Reichian Therapy - The Technique, For Home Use, by Jack WillisThe Way to Vibrant Health: A Manual of Bioenergetic Exercises by, Alexander LowenLazy Man's Guide to Relaxation by, Israel RegardieCore Energetics: Developing the Capacity to Love and Heal, by John C. PierrakosFAQ
What is this?I would call it a psycho-physio-energetic system with a lite-Vipassana twist. Orthodox neo-Reichians would just call it psychotherapy. Core Energetics emphasizes the spiritual component.
Why would I want to do this?Relaxation, increased self-possession, increased self-expression, deeper breathing, grounding, increased feeling of emotional and bodily wholeness, increased sexual pleasure, remove 'energetic blocks', bring up and work with 'stuff'
How would this help my meditation?To the extent that the previous answer would help your meditation
How do I know if I would benefit from this?Is your breathing slow, deep, and rhythmic? Are both your abdomen and chest rising? Is your diaphragm loose? Is your pelvis loose? Does your breath extend all the way to the pelvis? Can you and do you surrender entirely to orgasms? Can you and do you express your emotions freely? Can you relax your entire body? If you answered no to some of these then you would probably benefit from this.
How is this different from Taichi or hatha yoga?They all emphasize the role of relaxation, deeper rhythmic breathing, and grounding. Reichian therapy, Bioenergetics, and Core Energetics are peculiar to the West and so differ in a few respects from the Eastern systems: emphasis on the role of sexuality, emphasis on free self-expression, and integration with traditional Western psychological concepts like the Oedipal situation, unconscious, etc. In many ways the Western bodywork systems are closer in philosophy to Tantra than Taichi or hatha yoga.
Who created and furthered this system?Wilhelm Reich, Alexander Lowen, Israel Regardie, Jack Willis, Christopher Hyatt, John C. Pierrakos
Here's Alexander Lowen explaining some the core concepts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIi0ED2GSs8
Here's Dr. Hyatt with some demonstrations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tfDscBUpro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J3beCXtEhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dAibJBQSZE
In Dr. Hyatt's book Undoing Yourself he gives his exercises in three sets. Here's the first set for those who'd like to try but can't obtain the book
These exercises are considered more reckless than those given in the Willis book.
METHOD I
Step 1. Sit or lie down. Make Faces ~ Stretch all the muscles in the face. Open your mouth as wide as you can, move the jaw from side to side. At the same time open your eyes as wide as you can. Move your eyes up and down and from side to side. This will begin to destroy tension, thereby destroying uncontrolled and extraneous thoughts generated by this area. Make many different faces. Do this for about 2-3 minutes. (A word of caution: While in the end these exercizes are meant to reduce and eliminate certain thought patterns, some might find an increase of new thoughts from previously "Hidden" places of the mind. If this is the case don't be concerned, since this will be a fine way to perform "mental house cleaning.")
Step II. Hum and Chatter — Hum from the depths of your voice box. Use OM or just MMMM. Do this for 1-2 minutes. Now using your tongue, chatter — DA DA — BA BA BA. Stick out your jaw as far as you can and continue humming and chattering. Do this for 2-3 minutes.
Step III. Shoulders to Ears — Pull your shoulders up as if you were trying to reach your ears. When they start feeling tired, drop them as low as you can. Repeat this 3 times in 2-3 minute intervals.
Step IV. Nose Breathing — With your mouth closed take in a deep breath inflating your chest and pulling your stomach up. Be sure to pull the belly in. Hold for a 7 count and then just let the chest fall and the belly relax. Repeat this 10-20 times. Be sure to allow an additional 7 count to elapse before your next inhalation.
Step V. Turn Head — Now bring your attention to your head and turn it from side to side as far as you can. Repeat for 2-3 minutes.
Step VI. Leg Stretch — Lying down on your back, hold your legs about 4 inches off the ground and stretch outward. Hold this as long as you can then let them drop. Repeat this 2-3 times.
Step VII. Quick Breath — With your mouth slightly open breathe rapidly, sighing as you exhale. Do this for 2-3 minutes.
Now lie down and sense and feel your body, for about 10 minutes. Note every sensation you feel. Now assume a meditative position of your choice making sure that: (1) Your eye lids are not tightly closed, but simply relaxed. (2) That your jaw is relaxed and not tense. Make sure of this by trying to stick out your tongue; if you have to lower your jaw, it was too tightly held. Check your forehead making sure it is not wrinkled. Once you are relaxed, either concentrate on your mantra or point of focus. For those students who do not have a mantra or point, we suggest Dr. Regardie's Mantram tape or simply OOOOOO-OOMMMMMMM. For students who wish or require specific images or points of focus, please feel free to contact us.
(3) Finally make sure your throat is not blocked by holding your head in the wrong position. Make sure it is straight. In order to reduce thoughts, keep the eyes relaxed and still, with your tongue touching the roof of your mouth. Do not move the larynx and again be sure that your jaw is relaxed. Meditate before eating, or wait for 2-3 hours after eating a heavy meal. It is also best if the bladder and bowels have been emptied before you start your work.