the muscles of the chin, the throat, and the back of the head. 1he 0aw may be "ery tight or unnaturally loose. 1he emotional e%pressions of crying, angry biting, yelling, sucking, and grimacing are all inhibited by tension in this area. 1he armor may be loosened by encouraging the patient to imitate crying, to make sounds that mobili!e the lips, to bite, and to gag, and by direct work on the muscles in"ol"ed. +. 1he neck. 1his segment includes the deep neck muscles and also the tongue. 1he armor functions mainly to hold back anger or crying. @irect pressure on the deep neck muscles is not possible, so screaming, yelling, and gagging are all important means for loosening this area. 4. 1he chest. 1he chest segment includes the large chest muscles, the shoulder muscles, the muscles of the shoulder blades, the entire chest cage, and the hands and arms. 1ension in this segment can

inhibit laughter, rage, sadness, and longing. Inhibition of breathing, which is an important means of suppressing any emotion, occurs to a great e%tent in the chest. 1he armoring may be loosened through work with breathing, especially training in complete e%piration. 1he arms and hands are used to hit, tear, choke, pound, and reach out with longing. 8. 1he diaphragm. 1his segment includes the diaphragm, stomach, solar ple%us, "arious internal organs, and muscles along the lower thoracic "ertebrate. .rmoring is e%pressed by a forward cur"ature of the spine so that when the patient is seated in a chair, there is considerable space between the patient#s lower back and the back of the chair. It is much harder to breathe out than to breathe in. 1he armoring mainly inhibits e%treme rage. 1he first four segments must be relati"ely free before the diaphragm can be loosened through repeated work with breathing and with the gag refle%. 'People with strong blocks in this segment find it "irtually impossible to "omit.) 5. 1he abdomen. 1he abdominal segment includes the large abdominal muscles and the muscles of the back. 1ension in the lumbar muscles is related to fear of attack. .rmoring in a person#s flanks produces ticklishness and is related to inhibition of spite. @issolution of the armoring in this segment is relati"ely simple once the higher segments are open. =. 1he pel"is. 1his last segment comprises all the muscles of the pel"is and lower limbs. 1he stronger the armoring, the more the pel"is is pulled back and sticks out in the rear. 1he gluteal muscles are tight and painful; the pel"is is rigid, Fdead,G and ase%ual. Pel"ic armoring ser"es to inhibit an%iety and rage as well as pleasure. ?ecause the an%iety and rage result from inhibitions of se%ual pleasure, it is impossible to e%perience pleasure freely in this area until the anger has been released from the pel"ic muscles. 1he armoring can be loosened by first mobili!ing the pel"is and ha"ing the patient repeatedly kick with the feet and also strike, for e%ample, a couch with his or her pel"is. Reich found that as his patients de"eloped the capacity for Ffull genital surrender,G their whole being and lifestyle changed. 1he unification of the orgasm refle% also restores the sensations of depth and seriousness. 1he patients remember the time in their early childhood when the unity of their body sensation was not disturbed. Sei!ed with emotion, they tell of the time as children when they felt at one with nature, with e"erything that surrounded them, of the time they felt Fali"e,G and how finally all this had been shattered and crushed by their education. 'Reich, (6=+, pp. +8=J+87) 1hese indi"iduals began to feel that the rigid norms of society, which pre"iously they had taken for granted, were alien and unnatural. .ttitudes toward work also changed noticeably. :any who had performed their 0obs mechanically as an economic necessity left their place of employment to seek new and "ital work that fulfilled their inner needs. Cften those who were interested in their "ocation blossomed with fresh energy and ability. )bstacles to ,ro.th Reich argued that there are two fundamental obstacles to maturation. Cne is the psychological and physical armoring that de"elops in each indi"idual. 1he second problem is the social repression of se%ual and other healthy biological impulses in the indi"idual.

(<

Armorin(+ .rmoring is the ma0or obstacle to growth, according to Reich. 1he armored organism is incapable of breaking down its own armor. ?ut it is e&ually incapable of e%pressing its elemental biological emotions. It is familiar with the sensation of tickling but has ne"er e%perienced orgonotic pleasure. 1he armored indi"idual cannot e%press a sigh of pleasure or consciously imitate it. When he tries to do so, the result is a groan, a suppressed, pent-up roar, or e"en an impulse to "omit. He is incapable of "enting anger or of banging his fist in an imitation of anger. 'Reich, (6=5, p. 4<*) ?oadella '(67=) has pointed out that almost e"eryone suffering from malad0ustment li"es as though in a permanent state of emergency. Cnly by changing this state of chronic tension can indi"iduals approach their en"ironment rationally and healthfully. *e&$al Repression+ .nother obstacle to growth is the social and cultural repression of the natural impulses and se%uality of the indi"idual. Repression, Reich asserted, is the ma0or source of neurosis and occurs during three principal phases of lifeE early infancy, puberty, and adulthood 'Reich, (6=+). Infants and young children are confronted with an authoritarian, se%-suppressing family atmosphere. Reich reaffirms 9reud#s obser"ations concerning the negati"e effects of parental demands for early toilet training, self-restraint, and FgoodG beha"ior. @uring puberty, young people are kept from attaining an acti"e, open se%ual life; masturbation is still prohibited by most parents. A"en more important, our society generally makes it impossible for adolescents to obtain meaningful work. .s a result of this unnatural lifestyle, it is especially difficult for adolescents to outgrow infantile attachments to their parents. Reich felt that indi"iduals who are brought up in an atmosphere that negates life and se% de"elop a fear of pleasure, represented in their muscular armoring. F1his characterological armoring is the basis of isolation, indigence, cra"ing for authority, fear of responsibility, mystic longing, se%ual misery, and neurotically impotent rebelliousness, as well as pathological intoleranceG 'Reich, (6=+, p. =). . teaching of li"ing Bife, taken o"er and distorted by armored man, will spell final disaster to the whole of mankind and its institutions.... ?y far the most likely result of the principle of Forgastic potencyG will be a pernicious philosophy of 4-lettering all o"er the place e"erywhere. Bike an arrow released from the restraining, tightly tensed spring, the search for &uick, easy and deleterious genital pleasure will de"astate the human community. 'Reich, (65(, pp. 8<7J8<6) Reich was not optimistic about the possible effects of his disco"eries. He belie"ed that most people, because of their strong armoring, would be unable to understand his theories and would distort his ideas. *tr$ct$re Bo%y

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In a sense, all Reich#s work is body-oriented. 1he body, he insisted, is an essential dynamic in all psychological functioning. 9or Reich, the body plays a critical role in storing and channeling bioenergy, which is the basis of human e%istence and e%perience. Reich "iewed mind and body as a unit. His work is a precursor to the field of holistic medicine. He also anticipated the interest in non"erbal communication that has de"eloped in psychology, anthropology, and sociology. .s described earlier, Reich gradually mo"ed from analytic practice, relying solely on language, to e%amination of both the physical and psychological aspects of character and character armor. .t that point, he emphasi!ed the dissol"ing of muscular armor to allow the free flow of orgone energy. *ocial Relationships In Reich#s "iew, social relationships are determined by the indi"idual#s character. :ost indi"iduals see the world through the filter of their armoring, which cuts them off both from their inner natures and from satisfying social relationships. Cnly genital characters, ha"ing loosened their rigid armoring, can react openly and honestly to others. Dature and culture, instinct and morality, se%uality and achie"ement become incompatible as a result of the split in the human structure. 1he unity and congruity of culture and nature, work and lo"e, morality and se%uality, longed for from time immemorial, will remain a dream as long as man continues to condemn the biological demand for natural 'orgastic) se%ual gratification. ,enuine democracy and freedom founded on consciousness and responsibility are also doomed to remain an illusion until this demand is fulfilled. 'Reich, (6=+, p. 7) Reich strongly belie"ed in the ideals, enunciated by :ar%, of Ffree organi!ation, in which the free de"elopment of each becomes the basis of the free de"elopment of allG '?oadella, (6=+, p. *(*). Reich formulated the concept of work-democracy, a natural form of social organi!ation in which people cooperate harmoniously to further their mutual needs and interests, and he sought to actuali!e these principles in the Crgone Institute. Will Reich did not concern himself directly with the will, although he stressed the role of meaningful action in work and in family life. 3ou don#t ha"e to do anything special or new. .ll you ha"e to do is to continue what you are doing.... .ll you ha"e to do is to continue what you ha"e always done and always want to doE your work, to let your children grow up happily, to lo"e your wife. 'Reich in ?oadella, (6=+, p. *+5) Reich would agree with 9reud that the sign of a mature human being is capacity for lo"e and work. Emotions 2hronic tensions, according to Reich, block the energy flow that underlies powerful emotions. 1he armoring pre"ents the indi"idual from e%periencing strong emotions; it limits and distorts the e%pression of feeling. Amotions that are blocked are ne"er eliminated, because they can#t be fully e%pressed. .ccording to Reich, only by fully e%periencing a blocked emotion can an indi"idual become free of it.

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Reich also noted that the frustration of pleasure often leads to anger and rage. 1hese negati"e emotions must be dealt with in Reichian therapy before the positi"e feelings 'which underlie the negati"e emotions) can be completely e%perienced. #ntellect 1he intellect, Reich belie"ed, also operates as a defense mechanism. F1he spoken word conceals the e%pressi"e language of the biological core. In many cases, the function of speech has deteriorated to such a degree that the words e%press nothing whate"er and merely represent a continuous, hollow acti"ity on the part of the musculature of the neck and the organs of speechG '(6=5, p. +67). Reich opposed any separation of intellect, emotions, and body. He pointed out that the intellect, which is actually a biological function, may ha"e an energetic charge as strong as any of the emotions. F1he hegemony of the intellect not only puts an end to irrational se%uality but has as its precondition a regulated libido economy. ,enital and intellectual primacy belong togetherG '(6=5, p. *<+). .ccording to Reich, full de"elopment of the intellect re&uires the achie"ement of true genitality. *elf 9or Reich, the self is the healthy, biological core of each indi"idual. :ost indi"iduals are not in touch with the self; they are too armored and defended. What was it that pre"ented a person from percei"ing his own personalityL .fter all, it is what he is. ,radually, I came to understand that it is the entire being that constitutes the compact, tenacious mass which obstructs all analytic efforts. 1he patient#s whole personality, his character, his indi"iduality resisted analysis. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (47) 2ontact with the self re&uires free mo"ement of energy. It becomes possible only as the indi"idual, dissol"ing his or her armor and becoming fully aware of the body and its sensations and needs, comes in contact with the core, the primary dri"es. Where blocks are present, energy flow and awareness are restricted, and self-perception is greatly diminished or distorted '?aker, (65=). Therapist .n eminent Reichian has written thatE the indispensable prere&uisite for whate"er methods the therapist uses to release the emotions held in the musculature is that he is in touch with his own sensations and able to empathise fully with the patient and to feel in his own body the effect of particular constrictions on the patient#s energies. '?oadella, (6=+, p. (*<) Dic Waal, one of the foremost psychiatrists in Dorway, wrote about her e%periences in therapy with ReichE I could stand being crushed by Reich because I liked truth. .nd, strangely enough, I was not crushed by it. .ll through this therapeutic attitude to me he had a lo"ing "oice, he sat beside me and made me look at him. He accepted me and crushed only my "anity and falseness. ?ut I understood at that moment that true honesty and lo"e both in a therapist and in parents is sometimes the courage to be seemingly cruel when it is necessary. It

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demands, howe"er, a great deal of the therapist, his training and his diagnosis of the patient. '?oadella, (6=+, p. +58) Reich was well-known as a brilliant and tough-minded therapist. A"en as an orthodo% analyst, he was e%tremely honest, e"en brutally direct, with his patients. E0al$ation Reich was the leading practitioner of somatic psychology and body-oriented therapy. In fact, only a small minority of psychologists ha"e seriously concerned themsel"es with somatic psychology. Howe"er, the appreciation of physical habits and of tensions as diagnostic cues is steadily growing. :any therapists ha"e been influenced by the work of 9rit! Perls, who was in analysis with Reich and owes much to Reich#s theories. Reich#s focus on muscular armoring and emotional release through body work has attracted less interest than it deser"es. 1he encouragement of the e%pression of suppressed emotions, such as rage, fear, and aggression, is still a contro"ersial issue in psychology. Cne cogent criticism of Reich#s theories concerns his depiction of the genital character as an achie"able ideal state. Kelley '(6=() pointed out that Reich de"eloped a system that seems to promise a cure-all. . successful treatment is supposed to lea"e the indi"idual free of all armor, a Ffinished productG with no need for further growth or impro"ement. 1he underlying concept is a medical model in which the patient comes to the doctor in order to be Fcured.G 1his model per"ades much of therapy, but it is gi"en credibility by the assumption that the therapist is healthy 'unarmored) and the patient is ill. Patients stay Fone downG to the therapist; they are generally placed in a passi"e role, relying on the omnipotent, FperfectedG healer for some sort of dramatic or magical cure. 1his model also places a tremendous strain on the therapist, who must always appear superior to patients and is permitted no mistakes or fallibility. Bearning to free oursel"es from inappropriate blocks to feeling is only one aspect of our growth. Selfdiscipline and goal-directed beha"ior are also essential, and they re&uire a certain amount of control o"er our emotions. 1he blocks to feeling that Reich calls Fthe armorG ...are a product of the capacity of man to control his feelings and beha"ior, and so to direct his life along a path he has chosen. Cne aspect of this is protection of the self from incapacitating emotions, a second the channeling of beha"ior towards goals. 'Kelley, (6=(, p. 6) 1hus, the indi"idual ne"er can or should become totally Funarmored.G Reich did not consider how to balance self-control and free e%pression as part of a continual process of growth. With his emphasis on dissol"ing blocks to emotion, Reich tended to o"erestimate the role of armoring and resistance in the indi"idual. He defined character almost solely in terms of armoring. F2haracter operates to produce almost constant resistance in psychoanalysis. 9or him HReichI character is an armor formed through chronic Mhardening# of the ego. 1he meaning and purpose of this armor is protection

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from inner and outer dangersG 'Sterba, (6=5, p. *=7). 3et character certainly consists of more than rigidity and defenses. Reich#s theories concerning therapy and psychological growth are generally clear and straightforward, as are his therapeutic techni&ues 'West, (664). He has pro"ided considerable clinical as well as e%perimental e"idence for his work, although, to date, his ideas ha"e been too contro"ersial to gain widespread acceptance. Interest in Reich#s conception of the body is increasing, and the growth of bodyoriented research is one of the more e%citing possibilities in the future of psychology. ?est '(666) has argued that Reich#s basic assumption that orgone energy is an erotic, holistic, healing resource might profitably be incorporated into modern clinical theory and practice. .ccording to 9ernald '*<<<), Reich#s work has influenced humanistic psychotherapy, including Rogers#s person-centered approach, which is based on the notion of organismic e%perience. )ther Approaches to *omatic Psycholo(y Reich#s pioneering efforts to include the body as an element in psychology pa"ed the way for the systems that followed. His work has led to greater acceptance of the role of the body and the possibility of impro"ing physical conditions through systematic discipline. 1he body-oriented systems co"ered in this section are by no means the only ones a"ailable. @o!ens of e%cellent systems work primarily with the body to impro"e psychological and physical functioning. 1he disciplines and techni&ues mentioned in this section are perhaps better known and more accessible than some others. 1hey also ha"e theoretical significance for somatic psychology. Bioener(etic Analysis ?ioenergetics might be called neo-Reichian therapy. 9ounded by two of Reich#s students, .le%ander Bowen and /ohn Pierrakos, it focuses on the role of the body in character analysis and in therapy. Bowen has used more easily acceptable terms than Reich$bioenergy for orgone energy, for e%ample$and his work has generally met with less resistance than Reich#s. 1here are many more bioenergetic practitioners than Reichians in the -nited States. Bowen '(676) has summari!ed the ma0or changes introduced by bioenergetic analysisE (. Pleasure is emphasi!ed more than se%uality, without denying the importance of se%uality. *. 1he concept of grounding is added to Reich#s original concepts. In traditional Reichian work, patients lie on a bed. In bioenergetic analysis, other positions are used, including an emphasis on standing and the role of the legs in supporting the indi"idual when standing. +. Physical e%ercises are taught, and patients can practice many of them at home. ?ioenergetics includes Reichian breathing techni&ues and many of Reich#s emotional release techni&ues, such as allowing patients to cry, scream, and hit. Bowen also utili!es "arious e%ercises and stress postures in order to energi!e parts of the body that ha"e been blocked. In these postures, stress is increased in chronically tense body parts until the tension becomes so great that the indi"idual is forced to rela% his or her armoring. 1hese e%ercises include bending down to touch the floor, arching back with the fists at the base of the spine, and bending backward o"er a padded stool.

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Bowen found that Reich#s approach to reducing armoring through muscular rela%ation could be supplemented by the opposite processE encouraging patients to mobili!e the feelings e%pressed by tense muscles. 9or e%ample, encouraging a patient#s aggression also helps the indi"idual to surrender to tender feelings. ?ut if the focus is chiefly on letting go and Fgi"ing in,G therapy often results in feelings of sadness and anger e%clusi"ely. In order to a"oid this outcome, Bowen found that the two approaches are best used alternately. ?ioenergetics can ha"e a powerful spiritual or transpersonal dimension. /ohn Pierrakos, the cofounder of bioenergetics, has made the transpersonal a central feature of his newer system of core energeticsE .fter many years of bioenergetics work, I came to feel that something was lacking. 1hough bioenergetics pro"ided a beautiful clinical approach to resol"ing blocks, difficulties, and neurotic symptoms, it lacked a fundamental philosophy because it did not incorporate the spiritual nature of human beings. '(67=, p. *=5) Bowen and his colleagues ha"e continued to write influential and thoughtful books and articles '2ranmer, (664; Keleman, (6=5, (6=6; Bowen, (6=8, (67<, (674, (66*; Pierrakos, (6=5, (67=) and also to train many others in the techni&ues of bioenergetic analysis. The Ale&an%er Techni1$e 1he .le%ander techni&ue is designed to impro"e awareness of one#s habits of mo"ement. .le%ander students learn how they use their bodies improperly and inefficiently and how they can a"oid doing so when acti"e or at rest. ?y use, .le%ander refers to our habits of holding and mo"ing our bodies, habits that directly affect the way we function physically, mentally, and emotionally. .le%ander belie"ed that a prere&uisite for free and efficient mo"ement is the lengthening of the spine. He did not mean a forced stretching but a gentle upward lengthening. .le%ander students work primarily with the following formulaE Bet the neck be free to let the head go forward and up, to let the back lengthen and widen. 1he aim is not to engage in muscular acti"ity; it is to allow the body to ad0ust automatically while the indi"idual concentrates on repeating the formula and responding to the guiding touch of the teacher. 1he mo"ements co"ered in the lesson are taken from common acti"ities, and the student learns gradually to apply the .le%ander principles. 1he balance between head and spine promotes the release of physical tensions, impro"ed alignment, and better muscular coordination. Cn the other hand, interference with this relationship results in tension, misalignment of the body, and poor coordination. 1he .le%ander work has been especially popular with actors, dancers, and other performing artists. It has also been shown to be highly effecti"e for people with physical disabilities and for indi"iduals suffering from chronic physical illnesses. .le%ander teachers ha"e written se"eral e%cellent books pro"iding .le%ander e%ercises and practices one can carry out by oneself '@imon, (667; :ac@onald, (667; :ac@onnel, *<<<). The 2el%en3rais Metho% 1he 9eldenkrais method is designed to help people reco"er the natural grace and freedom they en0oyed as children. 9eldenkrais students work with patterns of muscular mo"ement that enable them to find the most efficient way of mo"ing, eliminating the muscular tension and inefficient habits they ha"e learned o"er the years.

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:oshe 9eldenkrais recei"ed a doctorate in physics in 9rance and worked as a physicist until (644, when he was 4< years of age. He became deeply interested in 0udo and founded the first 0udo school in Aurope, e"entually de"eloping his own 0udo system. 9eldenkrais also worked with .le%ander and studied yoga, 9reud, and neurology. .fter World War II, he de"oted himself to work with the body. 1he 9eldenkrais method uses a tremendous "ariety of e%ercises, which differ from lesson to lesson. 1he e%ercises generally begin with "ery small mo"ements; they are gradually combined into larger patterns. 1he aim is to de"elop ease and freedom of mo"ement in e"ery part of the body. 9eldenkrais often &uoted the 2hinese pro"erb FI hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.G ?ecause his work focuses on understanding through doing, he calls his e%ercises Fawareness through mo"ement.G 9or 9eldenkrais, growth is the gradual ac&uisition of more effecti"e action patterns. Rather than abandon old habits, the goal is to increase our repertoire; for e%ample, when we begin to type, most of us use 0ust two fingers. 1hen we learn touch-typing with ten fingers, a skill that takes time to de"elop. 1ouchtyping is easier and faster than the old two-finger method, and we come to prefer the new way. If new habits are no longer useful or reliable 'because of in0ury or other damage), old habits are a"ailable. 9eldenkrais recommends gradual and natural change that does not threaten to destroy useful patterns. 9eldenkrais often said, FIf you know what you are doing, you can do what you want.G 1he aim of his e%ercises is to get you to do what you want, to understand the easiest patterns of mo"ement for you in each new situation. 9eldenkrais e%ercises work to reestablish efficient connections between the motor corte% and the musculature, connections that ha"e been distorted by habits, tension, or trauma. .ccording to 9eldenkrais, increased awareness and fle%ibility can be achie"ed through balancing and &uieting the motor corte%. 1he more acti"e the corte%, the less we are aware of subtle changes. Cne of the fundamental principles of his work is based on Weber#s Baw, which states that our sensiti"ity to change is proportional to our current le"el of stimulation. If you are carrying a piano, for e%ample, you cannot feel a matchbook added to the load. ?ut if you are carrying one match, the weight of a matchbook is immediately e"ident. 1his e%plains why most people with bad posture are not aware that they do in fact ha"e bad posture. ?y the same token, such people are unlikely to notice any worsening in their posture, because they use so much effort 0ust to stand and walk. Cn the other hand, those with good posture are likely to impro"e. 1hey are aware of subtle physical changes in themsel"es and can use this awareness for selfimpro"ement. ?y balancing the motor corte% and by reducing the le"el of e%citation, 9eldenkrais found, we e%pand awareness and try new mo"ement combinations that were not possible when the motor corte% and musculature were locked into old patterns.

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?ooks by 9eldenkrais teachers pro"ide sophisticated and effecti"e e%ercises for relie"ing pain, de"eloping better posture, and e%periencing a full range of mo"ement '.lon, (66=; Shafarman, (66=; Wildman, *<<<). *tr$ct$ral #nte(ration 4Rolfin(5 Structural integration is a system of reshaping and realigning body posture through deep and often painful stretching of the muscle fascia, connecti"e tissue that supports and connects the muscle and skeletal systems, by direct manipulation. Structural integration is often called rolfing, after its founder, Ida Rolf. Rolf recei"ed a doctorate in biochemistry and physiology in (6*< and worked as an assistant in biochemistry at the Rockefeller Institute for (* years. 9or o"er 4< years, she de"oted herself to teaching and perfecting her system, until her death in (6=6. 1he aim of structural integration is to bring the body into better muscular balance, better alignment with gra"ity, and closer to an optimal posture so that, theoretically, a straight line can be drawn through the ear, shoulder, hip bone, knee, and ankle. 1his leads to balanced distribution of the weight of the ma0or parts of the body$head, chest, pel"is, and legs$and also more graceful and efficient mo"ement. When the body structure is aligned in its gra"itational field, the indi"idual functions more effecti"ely and with less muscular effort. Rolfing works primarily with the fascial system. Rolf '(6==) disco"ered that psychological trauma or e"en minor physical in0ury may result in subtle but relati"ely permanent changes in the body. ?one or muscle tissue becomes displaced; thickening of connecti"e tissue locks these changes into place. :isalignment will occur not only in the immediate area of an in0ury but also at distant points in the body out of compensation. 9or e%ample, fa"oring a sore shoulder o"er time may affect the neck, the other shoulder, and the hips. Work on some areas of the body may trigger memories or a deep emotional discharge. Howe"er, rolfing is aimed primarily at physical integration, and the psychological aspects of the process are not dealt with directly. :any indi"iduals who ha"e combined rolfing with some form of psychological therapy or other growth work ha"e reported that rolfing helped to free their psychological and emotional blocks. *ensory A.areness Sensory awareness work emphasi!es rela%ation and the concentration of our attention on immediate e%perience. It focuses on direct perception, on distinguishing sensations from the learned interpretations that o"erlay our e%perience. 1he simple act of sensing can pro"ide astonishing and rich e%perience, from which we fre&uently cut oursel"es off by li"ing Fin our heads.G It re&uires a recepti"ity and sense of awareness and of inner &uiet, an ability 0ust to let things happen, without force. 1he system of sensory awareness is taught in the -nited States by 2harlotte Sel"er, 2harles ?rooks, and their students. 1he study of this work is our whole organismic functioning in the world we percei"e, of which we are a part$our personal ecologyE how we go about our acti"ities, how we relate to people, to situations, to ob0ects. We aim to disco"er what is natural in this functioning and what is conditionedE what is our nature, which e"olution has designed to keep us in touch with the rest of the world, and what has

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become our Fsecond nature,G as 2harlotte likes to call it, which tends to keep us apart. '?rooks, (6=4, p. (=) 1hrough sensory awareness, people are helped to get back in touch with their bodies and senses. 1ypically, children are in touch with their bodies and senses. .s they grow up, howe"er, they gradually lose this ability. 1he loss of awareness begins at an early age. Parents tend to react to children according to their own preferences rather than to what actually enhances the child#s functioning. 2hildren are taught what things and acti"ities are FgoodG for them$how long to sleep and what to eat$instead of how to 0udge for themsel"es from their own e%perience. F,oodG children learn to come whene"er mother calls, cutting off their natural rhythms and stopping acti"ities immediately for the con"enience of parents and teachers. .fter many such interruptions, the child#s innate sense of rhythm becomes confused, and so does any inner sense of the "alue of his or her e%perience. .nother problem is that of making efforts. So many parents urge their children to sit, stand, walk, and talk as early as possible, thereby forcing de"elopment. 1hese children begin to feel that the future is pressing in on them; they learn stri"ing instead of rela%ed play. 1hey learn to o"erdo. It begins with the parents# unnatural use of baby talk, artificial gestures, and noises in relating with their infants. ?y their e%ample, parents teach that e"en communication cannot be peaceful and simple, that so much more is needed. 1his attitude is carried out in many other areas as well. :any e%ercises in sensory awareness in"ol"e the basic acti"ities of lying, sitting, standing, and walking. 1hese acti"ities offer the best opportunity for disco"ering our attitudes in relation to the en"ironment and for de"eloping our conscious awareness. Sitting on a stool without padding or a back allows us to sense the support of the stool, the pull of gra"ity, and the inner-life processes that occur in relation to these and other forces. Standing also offers rich possibilities for sensing. 9ew people learn to stand comfortably as an end in itself; most of us approach standing as the starting point for other acti"ity. Standing allows us to e%plore balancing and mo"ing from familiar postures to new coordination and being. 1he closer we come to such a state of greater balance in the head, the &uieter we become, the more our head Fclears,G the lighter and more potent we feel. Anergy formerly bound is now more and more at our disposal. Pressure and hurry change into freedom for speed. We find oursel"es being more one with the world where we formerly had to cross barriers. 1houghts and ideas FcomeG in lucidity instead of being produced.... A%periences can be allowed to be more fully recei"ed and to mature in us. 'Sel"er > ?rooks, (655, p. 8<+) :ost sensory awareness e%ercises ha"e an inward, meditati"e orientation. Sel"er and ?rooks ha"e pointed out that as inner &uiet de"elops, unnecessary tension and acti"ity diminish, and recepti"ity to inner and outer e"ents is heightened; other changes occur simultaneously throughout the whole person. E0al$ation 1he "arious body-oriented systems, which ha"e de"eloped independently in widely different parts of the globe, ha"e much in common. 1hey all ad"ocate nondoing, learning to let the body operate naturally and smoothly. .ll fa"or rela%ed instead of tense acti"ity and teach the indi"idual to reduce habitual tensions

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in the body. .ll of these systems treat mind and body as a single whole, an ongoing psychophysiological process in which change at any le"el will affect all other parts. 1here are also some interesting differences between these systems. Aach seems to speciali!e in a particular area of physical functioning. Reichian and bioenergetic therapies deal with emotionally charged blocks in the body, whereas rolfing works to restructure body misalignments brought about by physical in0ury or "arious other causes. 1he .le%ander techni&ue focuses on body use rather than structure. 1he 9eldenkrais method also deals with use; howe"er, 9eldenkrais e%ercises include considerably more comple% beha"ior patterns, in order to restore physical effecti"eness and efficiency. Sensory awareness focuses on the senses, on touching and being touched, and on becoming more aware of the body and the surrounding world. .ll of these systems teach students to be more rela%ed and more Fnatural,G both at rest and during acti"ity. 1hey are all concerned with eliminating the unnecessary tensions that we carry around with us and with bringing us back to nondoing action. ?y such action, we allow the body to operate naturally and effecti"ely rather than to strain, push, or o"erdo. 1hese systems share a con"iction that we need not learn something brand-new or de"elop new muscles. 1he most important thing is to unlearn the poor habits we ha"e picked up as children and adults, and to return once again to the natural wisdom, coordination, and balance of the body. Aach school of body work is based on the principle that somatic inter"entions produce changes in emotion and relationship. Aach body therapy seeks to release the indi"idual from psychophysical inhibitions and to restore full psychophysiological self-regulation ':oss > Shane, (666). 1hese body-oriented systems support Reich#s fundamental ideas, that we need to de"elop natural, unarmored bodies in order to de"elop psychologically. We can reduce the distortions carried o"er from past trauma and the tension held from past an%iety in order to reach our full potentials as energetic, feeling, sensiti"e human beings. The Theory 2irsthan% E&cerpt from Me an% the )r(one 1he following passages are taken from Crson ?ean#s book :e and the Crgone, an account of the actor#s e%periences in Reichian therapy with @r. Alsworth ?aker, a prominent Reichian therapist. @r. ?aker sat down behind his desk and indicated the chair in front of it for me.... FWell,G he said, Ftake off your clothes and let#s ha"e a look at you.G :y eyes went glassy as I stood up and started to undress $G3ou can lea"e on your shorts and socks,G said ?aker, to my relief. I laid my clothes on the chair against the wall in a neat pile, hoping to get a gold star. FBie down on the bed,G said the doctor.... He began pinching the muscles in the soft part of my shoulders. I wanted to smash him in his sadistic face, put on my clothes and get the hell out of there. Instead I said, FCw.G 1hen I said, F1hat hurts.G FIt doesn#t sound as if it hurts,G he said. FWell, it does,G I said, and managed an FCoo, Coo.G

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FDow breathe in and out deeply,G he said and he placed the palm of one hand on my chest and pushed down hard on it with the other. 1he pain was substantial. FWhat if the bed breaksLG I thought. FWhat if my spine snaps or I suffocateLG I breathed in and out for a while and then ?aker found my ribs, and began probing and pressing.... He began to 0ab at my stomach, prodding here and there to find a tight little knotted muscle.... He mo"ed downward, mercifully passing my 0ockey shorts, and began to pinch and prod the muscles of my inner thighs. .t that point I reali!ed that the shoulders and the ribs and the stomach hadn#t hurt at all. 1he pain was ama!ing, especially since it was an area I hadn#t thought would e"er hurt.... F1urn o"er,G said ?aker. I did and he started at my neck and worked downwards with an unerring instinct for e"ery tight, sore muscle.... F1urn back o"er again,G said @r. ?aker and I did. F.ll right,G he said. FI want you to breathe in and out as deeply as you can and at the same time roll your eyes around without mo"ing your head. 1ry to look at all four walls, one at a time, and mo"e your eyeballs as far from side to side as possible.G I began to roll my eyes, feeling rather foolish but grateful that he was no longer tormenting my body. Cn and on my eyes rolled. FKeep breathing,G said ?aker. I began to feel a strange pleasurable feeling in my eyes like the sweet fu!!iness that happens when you smoke a good stick of pot. 1he fu!!iness began to spread through my face and head and then down into my body. F.ll right,G said ?aker. FDow I want you to continue breathing and do a bicycle kick on the bed with your legs.G I began to raise my legs and bring them down rhythmically, striking the bed with my cal"es. :y thighs began to ache and I wondered when he would say that I had done it long enough, but he didn#t. Cn and on I went, until my legs were ready to drop off. 1hen, gradually, it didn#t hurt anymore and that same sweet fu!!y sensation of pleasure began to spread through my whole body, only much stronger. I now felt as if a rhythm had taken o"er my kicking which had nothing to do with any effort on my part. I felt transported and in the grip of something larger than me. I was breathing more deeply than I e"er had before and I felt the sensation of each breath all the way down past my lungs and into my pel"is. ,radually, I felt myself lifted right out of ?aker#s milk chocolate room and up into the spheres. I was beating to an astral rhythm. 9inally, I knew it was time to stop.... 1he Wednesday morning after my first "isit to ?aker I woke up, after about fi"e hours sleep, feeling e%hilarated. :y coffee tasted better than it e"er had and e"en the garbage floating down the Aast Ri"er seemed to me to ha"e a lightness and symmetry to it. 1he feeling lasted for the rest of the day. It was a sense of well-being and at-peace-with-the-world-ness. :y body felt light and little ripples of pleasure rolled up and down my arms, legs, and torso. When I breathed, the sensation of mo"ement continued down into the base of my torso and it felt good. I felt "aguely horny in a tender way and the thought of women in general filled me with lo"e.... I was starting to unwind. 1he pleasurable ripples were lessening and a sense of an%iety was starting to take o"er. ?rownish marks that would be black and blue by the ne%t day began to appear on my body where ?aker had pinched and gouged at me.... I got into bed, reali!ed that I was cold and reached down to the foot of the bed for the e%tra blanket. 1hen it occurred to me that I was cold with fear. I tried to e%amine my feelings as I had learned to do in psychoanalysis. It was a different kind of dread than I had e"er e%perienced before. I thought of a marionette show I had seen as a kid with skeleton puppets who danced to the music of the @anse macabre and then began to fly apart, with legs and arms and head coming off and ribs and pel"is coming

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apart. I felt like I too was starting to come apart. 1he an%iety was terrific and I was aware that I was in"oluntarily tightening up on my muscles to hold myself together. 1he wonderful 0oyous liberated feeling was going away and in its place was a sense of holding on for dear life. :y armoring, if that#s what it was, seemed like an old friend now. People say, FI#d rather die in the electric chair than spend my life in prison,G but prisoners ne"er say that. . life in chains is better than no life at all, e%cept in theory. I reali!ed it was going to take all the courage I could muster to de-armor myself. I knew I would fight @r. ?aker e"ery step of the way but I also remembered how I had felt for that thirty-si% hours or so after my first treatment and I wanted it more than anything else in the world.... FWhat kind of week did you ha"eLG asked ?aker and I told him. F3our reaction of clamping down after a period of pleasurable sensations was completely natural and to be e%pected,G he said. F3ou won#t always ha"e those nice feelings but it#s important to remember what they were like so you can work towards them again. It will help you tolerate the fear you#ll feel as your armor breaks down.G ... F3es,G he said. FIt is frightening. 3ou ha"e a lot of anger to get out, a lot of hate and rage and then a lot of longing and a lot of lo"e. Ckay,G he said, FI#ll see you ne%t time.G .nd I got up and got dressed and left. '?ean, (6=(, pp. (=J*<, *6J+(, +4J+5) Chapter Hi(hli(hts Wilhelm Reich was the founder of somatic psychology and body-oriented psychotherapy, and the precursor of current therapies that work with the emotional life of the body. Reich#s uni&ue contributions to psychology are his insistence on the unity of the body and the mind, the inclusion of the body into the realm of psychotherapy, and his concept of character armor. In psychoanalysis, Reich fostered the release of emotions locked into muscular armoring by working directly with the body as well with psychological material. 2haracter defenses differ from neurotic symptoms in that they are e%perienced as integral parts of the personality, whereas neurotic symptoms are e%perienced as foreign elements in the psyche, as meaningless or e"en pathological. In 9reud#s model, the final le"el of psychose%ual de"elopment is termed genital character. Reich used this phrase to describe persons with orgastic potency. 1rue genitality de"eloped when his patients relin&uished their armoring. :uscular armoring is organi!ed into se"en ma0or segments. Aach segment is composed of muscles and organs with related e%pressi"e functions. 1he segments are centered in the eyes, mouth, neck, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, and pel"is, and form se"en hori!ontal rings at right angles to the torso and spine.

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1o dissol"e the armor, the Reichian therapist has the patient build up energy in the body through deep breathing, directly manipulates chronically tense muscles, and maintains both cooperation and communication with the patient throughout the therapeutic process. Reich opposed any separation of emotions, intellect, and body. He suggested that the intellect is actually a biological function and may indeed ha"e an energetic charge as strong as any of the emotions. ?ioenergetics could be termed neo-Reichian therapy. 9ounded by two of Reich#s students, .le%ander Bowen and /ohn Pierrakos, it, too, focuses on the role of the body in therapy and in character analysis. In bioenergetics, pleasure is emphasi!ed as well as se%uality. ?ioenergetics adds the concept of grounding, being anchored in one#s pel"is and legs. Bowen encouraged patients to mobili!e the feelings e%pressed by tense muscles; he also continued to use Reich#s techni&ue of reducing armoring through muscular rela%ation. Bowen found the approaches were best used alternately. 1he .le%ander techni&ue is designed to impro"e awareness of the indi"idual#s habits of mo"ement. Integrated mo"ement is emphasi!ed, based on a balanced relationship between the head and the spine. Prere&uisite for efficient and free mo"ement is a gentle upward lengthening of the spine. 1he aim of the 9eldenkrais method is to de"elop freedom and ease of mo"ement in e"ery part of the body. It works with patterns of muscular mo"ement to help the indi"idual find the most efficient ways of mo"ing and eliminate muscular tensions. In the 9eldenkrais e%ercises, students pay attention to the whole body rather than to the parts that seem to be most in"ol"ed with a mo"ement. 1he entire body, and the entire self, participates, as awareness broadens naturally. 1o mo"e without trying, as if only the thought of mo"ing is necessary, is the ideal. Structural integration, also called rolfing, is a system of realigning and reshaping body posture through deep and often painful stretching of the muscle fascia by direct manipulation. Sensory awareness e%ercises call for a meditati"e, inward orientation. 2hanges occur simultaneously as unnecessary acti"ity and tension diminish, inner &uiet de"elops, and recepti"ity to outer and inner e"ents is heightened. 6ey Concepts Armorin( J . protecti"e mechanism that stops the free e%pression of emotion and restricts the flow of energy. .rmoring, which can be psychological and physical, is a ma0or obstacle to growth. Bo%y armor J 1he patterns of chronic muscle tension that are the physical manifestations of an indi"idual#s character armor. Character armor J Habitual patterns of defense. 2haracter armor forms from the ego defenses that ha"e become chronically acti"e and automatic, and it includes all the defensi"e forces that constitute a coherent pattern within the ego.

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)r(astic potency J 1he capacity to surrender fully to the flow of biological energy and to discharge completely dammed-up se%ual e%citation. )r(one ener(y J ?asic energy present in all li"ing organisms 'based on 9reud#s concept of libido) and an aspect of a uni"ersal, mass-free energy. Weber7s /a. J . fundamental principle in the work of 9eldenkrais. It states that our sensiti"ity to change is proportional to our current le"el of stimulation. ?y &uieting and balancing the motor corte%, we e%pand our awareness of subtle changes. Annotate% Biblio(raphy Reichian Theory ?aker, A. '(65=). :an in the trap. Dew 3orkE ."on ?ooks. @etailed discussion of Reichian therapy and theory by an eminent Reichian therapist. ?oadella, @. '(6=+). Wilhelm ReichE 1he e"olution of his work. BondonE ision. 1he best secondary source on Reich; details the historical de"elopment of his theories. Reich, W. '(65(). Selected writings. Dew 3orkE 9arrar, Straus > ,irou% 'Doonday Press). .n e%cellent introduction to the full range of Reich#s thought. Includes chapters on therapy, orgone theory, and orgone research. $$$. '(6=+). 1he function of the orgasm. Dew 3orkE 1ouchstone. Reich#s best book, it includes e%cellent material on character analysis, bioenergy, genital character, and Reichian therapy. $$$. '(6=5). 2haracter analysis. Dew 3orkE Pocket ?ooks. . classic work, this book represents Reich#s contributions to psychoanalysis; rewritten from the first edition to fit his later theoretical perspecti"es. Bioener(etics Keleman, S. '(6=(). Se%uality, self and sur"i"al. San 9ranciscoE Bodestar Press. . li"ely treatment of bioenergetics, including transcripts of work sessions, by a ma0or practitioner. Bowen, .. '(6=8). ?ioenergetics. Dew 3orkE Penguin ?ooks. 1he best introduction to Bowen#s writings on bioenergetics. Bowen, .., > Bowen, B. '(6==). 1he way to "ibrant healthE . manual of bioenergetic e%ercises. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. Superb do-it-yourself manual of bioenergetic e%ercises by .le%ander and Beslie Bowen. 9ully illustrated, with pictures of the couple. Ale&an%er Techni1$e .le%ander, 9. '(656). 1he resurrection of the body. Dew 3orkE @ell '@elta ?ooks). . collection of .le%ander#s writings. Rich but difficult material. ?arlow, W. '(6=+). 1he .le%ander techni&ue. Dew 3orkE Knopf. . clear discussion of the theory behind the techni&ue, with "arious case studies. Written by an eminent practitioner. 2el%en3rais Metho% 9eldenkrais, :. '(6=*). .wareness through mo"ement. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. 1heoretical discussion plus a number of fascinating e%ercises.

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$$$. '(6==). 1he case of DoraE ?ody awareness as healing therapy. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. . brilliant case study that pro"ides insight into 9eldenkrais#s work as a therapist. $$$. '(678). 1he potent self. San 9ranciscoE Harper > Row. . posthumous collection of 9eldenkrais#s writings on moti"ation, resistance, habit formation, wellness, and the de"elopment of full human potential. *tr$ct$ral #nte(ration 4Rolfin(5 Rolf, I. '(6==). RolfingE 1he integration of human structures. Santa :onica, 2.E @ennis-Bandman. 1he ma0or work on structural integration, written by the founder. Schut!, W., > 1urner, A. '(6==). ?ody fantasy. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. . detailed case study in"ol"ing the creati"e integration of rolfing and psychotherapy. *ensory A.areness ?rooks, 2. '(6=4). Sensory awareness. Dew 3orkE iking Press. 1he only e%tensi"e study of this work. A%cellent, clearly written, with many fine illustrati"e photos. Web *ites Reichian Theory an% Practice httpENNwww.orgone.orgN 1his site is dedicated to pro"iding information on Wilhelm Reich#s work. It includes guides to Reichian publications and organi!ations, online articles on Reichian theory and practice, conference and workshop information, and links to other Reich-related Web sites. 2el%en3rais an% Bioener(etics httpENNwww.naturalhealthweb.comN 1his site includes information on a wide "ariety of approaches to somatic psychology, especially approaches to healing. 1he 9eldenkrais section includes the site for the 9eldenkrais ,uild for Dorth .merica, which includes online 9eldenkrais lessons and a guide to 9eldenkrais practitioners. 1he ?ioenergetics section includes the site for the International Institute for ?ioenergetics, which lists information on ?ioenergetics theory, training, research, publications, and a guide to ?ioenergetics therapists. References .le%ander, 9. '(656). 1he resurrection of the body. Dew 3orkE @ell '@elta ?ooks). .lon, R. '(665). :indful spontaneity. ?erkeley, 2.E Dorth .tlantic ?ooks. ?aker, A. '(65=). :an in the trap. Dew 3orkE :acmillan. ?arlow, W. '(6=+). 1he .le%ander techni&ue. Dew 3orkE Knopf. ?ean, C. '(6=(). :e and the orgone. Dew 3orkE St. :artin#s Press.

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?erkowit!, B. '(6=+). 1he case for bottling up rage. Psychology 1oday, ='*), *4J+(. ?est, .. '(666). 1he holistic healing resource of erotic energy. @issertation .bstracts, 88, 4488. ?oadella, @. '(6=+). Wilhelm ReichE 1he e"olution of his work. BondonE ision. $$$. '(67=). BifestreamsE .n introduction to biosynthesis. Dew 3orkE Routledge > Kegan Paul. ?rooks, 2. '(6=4). Sensory awareness. Dew 3orkE iking Press. 2onger, /. '(677). /ung and ReichE 1he body as shadow. ?erkeley, 2.E Dorth .tlantic. 2ranmer, @. '(664). 2ore energetics. In @. /ones 'Ad.), Inno"ati"e therapy. ?uckingham, AnglandE Cpen -ni"ersity Press, pp. ((=J(+<. @imon, 1. '(66=). 1he undi"ided self. ?erkeley, 2.E Dorth .tlantic ?ooks. 9eldenkrais, :. '(68<). ?ody and mature beha"ior. Dew 3orkE International -ni"ersities Press. $$$. '(655). Image, mo"ement, and actorE Restoration of potentiality. 1ulane @rama Re"iew, +, ((*J(*5. $$$. '(6=*). .wareness through mo"ement. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. $$$. '(6==). 1he case of DoraE ?ody awareness as healing therapy. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. $$$. '(67(). 1he elusi"e ob"ious. 2upertino, 2.E :eta Publications. $$$. '(678). 1he potent self. San 9ranciscoE Harper > Row. 9ernald, P. '*<<<). 2arl RogersE ?ody-centered counselor. /ournal of 2ounseling and @e"elopment, =7, (=*J(=6. 9rey, .. '(658). ?eha"ioral biophysics. Psychological ?ulletin, 5+, +**J++=. Higgens, :., > Raphael, 2. '(65=). Reich speaks of 9reud. Dew 3orkE 9arrar, Straus > ,irou%. /ones, 9. '(65=). ?ody awareness in action. Dew 3orkE Schocken ?ooks. /osephs, B. '(668). ?alancing empathy and interpretationE Relational character analysis. Dorth"ale, D/E .ronson. Keen, S. '(6=<a). Sing the body electric. Psychology 1oday, 8, 85J87, 77. $$$. '(6=<b). :y new carnality. Psychology 1oday, 8, 86J5(. Keleman, S. '(6=(). Se%uality, self and sur"i"al. San 9ranciscoE Bodestar Press. $$$. '(6=+a). 1odtmoos. San 9ranciscoE Bodestar Press. $$$. '(6=+b). 1he human ground. San 9ranciscoE Bodestar Press. $$$. '(6=5). 3our body speaks its mind. Dew 3orkE Pocket ?ooks. $$$. '(6=6). Somatic reality. ?erkeley, 2.E 2enter Press. Kelley, 2. '(65*). What is orgone energyL Santa :onica, 2.E Interscience Workshop.

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$$$. '(6=<). Aducation in feeling and purpose. Santa :onica, 2.E Interscience Workshop. $$$. '(6=(). Primal scream and genital characterE . criti&ue of /ano" and Reich. Santa :onica, 2.E Interscience Workshop. $$$. '(6=*). 1he new education. Santa :onica, 2.E Interscience Research Institute. Bawrence, @. H. '(688). Se%, literature and censorship. BondonE Heinemann. Beibowit!, /. '(65=J(657). 9or the "ictims of our cultureE 1he .le%ander techni&ue. @ance Scope, 4, +*J+=. Binklater, K. '(6=*). 1he body training of :oshe 9eldenkrais. 1he @rama Re"iew, (5, *+J*=. Bowen, .. '(656). 1he betrayal of the body. Dew 3orkE :acmillan. $$$. '(6=(). 1he language of the body. Dew 3orkE :acmillan. $$$. '(6=8). ?ioenergetics. Dew 3orkE Penguin ?ooks. $$$. '(67<). 9ear of life. Dew 3orkE :acmillan. $$$. '(674). DarcissismE @enial of the true self. Dew 3orkE :acmillan. $$$. '(676). ?ioenergetic analysis. In R. /. 2orsini > @. Wedding 'Ads.), 2urrent psychotherapies '4th ed.). Itasca, IBE 9. A. Peacock. $$$. '(66<). 1he spirituality of the body. Dew 3orkE :acmillan. $$$. '(66*). ?ioenergetic analysisE . mind-body therapy. In /. Oeig 'Ad.), 1he e"olution of psychotherapy. Dew 3orkE ?runnerN:a!el. Bowen, .., > Bowen, B. '(6==). 1he way to "ibrant healthE . manual of bioenergetic e%ercises. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. :acdonald, P. '(6=<). Psycho-physical integrity. ?ulletin of Structural Integration, *, *+J*5. :ac@onald, ,. '(667). 1he complete illustrated guide to the .le%ander techni&ue. Rockport, :.E Alement. :ac@onnel, :. '*<<<). .le%ander techni&ue for health and well being. BondonE Southwater. :ann, W. '(6=+). Crgone, Reich and eros. Dew 3orkE Simon > Schuster. :ann, W., > Hoffman, A. '(67<). 1he man who dreamed of tomorrowE 1he life and thought of Wilhelm Reich. Bos .ngelesE 1archer. :oss, @., > Shane, P. ?ody therapies in humanistic psychology. In @. :oss 'Ad.), Humanistic and teranspersonal psychologyE . historical and biographical sourcebook. Westport, 21E ,reenwood Press. Pierrakos, /. '(6=5). Human energy systems theory. Dew 3orkE Institute for the Dew .ge of :an. $$$. '(67=). 2ore energetics. :endocino, 2.E Bife Rhythm. Reich, I. '(656). William ReichE . personal biography. Dew 3orkE St. :artin#s Press.

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Reich, W. '(65(). Selected writings. Dew 3orkE 9arrar, Straus > ,irou% 'Doonday Press). $$$. '(6=<a). 1he se%ual re"olution. Dew 3orkE 9arrar, Straus > ,irou%. $$$. '(6=<b). 1he mass psychology of fascism. Dew 3orkE 9arrar, Straus > ,irou%. $$$. '(6=+). 1he function of the orgasm. Dew 3orkE 1ouchstone. $$$. '(6=5). 2haracter analysis. Dew 3orkE Pocket ?ooks. $$$. '(66<). 1he passion of youthE .n autobiography. Dew 3orkE Paragon. $$$. '(666). .merican odysseyE Betters and 0ournals (64<J(64=. Dew 3orkE 9arrar, Straus > ,irou%. Robinson, P. '(656). 1he 9reudian left. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. Rolf, I. '(65*). Structural integrationE ,ra"ity, an une%plored factor in a more human use of human beings. ?oulder, 2CE ,uild for Structural Integration. $$$. 'n.d.). A%ercise. 1he ?ulletin of Structural Integration .nthology, (, +(J+4. $$$. '(6==). RolfingE 1he integration of human structures. Santa :onica, 2.E @ennis-Bandman. Rycroft, 2. '(6=(). Wilhelm Reich. Dew 3orkE iking Press. Schut!, W., > 1urner, A. '(6==). ?ody fantasy. Dew 3orkE Harper > Row. Sel"er, 2., > ?rooks, 2. '(655). Report on work in sensory awareness and total functioning. In H. Ctto 'Ad.), A%plorations in human potentialities. Springfield, IBE 1homas. Shafarman, S. '(667). .wareness heals. BondonE 1horsons. Sterba, R. '(6=5). 2linical and therapeutic aspects of character resistance. In :. ?ergmann > 9. Hartman 'Ads.), 1he e"olution of psychoanalytic techni&ue. Dew 3orkE ?asic ?ooks. Stransky, /. '(656). .n inter"iew with /udith Stransky. ?ulletin of Structural Integration, *, 8J((. 1art, 2. '(676). Cpen mind, discriminating mind. San 9ranciscoE Harper > Row. West, W. '(664). Post-Reichian therapy. In @. /ones 'Ad.), Inno"ati"e therapy. ?uckingham, AnglandE Cpen -ni"ersity Press. Wildman, 9. '*<<<). 9eldenkrais mo"ement e%ercises. San 9rancisco, 2.E :o"ement Studies Institute.PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQReich, perhaps more consistently than anyone else, worked out the critical and re"olutionary implications of psychoanalytic theory. 'Robinson, (656, p. (<)P QPersonal History RPQHWIhere and how is the patient to e%press his natural se%uality when it has been liberated from repressionL 9reud neither alluded to nor, as it later turned out, e"en tolerated this &uestion. .nd, e"entually, because he refused to deal with this central &uestion, 9reud himself created enormous difficulties by postulating a biological stri"ing for suffering and death. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (8*)

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H1Ihe life process is identical with the se%ual process$an e%perimentally pro"en fact.... In e"erything li"ing, se%ual "egetati"e energy is at work. 'Reich, (65(, p. 88) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQ3ou want a good genius, one with moderation and decorum, one without folly; in brief, a seemly, measured and ad0usted genius, not an unruly, untamed HoneI. 'Reich in :ann > Hoffman, (67<, p. (6) PQIntellectual .ntecedents RPQH1Ihe patient must, through analysis, arri"e at a regulated and gratifying genital life$if he is to be cured and permanently so. 'Reich, (6=5, p. (=) Deuroses are the result of a stasis 'damming-up) of se%ual energy.... A"eryday clinical e%perience lea"es no doubtE the elimination of se%ual stasis through orgastic discharge eliminates e"ery neurotic manifestation. 'Reich, (65(, p. (76) A"ery social order produces in the masses of its members that structure which it needs to achie"e its aims. 'Reich, (6=<b, p. *+) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQA"ery person who has succeeded in preser"ing a certain amount of naturalness knows thisE those who are psychically ill need but one thing $complete and repeated genital gratification. 'Reich, (6=+, p. 65) In an ultimate sense, in self-awareness and in the stri"ing for the perfection of knowledge and full integration of one#s bio-functions, the cosmic orgone energy becomes aware of itself. 'Reich, (65(, p. 8*) PQ:a0or 2oncepts RPQCrgastic longing, which plays such a gigantic role in the life of animals, appears now Hin humansI as an e%pression of this stri"ing beyond oneself, as longing to reach out beyond the narrow sack of one#s own organism. 'Reich, (65(, p. +88) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQ1he FhowG ... the form of the beha"ior and of the communications, was far more important than what the patient told the analyst. Words can lie. 1he e%pression ne"er lies. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (=() 1he patient#s beha"ior 'manner, look, language, countenance, dress, handshake, etc.) not only is "astly underestimated in terms of its analytic importance but is usually completely o"erlooked. 'Reich, (6=5, p. +4) . conflict which is fought out at a certain age always lea"es behind a trace in the person#s character ... re"ealed as a hardening of the character. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (48) I say on the basis of ample clinical e%perience that only in a few cases in our ci"ili!ation is the se%ual act based on lo"e. 1he inter"ening rage, hatred, sadistic emotions and contempt are part and parcel of the lo"e life of modern man. 'Reich in Rycroft, (6=(, p. 7()PQ@ynamics RPQ Personal Reflection Bo%y A.areness Aarly in his career, Reich stressed the importance of awareness of our habitual postures and styles of mo"ing. @o not mo"e or shift your posture as you continue to read this.

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3ou are probably either sitting or lying down right now. .re you aware of how you are holding the book, of the way your fingers and your arms are taking the weight of the bookL How are you sitting or lyingL Is the weight of your body more on one side than the otherL How are you holding your armsL Is there e%cess tension in your chest, shoulders, and forearms, or throughout your bodyL @o you feel that you want to shift to a more comfortable positionL Shift now, and notice the changes you are e%periencing. How does this new position feelL How long do you think you held your former, less comfortable positionL 3our habits of using your body are probably not as efficient or effecti"e as they could be. ?ecause of these habits and our lack of body awareness, we tend to sit and mo"e in ways that are less than optimally comfortable or useful. It is not until we get back in touch with our own bodies that we can recogni!e this. PQIt is solely our sensation of the natural process inside and outside oursel"es, which holds the keys to the deep riddles of nature.... Sensation is the sie"e through which all inner and outer stimuli are percei"ed; sensation is the connecting link between ego and outer world. 'Reich, (65(, p. *=8) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQIt is possible to get out of a trap. Howe"er, in order to break out of a prison, one first must confess to being in a prison. 1he trap is man#s emotional structure, his character structure. 1here is little use in de"ising systems of thought about the nature of the trap if the only thing to do in order to get out of the trap is to know the trap and to find the e%it. 'Reich, (65(, p. 4=<) PQ9igure 6.( 1he Se"en Segments of the ?ody. SourceE ?aker '(65=), p. =(.PQ@ynamics RPQ1he spasm of the musculature is the somatic side of the process of repression, and the basis of its continued preser"ation. 'Reich, (6=+, p. +<*) H1heI armor could lie on the FsurfaceG or in the Fdepth,G could be Fas soft as a spongeG or Fas hard as a rock.G Its function in e"ery case was to protect the person against unpleasurable e%periences. Howe"er, it also entailed a reduction in the organism#s capacity for pleasure. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (48) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQ1he capacity of the "egetati"e organism to participate in the tension-charge function in a unified and total way is undoubtedly the basic characteristic of psychic and "egetati"e health.... @isturbances of self-perception do not really disappear until the orgasm refle% has been fully de"eloped into a unified whole. 'Reich, (6=+, p. +88) It is a snake, thus a symbol of the phallus and simultaneously of the biological original mo"ement, which persuades A"e to tempt .dam.... FWhoe"er eats of the tree of knowledge knows ,od and life, and that will be punished,G we are warned. 1he knowledge of the law of lo"e leads to the knowledge of the law of life, and that of the law of life leads to knowledge of ,od. 'Reich, (65(, p. *=+) PQ@ynamics RPQ Personal Reflection Armor in 8o$r /ife

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Read o"er the description of armoring in the te%t. Which is your most important armoring segmentL How has this part of your body functioned in your lifeL How has your strong armoring affected your e%perienceL '?e as specific as possible.) Has this armoring segment made you particularly "ulnerable or, instead, particularly rigid and unfeelingL PQI found that people reacted with deep hatred to e"ery disturbance of the neurotic balance of their armor. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (4=) It was only the mystics who$far remo"ed from scientific insight$always kept in contact with the function of the li"ing. Since, thus, the li"ing became the domain of mysticism, serious natural science shrank from occupying itself with it. 'Reich, (65(, pp. (6=J(67) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQ1he destructi"eness which is bound up in the character is nothing but anger about frustration in general and denial of se%ual gratification in particular. 'Reich, (6=+, p. *(6) 1he life process is inherently Frational.G It becomes distorted and grotes&ue when it is not allowed to de"elop freely. 'Reich, (6=+, p. (6) PQStructure RPQ3ou do not stri"e to make your heart beat or your legs mo"e, and you do not, by the same token, Fstri"eG for or seek truth. 1ruth is in you and works in you 0ust as your heart or your eyes work, well or badly, according to the condition of your organism. 'Reich, (65(, p. 465) Intellectual acti"ity can be structured and directed in such a way that it looks like a most cunningly operating apparatus whose purpose is precisely to a"oid cognition, i.e., it looks like an acti"ity directing one away from reality. In short, the intellect can operate in the two fundamental directions of the psychic apparatusE toward the world and away from the world. 'Reich, (6=5, p. ++7) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQIn penetrating to the deepest depth and the fullest e%tent of emotional integration of the Self, we not only e%perience and feel, we also learn to understand, if only dimly, the meaning and working of the cosmic orgone ocean of which we are a tiny part. 'Reich, (65(, pp. 8(6J8*<) PQA"aluation RPQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQA"erybody is seeking ali"eness, e"erybody wants to be more ali"e. What we don#t consider is that you ha"e to learn to bear being more ali"e, to assimilate it, to permit an energetic charge to go through your body. 'Keleman, (6=(, p. +6) It delights me to say that I am my body, with full understanding of what that really means. It allows me to identify with my total ali"eness, without any need to split myself. 'Keleman, (6=(, p. *7)PQCther .pproaches to Somatic Psychology RPQ Personal Reflection *tress Post$res 1ry these e%ercises. .ccording to bioenergetic theory, they are designed to bring energy to parts of the body that are chronically tense. Stand with legs about shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent; without straining, bend o"er to touch the floor. Bet your body stay loose and your head hang down freely. Hold this posture for se"eral

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minutes. 3ou may find that your legs begin to shake or &ui"er, or you may notice other changes in your body. Keep breathing freely and naturally, and don#t try to make anything happen. Slowly come up from this position, feeling your spine gradually come to a "ertical position, "ertebra by "ertebra. De%t, try a position that will cur"e the spine the other way. Stand with feet apart and your knees pointing slightly out. Put your fists in the small of your back and bend backward 'be "ery careful not to strain your back). .gain, keep your neck rela%ed and your head hanging back freely, and breathe freely. .ny muscle &ui"ering that might accompany these two postures is an indication of the rela%ing and energi!ing of armored parts of the body. PQH.le%anderI established not only the beginnings of a far-reaching science of the apparently in"oluntary mo"ements we call refle%es, but a techni&ue of correction and self-control which forms a substantial addition to our "ery slender resources in personal education. ',eorge ?ernard Shaw in /ones, (6=5, p. 8*) :r. .le%ander has demonstrated a new scientific principle with respect to the control of human beha"ior, as important as any principle which has e"er been disco"ered in the domain of e%ternal nature. '/ohn @ewey in /ones, (6=5, p. (<4) PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQI read a lot of physiology and psychology and to my great astonishment I found that in regard to using the whole human being for action, there was ignorance, superstition, and absolute idiocy. 1here wasn#t a single book that dealt with how we function. '9eldenkrais, (655, p. ((8) 1o learn we need time, attention, and discrimination; to discriminate we must sense. 1his means that in order to learn we must sharpen our powers of sensing, and if we try to do most things by sheer force we shall achie"e precisely the opposite of what we need. '9eldenkrais, (6=*, p. 87) PQCther .pproaches to Somatic Psychology RPQ Personal Reflection T$rnin( the Hea% 1o get a general idea of how the 9eldenkrais method operates, try this e%ercise. Sit on the floor or in a chair and slowly turn your head to the right, without straining. Dote how far your head will turn, and how far to the rear you can see. 1urn your head back to the front. 1urn your head to the right again. Bea"e your head in place, and mo"e your eyes to the right. See if your head can mo"e farther to the right. Repeat this three to four times. 1urn your head to the right. Dow mo"e your shoulders to the right and see if you can turn your head farther to the rear. Repeat this three to four times.

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1urn your head to the right. Dow mo"e your hips to the right and see if you can turn your head farther to the rear. Repeat this three to four times. 9inally, turn your head to the right, and, lea"ing your head in its right-turned position, mo"e your eyes, shoulders, and hips to the right. How far can you see nowL Dow turn your head to the left. How far can you seeL 2ontinuing with the left side, repeat each step of the e%ercise you did with the right side, but mentally only. isuali!e the mo"ement of your head and "isuali!e your eyes to the left. isuali!e each step three to four times. 1hen turn your head to the left and mo"e your eyes, shoulders, and hips to the left. How far can you turn nowL What do you think happenedL 3our range of mo"ement increased because you broke up old mo"ement patterns. 3ou impro"ed by loosening up your brain rather than loosening up your muscles. PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQIn any attempt to create an integrated indi"idual an ob"ious starting place is his physical body, if for no other reason than to e%amine the old premise that a man can pro0ect only that which is within.... In some way, as yet poorly defined, the physical body is actually the personality, rather than its e%pression. 'Rolf, (65*, p. 5) :an is an energy field, as the earth and its outward en"elope of forces is an energy field. How well a man can e%ist and function depends on whether the field which is himself, his psychological and physical personality, is reinforced or disorgani!ed by the field of gra"ity. 'Rolf, (65*, p. (*) PQCther .pproaches to Somatic Psychology RPQ Personal Reflection Post$re )bser0ation @o this e%ercise with a partner. Ha"e your partner stand naturally, and obser"e his or her posture carefully. '9orm-fitting clothing or a bathing suit will work best.) Is one shoulder higher than the otherL Is the head balanced on top of the neck, or is it held forward or backwardL Is the chest ca"ed in or stuck outL Is one hip higher than the otherL Is the pel"is stuck out to the rearL .re the knees held directly o"er the feetL .re the feet straight, or the toes pointed either in or outL Book at your partner from the front, sides, and back. 1hen ha"e your partner walk slowly while you obser"e from all angles. 9inally, you might want to ha"e your partner stand against a straight, "ertical line drawn on the wall 'the line formed by a door will ser"e) to obser"e alignment more carefully. 1hen discuss what you ha"e obser"ed. 9or e%ample, what does your partner#s posture suggest about his or her armoringL .lso, imitate your partner#s posture and walk in order to illustrate your points. When you ha"e finished, switch roles.

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1his e%ercise is not intended as a criti&ue of you or your partner. Do one has perfect posture. :ake your obser"ations of each other in an ob0ecti"e and positi"e way, and recei"e them with the same attitude. PQ1he lily is not to be simply watered but must be gilded. 'Sel"er > ?rooks, (655, p. 46() PQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQ Personal Reflection Bo%y A.areness, /yin( -o.n 1ry this e%ercise in body awareness. Bie on the floor and rela%. 3ou may be aware of the floor pressing on part of your body, and you may feel free in some parts and constricted in others. Cne person may feel light, another hea"y. Cne may become refreshed, another tired. Recei"e and accept any messages from inside or outside without e"aluation or labeling. @o not try to rush your awareness; e%periencing will come in its own time. It is not wrong to feel constricted or right to feel free. 1hese categories are inappropriate, as this is an e%ercise in e%periencing. .s tendencies to anticipate diminish, sensations generally become more rich and full. 3ou may become aware of changes that happen by themsel"es. 1enseness may change to rela%ation, and the floor may feel more comfortable. 3ou may become conscious of changes in breathing. PQ1he 1heory 9irsthand RPQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQ.nnotated ?ibliography RPQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyPQReferences RPQR 2hapter 6 Wilhelm Reich and Somatic PsychologyP

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