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Estrangement from Western Christian history, at least partially due to its caricaturization as opposed to the body, has meant that we have not been able to use practices and insights for the care of our souls that traditional authors found useful. Many people are beginning to be aware, for example, that there are forms of bodily discipline that are clearly beneficial and energy-producing for both body and soul. Often these people have explored bodily disciplines in the context of non-Western religions because Western forms of ascetic practice have been seen as “masochistic,” and Eastern forms have been idealized as “in touch with” the body. We must take a closer look at asceticism as one of the most adamantly maintained aspects of Christian tradition.