Reclaiming the body as the heart of prayer.
Reclaiming the body as the heart of prayer.
Meditations, Mindfulness & meditation, Prayer
For centuries, European thought has separated mind and body and consequently prayer has been taught either as a purely verbal process, a product of the rational mind or as an attempt to overcome, subdue or forget the body. This book draws on the gentle spirituality of St Francis and St Clare of Assisi and the embodied practice of the Alexander technique to put the body back into our prayers and to reclaim the physical as a site of the sacred. Written from within the Christian tradition but intended for those of any faith or none, it contains practical ideas for exploring prayer through simple movements and gentle physical practices, reclaiming the body as the heart of prayer.
It is written from the perspective of a professional Alexander technique teacher, ordained minister in the Church of England, and life long practitioner of body/mind disciplines including Aikido, tai chi and qi gong, Each chapter concludes with practices to promote greater peace, physical ease, spiritual depth and a more restful approach to life.
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With humility and skill, Eades points her readers toward God's good gift of presence, the divine invitation to live life with lightness and ease. By blending insights from both Franciscan spirituality and the Alexander Technique, she transcends the usual dichotomies between sacred and secular in order to reveal God’s design for our well-being, no matter the circumstances. ~ Irene Kraegel - The Mindful Christian
Eades guides you gently by the hand to learn more about God’s gift of love and overall presence, and showcases a divine way to live life with lightness and ease. Inclusive of elements of the Franciscan spirituality and the Alexander technique, God’s design is both wondrous and wide, deep and heartfelt, and always there whenever you need it, so buy this book and allow yourself to be enveloped by some incredible words of empowered spirituality. ~ Anne Carlini - Exclusive Magazine, Full Review - https://annecarlini.com/ex_books.php?id=713
I’m writing as a fellow AT teacher who has just read your wonderful book Embodying Prayer - and wanting to tell you how inspiring I found it! The warmth and authenticity and curiosity that shine through make it a delight to read, and the kindness too. As a teacher who has always wanted AT to be a spiritual path (‘getting out of the way’) it was wonderful to find you putting into words and clarifying things that were perhaps only dimly felt by me. As I read it there were so many things I wanted to comment on and now of course I’ve forgotten most of them - and in any case this email would have been far too long! - but one that has stayed with me is the thought of humility in still needing help from other teachers. I am going to take it with me tomorrow as I go to Bonnevaux, centre of the World Community of Christian Meditators as you probably know, for a retreat on movement and dance as spiritual practice. I hope you get tons of good feedback and lots of readers, and a big thank-you for writing it! ~ Polly Waterfield , Personal email
In a simple, unassuming way, this book points the way to opening doors to new and profound experiences. ~ Malcolm Williamson, Former Head of Training, Manchester Alexander Technique Training School
