Lowen’s Energy Concept

Abstract

Alexander Lowen, founder of bioenergetic psychotherapy, placed great emphasis on working with the body. By this he understood various forms, ranging from the more gymnastic types of exercises to those involving stress positions, making a person get to sometimes physically feeling an earlier traumatic experience and thus reaching new insights. Lowen called the process, «energy through exercise”. His concept is, however, confusing, as exercising in whichever form requires energy and does not synthesize energy – unless one assumes the creation or existence of a form unknown. The reflective outline below tries to clarify this by searching the literature and concludes that the synthesis of specific neurohormones could be responsible for creating that special feeling of elation experienced by the person involved in such an exercise.