Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97812 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 326 pages

Synopsis
Describes the basic concepts, core beliefs, and practices behind chi-gung, a religious system that encourages physical exercises to ensure health and longevity.

Customer Reviews

Mistakes & dangerous advice
In my youth I studied Tai Chi with a lineage master for 8 years. Now in my 40s, I have started a fairly serious Qigong practice. I want to improve my understanding of all areas relating to Qigong, so bought this book on the advice of the above reviews.

The author is on a mission to pursuade us that qigong is a better replacement than modern medicine. He suggests that cancer patients should use qigong instead of western medicine - dangerous advice. He says that AIDS is not caused by HIV virus, but by the modern treatment methods - a belief responsible for thousands of avoidable deaths in South Africa.

He claims that the atmosphere had twice as much oxygen 200 years ago as today - which would have poisoned all man & animals on the planet! Despite frequent claims that research has demonstrated various effects of Qigong, there is no reference to the research at all - surely a minimum given the magnitude of the claims made.

The book fails to meet it's claim to be comprehensive - there is 1 chapter proposing a qigong basic set for daily practice - rather than the COMPLETE GUIDE promised by the title. Why these exercises rather than others is unclear. There is very little useable advice on how to build a training regime or how to sift from the wide amount of available training regimes.

Buy THE WAY OF ENERGY if you are a beginner. This gives excellent guidance on standing qigong as well as detailed description of the BaDuanJin moving qigong set - including advice on how to develop your practice over time. (Lam Kam Chuen's other books will add variety to your practice if you wish to go further or want variety.) If - like myself - you like some theory as well as practical advice, Choose from the B K FRANTZIS books. He gives considered views based on intensive study of various chinese systems rather than Mr Reid's dangerous mumbojumbo.

Superb chi-kung techniques
Daniel reid has done it again, his understanding and ability in communicating chi-kung is second to none. I have many books on Chi-kung but the exercises in this book are some of the best, safest, and most powerful that i have done. Warm ups and cool downs are alsoe included...which is VERY important! Also a history of Chi-kung and its development is included. GREAT!

Get a deeper understanding
I initially bought the L.V. Carnie book on Chi Gung based on the more favourable star rating on Amazon. I got a lot of benefit and a greater understanding of Chi Gung from that book. However when i happened across this book in a shop and had a chance to browse through it i was immediately struck by the depth of detail provided on the exercises.

It takes your understanding to a much deeper level. i'd been working through Carnie's book and getting on well but questions had come up in my mind that the book couldn't answer, for example was numbness and a cold feeling in my legs normal when i practiced. Reid's book has a whole chpater devoted to the sensations felt when practicing and these are the little markers which tell you how you are doing.

I have been practicing Kung Fu for 5 years and do have a good knowledge and experience of internal energies which may mean that i get more out of Reid's book than perhaps someone less experienced would. If less experienced then the Carnie book is probably better to start with.