Customer Reviews

Your Breathing Body Volume 1:

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've wondered why no one has reviewed these CD's yet. I think that Reggie and his students (of which I am not formally one) have a lot of integrity and are holding off from publicly praising their own work/teacher. So...allow me. I cherish these CD's. Part of me is tempted to call this work a "Fourth Turning of the Wheel," but I know that this is really just looking at the first three "turnings (especially the third)" through different lenses in order to allow for the full embodiment of the wisdom already buried in these teachings. This bridging of buddhist philosophy with sensitivity to the somatic-experiential has been--for me, anyway--the perfect medicine. Of course I cannot say how it would resonate with anyone else.

First I listened to the 20 CD's (10 in Volume #1 and 10 in Volume #2) sequentially--roughly one a day--over the course of about three weeks. This served as a sort of home retreat. Each one has a dharma talk and then a guided exercise. I enjoyed beginning this way just to get a general lay of the land. Now I'm going back and working with them in a more focused and luxurious way. Typically I listen in the evening, hold some quiet yoga poses during the dharma talk, and then am ready for the body work. Certain exercises quickly jumped out as being particularly fruitful for me. I won't dismiss the others, though, since I know that there may be treasures also in what does not initially resonate. I can say that every one of the dharma talks has had its share of jewels, and that I have enjoyed them a great deal. I think there are enlightening nuggets available to both the beginning and the advanced practitioner.

I have worked with a lot of body/mind techniques and philosophies...straight Zen and Vipassana meditation, Taoist meditation and chi kung, shamanic journeying, etc.--and have benefitted greatly from all of them. But, Reggie seems to really get where a lot of westerners are at right now--that is, very good at THINKING about their bodies and experiences, but not very good at FEELING them. I'm coming to realize how much that describes me as well, and am having pretty profound results using the techniques he offers. His book, Touching Enlightenment, has also become a source of many insights and inspirations for me.

To sum up, I would say that I think Reggie has described a kind of "blind spot" in the spiritual lives of many contemporary practitioners--mainly about the body being a neglected yet essential starting point for the cultivation of awareness of any kind. Buddhist tradition is by no means mum about this blind spot, it's just that many people have not looked at it with the lenses that would allow them to truly mine the riches that are available there. Reggie goes straight to this place, and I can only say that it resonates with me and that I have benefitted from it greatly. I am deeply grateful and obviously would recommend it highly to others.

PS I particularly enjoyed the buddhist spin he puts on "trauma"--that is, how any and all unfiltered experiences we have of raw reality will be traumatic to our egos, since their purpose is to help maintain our conceptual constructs of reality. It's not just the car crashes and abandonments that traumatize us...it's the bit of reflexive fear that accompanies any flash of light illuminating long-held shadow.

I am an Integral Psychologist. I have been working with Vipassana, Zen, teachings and practice for over 30 years. I am a veteran of a 3 month silent retreat and innumerable 7 days sesshins and 10-20 day retreats, not to mention years of study of shamanism, Sufism, and the writings and Integral studies of Ken Wilber.
Until I discovered Reggie's somatic protocols, my history has been a frustrating encounter with the demons of discursiveness, restlessness, impatience.
I have worked through both volumes of Your Breathing Body and completed a 5 month intensive with this path which included 2 trips to Colorado for intensive practice at Reggie's beautiful Meditation Center.
I am amazed at the progress I have made in deepening my awareness of my body and entering into profoundly transformative mindstates and experiences.
These teachings and practices are by far the most authentically transformative I have found...truly amazing. I cannot recommend this work enough to
both beginning meditators and hoary old goats alike. You still need to bring right effort to it as well as the rest of the eightfold path, but these teachings are absolutely unsurpassed in profundity, depth, and effectiveness. The perfect antidote to the dreaded "spiritual bypass" and narcissism which
plagues so much of contemporary
American spirituality.
Ron Feintech, PhD
"Heart King"
Portland, ME

This set of CD's has had an impact in our lives. The way the narrator introduces the breathing exercises and meditation techniques is just great. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get in touch with their inner senses and learn how to meditate.

Reggie Ray is an incredible teacher of the dharma, and yet in listening to his talks and doing the practices you realize that there is not an ounce of dogma or religion in any of his teachings, and that they are applicable and purposeful to anyone. I do these practices every day now and feel much more in touch with my life. I am looking forward to getting volume 2.

Personally, I have found these CDs to be extremely helpful in bringing awareness to my body. In the course of my learning mediation to this point, the practices Reggie details in these CDs have been the single most helpful tool I have encountered. In particular, my ability to center and come back into contact with my somatic experience has greatly improved, just simply being in the body and able to relax. The practices have been the single best antidote on the cushion to "monkey mind" I have yet to encounter.

In addition to the guided practices that are detailed the CD sets, Dr. Ray gives teachings drawn from his many years of practice and study of the worlds wisdom traditions. Here he incorporates indigenous wisdom and teachings within a traditional Buddhist framework. At the same time, he gives historical as well as contextual reference points from the viewpoint of a modern Western person who has studied and practiced a great deal. Again, this has been extremely helpful. Although the practices outlined in the Cd sets may see somewhat simple on a certain level, my own experience has been that there is a tremendous amount of depth and possibility. According to Dr. Ray, many of the teachings the presents are inspired by traditional practices that have been carried out in the caves of Tibet for centuries.

I must offer a somewhat cautionary note: these practices, while seemingly simple, can be very powerful. This includes tremendously peaceful moments, luminosity, clarity and beauty. At the same time, this process has involved having my "stuff" stirred up quite a bit on occasion and this is not always the most pleasant experience. Powerful and deeply inspiring...but not a free ride.

First beware of people who only have reviewed the product they are giving glowing testimony on. Second, this is the most boring tomb on breathing by a guy who is very intelligent, but as exciting as watching paint dry. I thought Eckhardt Tolle was hard to listen to. This guy makes you wish you didnt have to breath anymore after about 15 minutes. The exercises are not only very uninteresting, but Ray's voice makes you keep missing words. I admit I was impressed with his credentials at first, but this guy tells you how to build a watch when you just need the time. This could have been condensed to one cd very easily.

Way too much information and way too slow and boring. If you want to learn to breath slow, listen to all the cd's at once and you will be in a coma by the end. Please read my other reviews before you think I am being harsh. As a martial artist who is very interested in learning more about breath, I thought this could help me in someway...anyway! And I listened to this set 4 times thinking it was me. It likely wasnt. I wouldnt bother. When I googled Reggie Ray and couldnt find any glowing reviews, I should have been forewarned. Do your own research before buying.