A habitual movement as common as nail-biting or toe-tapping can be the key to pulling out addictive behavior by its roots. These unconscious movement "tags" indicate the places where our bodies have become split off from our psyches. When brought to consciousness and confronted they will often tell us very plainly where our psychological suffering originated, showing us where to begin reconnecting body and soul. Christine Caldwell, a pioneer in the field of somatic psychology, has created an original model for working with body wisdom called the Moving Cycle. She describes how this form of therapy has worked effectively in her own practice, and she provides practical techniques to show how we can learn to listen to what our bodies are telling us, confront addictive habits, and learn to celebrate our inherent wisdom and elegance.
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About the Author
Christine Caldwell, Ph.D., is a somatic therapist in private practice in Boulder, Colorado. She is the founder of the Somatic Psychology Department at the Naropa Institute and the director of the Moving Center, also in Boulder.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I don't know if it's simply because I read it at the right moment in my life, but this book had and is still having a profound effect on me. A magical effect on me. Reading it feels like being home and every discovery it leads me to is so intense that I cannot read more than a few pages at a time.
An alternative title for this book could be "Recovering our Aliveness". Recovering our desire to expand our chest and welcome every single oxygen molecules that keep us alive. Recovering our ability to feel. Happiness isn't in the content of our life, but in the very process of being alive. Why are we so afraid of it ? Why do we distract ourselves with addictive thoughts and body movements? Christine Caldwell guides you in your search for an answer, and offers concrete tools to finally walk hand-in-hand with your life force.
I send her my gratefulness.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is worth studying deeply. The author frames issues of addiction in a way that speaks to those of us who are don't appear to have deep addictions but who are always feeling something isn't right. She deconstructs the drives we have and helps put in perspective the ways we create addictions to cope with stress in our lives. Only she digs deeper, and helps me understand how profound this coping mechanism is and why we do it.
24 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
R. D. Laing's recognition of a "schizoid personality," or a disembodied self, in his seminal work "The Divided Self," promised a new approach to the integration of body and mind in the whole and healthy human being. Caldwell builds on this idea, using the body as a starting point for diagnosing addictions and suggesting treatments. But the book soon becomes predictable. The addictions are frequently the result of an abusive parent (isn't this theme getting a bit threadworn by now?) and the treatments are more commonsensical than insightful (meditation, exercise, re-prioritizing life's demands). Moreover, the material echoes much similar popular wisdom on the subject. Readers of John Bradshaw, Sam Keene, Deepak Chopra are likely to find this book somewhat repetitious and familiar. And though user-friendly, the writing style rarely attains the sustained rhetorical power of the former works.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Generally on the mark as a self-help guide. Thesis: If we celebrate being alive and stop withdrawing from the full reality of being biological creatures in mammal bodies, i.e. if we experience life directly, we can recover. We must move toward being "permeable" to the experience of things in life: all things, good and bad, without that judgement operating on our reactions. As we become aware (have direct experiences), and trust our bodies (stop denial) we will be able to let go of our mental "constrictions" and take action or "enter the dance." Progress involves overcoming often deeply held beliefs about what limits we should keep in place on our physical selves. Unlearning those constricting beliefs and putting in place a healthier self-relationship is the primary goal of this author's form of therapy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By L. Stoufer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a intriguing read for anyone wanting to become more present and comfortable in their skin.
As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, I have a great deal of physical PTSD symptoms as well as psychological sypmtoms. I am also a recovering alcoholic and addict, as many survivors of sexual assault are. I bought this book at the urging of my therapist, in hopes that I would learn more about managing the physical sensations, dissociation, etc.
After reading this book, I have a lot more insight into the body-mind-spirit connection. I was impressed with the detail in explaining how our habits, behaviors, posture, etc. indicate the roots of our trauma and how that can lead to, and perpetuate, addictive behaviors. I was also impressed with the information about addressing the behaviors and actually stopping the cycle.
This book has given me a fresh viewpoint on two major challenges in my life. I will be putting more of the suggestions into practice, to see how well the theories actually work, but the information rings true on many levels.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with addictive behavior problems, whether they be alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders, etc.
As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, I have a great deal of physical PTSD symptoms as well as psychological sypmtoms. I am also a recovering alcoholic and addict, as many survivors of sexual assault are. I bought this book at the urging of my therapist, in hopes that I would learn more about managing the physical sensations, dissociation, etc.
After reading this book, I have a lot more insight into the body-mind-spirit connection. I was impressed with the detail in explaining how our habits, behaviors, posture, etc. indicate the roots of our trauma and how that can lead to, and perpetuate, addictive behaviors. I was also impressed with the information about addressing the behaviors and actually stopping the cycle.
This book has given me a fresh viewpoint on two major challenges in my life. I will be putting more of the suggestions into practice, to see how well the theories actually work, but the information rings true on many levels.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with addictive behavior problems, whether they be alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders, etc.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent example of how body psychotherapy has develloped during the 1990's. The book is agreable to read, full of interesting ideas and examples, and the author obviously knows what is happening, not only in her field but in neighbouring disciplines.
By J. Church
Format:Paperback
This is a fantastic book on exploring your emotions, their corresponding connection in your body and moving towards healing and recovering your life.
I found it straight forward and simple with deep insight and loved every bit of it.
I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to move back into more connection with your body and life.
I found it straight forward and simple with deep insight and loved every bit of it.
I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to move back into more connection with your body and life.
By E. Batdorf
Format:Paperback
I am always looking for useful books to use in the context of teaching embodiment. Many of them are either too general, too theoretical and sometimes too specific. This is a practical accompaniment to any embodiment practice with a goal to healing. As a performer who teachers emotional connection to actors, this book offers some really clear information to people who often do not understand how the body works regarding emotions, despite the huge amount of scientific information now available. It is not new or radical information, but it is readable and usefully presented. The more readable books that we have that can communicate this critical information in words to everyone about the importance of work that is ultimately physical and best understood in a physical practice, the better. I am grateful for another one!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Number One Best Self Help Book
As a dance/movement therapist and instructor, I find this book very readable, easy to understand and to translate to oneself and to work with clients. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Donna N. Bluestein
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book!
This is a life changing book for those that will embrace Christine's "moving cycle" method. I highly recommend to all interested in the fields of movement, dance, psychology,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Freckles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Getting our bodies back
This book by Dr. Caldwell is one of greatest books I have ever read. Although easy for any reader this book is a page turner that captivates the mind as well as the imagination. Read more
Published on March 8, 2000 by Jay A. Lewis
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