Bioenergetics by Alexander Lowen describes how emotions, tension, and psychological patterns express themselves in the body. Lowen built upon the work of Wilhelm Reich and developed a body-oriented form of psychotherapy: bioenergetics.
According to Lowen, people store emotions and stress not only psychologically but also physically. Chronic tension in muscles, posture, and breathing forms, as it were, an “armor” that suppresses feelings. That armor can offer protection, but at the same time limits liveliness, spontaneity, and contact with oneself.
The book describes how body posture, breathing, and movement are connected to emotional patterns. For example, people who constantly maintain control or suppress emotions can literally become tense, stiff, or closed off.
Bioenergetic exercises focus on grounding, breathing, movement, expression, and releasing tension. By feeling the body more and discharging tension, emotions can be experienced more consciously, and greater vitality can emerge.
Lowen places great emphasis on restoring contact with the body as the basis for mental health. According to him, true change arises not only through insight or analysis, but also through bodily experience.Although some of Lowen’s theories are nowadays considered outdated or difficult to test scientifically, his work has had a significant influence on modern body-oriented therapies and trauma approaches.