Bioenergetic Analysis works with emotions that are stored in the body and through body work and talking. This therapy strives to open the body to get a pulse to move through body, looking for and resolving the emotional-muscular holding patterns that block that pulse. William Reich, is the founder of this style of therapy.

For a historical context, the Western psycho-somatic “movement” originated with Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957) who was a student of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and by extension, a “classmate” of Carl Jung (1875-1961). Where Jung followed the mind only path of Freud, Reich followed the mind-body connection and developed methods to work on the mind through the body. Two of Reich’s students, Alexander Lowen (1910-2008) and Ida Rolf (1896-1979) respectively established Bioenergetic Analysis and Structural Integration.

Video from Lowen: