Zen Body-Being by Peter Ralston

Peter Ralston is a martial artist who trains people to create effortless physical power. To prove the efficacy of his teaching, and to complete his career as a competitive fighter, Peter entered and won, the World Full-contact Tournament held in the Republic of China in 1978. During five days of fighting, he easily beat all of his opponents without anyone being able to land a solid blow on him.

Since then he has taught many people people how to use their body to develop “effortless power.” His students include athletes, dancers, fighters and even chefs and hairdressers. Peter doesn’t prescribe many exercises, rather he gives principles to experiment with and suggests incorporating them into your current exercise programme. He stresses the importance of body awareness, being grounded, centred and relaxed.

This is a fascinating book for anyone who is interested in body awareness, physical movement and exercise.

Available from The Book Depository for NZ$18.30 including free worldwide delivery.

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Other Reviews

“Working with Peter changed the way I move my body. I exercise, dance, and live differently…it’s not only a powerful way to live in a body but a powerful way to live in a body but a powerful way to live. His knowledge and application of body mechanics is more relevant than anything I learned in seven years of medical education.”—Kate McQueen, MD; Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UTHSC-Houston

“Zen Body-Being is clearly stated. Peter’s ideas, concepts, and truths help you transform your skills, balance, grace, power, and the experience of being in your body.”—Howard James, founder Hawaii T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association

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Product Description

In this inspiring guide, Peter Ralston presents a program of “physical education” for anyone interested in body improvement. Using simple, clear language to demystify the Zen mindset, he draws on more than three decades of experience teaching students and apprentices worldwide who have applied his body-being approach.

More of a transformative guide than a specific list of exercises devoted to any particular physical approach, Zen Body-Being explains how to create a state of mental control, enhanced feeling-awareness, correct structural alignment, increased spatial acuity, and even a greater interactive presence.

Exercises are simple, often involving feeling-imagery and meditative awareness, which have a profound and sometimes instant effect. Where similar guides teach readers what to do, this book teaches readers how to be.