Customer Reviews

Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace, and Power

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Peter has written several books. Because of the broad and profound scope of his agenda it is difficult to communicate it in writing. Thanks to the editing of his wife, this is the first readable book that covers his excellent material. Start here - do not get any of his other books first.

He covers basic principles such as relaxation, centering, and rooting that are necessary for any martial art or complex physical/relational activity. His emphasis on mental/awareness training is an important contribution to the field.

Level: Beginner to Advanced

I have got to get to a Peter Ralston seminar... I've always admired Ralston's attempts at capturing the essence of internal martial arts-- that is, that "secret" component to achieving effortless power. His "Principles of Effortless Power" is on my "must read" list for those aspiring, as I am, to attain that magical ability to absorb/redirect/emit force, and make it seem effortless. But it's a dense read, and it's largely a conceptual framework without practical exercises. Still, it always made me believe that Ralston knew what he was talking about. His "Art of Effortless Power" is a further expounding on more esoteric concepts, then a techniques book that shows exercises that Ralston has adapted from aikido, Tai Chi, and Ba Gua, primarily. They're sensitivity exercises best employed with a partner who has also developed some sensitivity.

But in Zen Body-Being, Ralston has made a breakthrough. A fabulous, clear book wherein he returns back to the important basics, and describes how he understands "it"-- that magical body-sense-- that we are all striving for. His wife, Laura, has clearly helped him articulate his ideas in terms we can understand. Even better-- a goodly number of exercises that help us expand our awareness, and give us a direction to follow in forwarding our internal development.

The magic of this book is its clarity. At last, Ralston has found a muse we can understand clearly, with exercises and practices that we can relate to. A strength of this book is that it is geared for everyone-- not just the martial artist. The exercises are do-able by anyone, and relate what Ralston is trying to convey about his conceptual framework-- his understanding. It isn't magic. It's fine-tuning what he calls "feeling-sense", "body awareness", and "body-being" among other concepts. It's turning our attention inward, and letting it just go-- living in real time, and doing it.

Anyway, I've already started using his exercises in my martial arts/Tai Chi practice. Yes, I was doing something like it all along-- but somehow, another way of trying it, another perspective, always helps. And Ralston's has really helped me. This book is great for the yogic practitioner, any athlete, dancers and other performing artists-- musicians! And those who just want to meditate! Bravo! Read this book, then do it, then read it again.

This book gives the reader an enlightened approach to movement, interaction, being and so much more. The principles and body being posture points are not solely for those on any martial journeys - they are applicable in every facet of life. Highly recommended!

As with Mr. Ralston's other work, Zen Body-Being is a truly profound approach to the topic it covers: how to use your body effectively and effortlessly. Far from being your ordinary book on physical exercise or posture, however, it challenges the reader to go way beyond the obvious in matters of what you actually experience. If taken to heart, it is a powerful tool for personal transformation and opens up realms of being that are rarely noticed in everyday life. Reading Mr. Ralston's books and working with him personally for only a few months has radically changed the way I approach any physical activity (among many other things). As a trainee in the field of public health and being acutely aware of the considerable burden of musculoskeletal diseases and accidental injuries worldwide, I would vote for making this book (or an appropriate adaptation of it) required reading for every elementary school child just learning to use his/her body. Deep stuff presented in a readable way with simplicity and humor.

If you're interested in Peter Ralston's work, make sure to check out his other books:

Cheng Hsin: Principles of Effortless Power

Cheng Hsin Tui Shou: The Art of Effortless Power

Reflections of Being: To `I` or not to `I`

Ancient Wisdom, New Spirit: Investigations Into the Nature of `Being`

Why would you want to buy this book? I am assuming that you have browsed the Table of Contents, Excerpt and Back cover, if not please do so they will add greatly to your information. Although Peter's linage is in the Martial Arts this book was written for anyone who wanted to move well in their own body. This book is for anyone who wants to increase their conscious awareness of who and how they are; in the world, in their body, in their mind. Peter with the help of his wife Laura clearly and precisely communicates Principles of body/mind movement that are so for all human beings. He has won World Championships and created a martial art using these Principles. Although this book has intellectual information you will have to practice the Principles in this book in your daily life. I assure you, from my own experience that if you practice the Principles in this book in your life the results will be an increase in your conscious awareness.

I teach these Principles to between 100 and 150 students a week depending on how many people show up to my regular 15 classes a week. My students range from 50 to 94 years old. They all benefit from this material.

What better gift could you give to yourself then to be more grounded, relaxed, centered, unified and calm in your body/mind?

Over the years I have read all of Peter's books--many times each! This is the first book not written in Ralstonese...no doubt due to his wife's ability to translate his language into English. I also love the fact that Peter shared many personal stories and experiences that lead up to his discovery of Cheng Hsin and road to mastery. In a way, it helps us as a road map with checks and balances to make sure we're all heading down the right road.

The book is also a prelude to his other books such as "The Principles of Effortless Power". In other words, READ THIS BOOK FIRST (Zen Body-Being)!

I have studied with Peter face-to-face, taken his online courses, read/studied his other works, and met his apprentices and other students. I can only say he is top notch and has incredible ability. I highly recommend any serious student to study with Peter in a "Live" setting.

However, start first by reading this book. Then email Peter with any questions that might come up (he is very personable) and last make a trip to his ranch and get schooled in Cheng Hsin by a legit master.

This book is an excellent bridge for anyone who has read 'Cheng Hsin: Principles of Effortless Power'. Or indeed for anyone interrested in internal martial arts in general. The light almost casual approach to this work, makes reading it and understanding it a joy.

I recomend this book to anyone witha a body who is interested in using it better.

I was lucky enought to study with Peter for 3 short months and I read all of his books. Peter is a truly astounding man with an extraordinary insight into the Body, the Mind and how they interact. It's unbelievable how powerful the mind is and what the body can achieve with it's help. Pushing somebody not using any muscle power while being as graceful as a dancer is an amazing skill to be able to observe right in front of your eyes, keeping your Mind and Consciousness as graceful and present as your Body. Just watching Peter move can make you gasp, it's raw power combined with the grace and beauty of a dancer - perfect alignement, it still makes my Mind boggle to remember this. Peter has attained the knowledge and skill that many an ancient Chinese master has been able to demosntrate through martial arts, tai$chi or chigung, through his own endless striving, curiosity and trial and error in martial arts and spirituality.

Peter is a true master that also gracefully managed to put his deep practices into simple and easy to read English language. Besides insights into the body, mind and awe-inspiring skill, Peter manages to lay bare the ancient connection between Martial Arts and spirituality that most of us have been looking for.

I respect this man from the bottom of my heart. All his books including this one are spellbinding, truly enlightening reads - on all levels.

They are a must for any martial artist and ANYBODY that is intersted in the Body and the Mind. If you want to explore a higher realm with the solid groundedness of a real master (and I don't use that word lightly, believe me!), these books are for you!

The concepts explored in this book are very hard to communicate in writing as, by their very nature, they can only be truly grasped by personal experience.

That being said, this book does an excellent job of exposing the reader to a much deeper level of what is possible in the realm of human experience.

For internal martial artists, this should be considered mandatory study material.

For anyone who is into digging beneath the surface of the experience of one's self, this book is a handy guide.

Although it is much more accessible to the average reader than his other books, it defiantly not to be considered "light reading."

This book has introduced to me things about bodies, interaction, and movement that are truly amazing. Things I would not have learned otherwise. Awesome read!