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Qigong: Foundation Practices
For thousands of years the Chinese have had a secret. A secret that has allowed them to treat illness in its earliest stages, a secret that allows athletes to perform amazing, seemingly superhuman, feats of strength and agility, a secret that promises a long and healthy life to those who understand and apply it. That secret is Qigong. In this book you will Introductory meditation techniques Exercises to develop your breath capacity Principles of posture for qigong Exercises to become aware of your own energy Qigong concepts from Chinese medicine The location of the twelve major meridians Exercises for each of the twelve major meridians These exercises provide an excellent starting point for beginning qigong practice, and provide a firm foundation for further study.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 10, 2021
A very good introduction to qigong.
June 25, 2024
A simple and clear summary of ideas and practices around the use of Qi in complementary medicine. However, I was a little concerned that the book advanced scientific claims for which it proposed no evidence, and that it did not remind readers that complimentary medicines are a supplement and addition to mainstream medical practices: not an alternative. So those suffering from ailments should still consult a medical doctor.
The idea of Qi and is role in medicine is proposed to the reader as an evidenced scientific theory. The book begins by telling us that ‘medically qigong has been shown to help with conditions including asthma, back pain, cancer, drug addiction… the studies are numerous and the evidence is sound..’ (6%). But there are no footnotes in the book and no references to where these studies can be found.
Thet book also claimed that qi can be ‘measured by scientists in terms of differences in electrical resistance, thermal radiation of specific wavelengths and even as sound energy at certain frequencies’ (67%). But no evidence is provided for that claim. This means that the book’s appeal to evidence and scientific justifications sound more like pseudo-science.
It is a shame that the book feels the need to try and clothe its claims in scientific garb. Complementary medicines do help some people when mainstream medicines cannot, because they address psychological factors which may be ignored by mainstream medicines. Providing meditation and physical exercises is therefore a good and useful thing to do and qigong may truly provide genuine help to some people suffering from medical conditions.
However, its claims about how human bodies work should probably be viewed as more of a metaphor, than a literal description of human biology. This means that its value should not be linked to vague (literal) scientific claims and allusions to absent evidence, otherwise the ideas are at risk of just becoming another conspiracy theory.
The idea of Qi and is role in medicine is proposed to the reader as an evidenced scientific theory. The book begins by telling us that ‘medically qigong has been shown to help with conditions including asthma, back pain, cancer, drug addiction… the studies are numerous and the evidence is sound..’ (6%). But there are no footnotes in the book and no references to where these studies can be found.
Thet book also claimed that qi can be ‘measured by scientists in terms of differences in electrical resistance, thermal radiation of specific wavelengths and even as sound energy at certain frequencies’ (67%). But no evidence is provided for that claim. This means that the book’s appeal to evidence and scientific justifications sound more like pseudo-science.
It is a shame that the book feels the need to try and clothe its claims in scientific garb. Complementary medicines do help some people when mainstream medicines cannot, because they address psychological factors which may be ignored by mainstream medicines. Providing meditation and physical exercises is therefore a good and useful thing to do and qigong may truly provide genuine help to some people suffering from medical conditions.
However, its claims about how human bodies work should probably be viewed as more of a metaphor, than a literal description of human biology. This means that its value should not be linked to vague (literal) scientific claims and allusions to absent evidence, otherwise the ideas are at risk of just becoming another conspiracy theory.
December 27, 2022
Good introduction book
I am more interested in stress relief and qigong was mentioned in The Telomere Effect as a technique that may help in this.
This book gave an introduction to the following techniques: 4 breathing focuses, the 12 meridians, and the 12 basic exercises for those meridians and the stances. There are pictures for each exercise with a written description. I am still working on the breathing and stances.
I read the book quickly from kindle unlimited; but as the author recommended it will take months of practice to grasp all the techniques. I would recommend it as a concise view of focus to get started.
I am more interested in stress relief and qigong was mentioned in The Telomere Effect as a technique that may help in this.
This book gave an introduction to the following techniques: 4 breathing focuses, the 12 meridians, and the 12 basic exercises for those meridians and the stances. There are pictures for each exercise with a written description. I am still working on the breathing and stances.
I read the book quickly from kindle unlimited; but as the author recommended it will take months of practice to grasp all the techniques. I would recommend it as a concise view of focus to get started.
July 15, 2018
Recommended for anyone new to Qigong
I will be taking his online course and was anxious to get started reading this book, so I read it on Kindle before my hard copy arrived. Very well done for the beginner. Looking forward to my practice and hard copy.
I will be taking his online course and was anxious to get started reading this book, so I read it on Kindle before my hard copy arrived. Very well done for the beginner. Looking forward to my practice and hard copy.
June 21, 2021
Practical and concise introduction to chigong
This book is a n excellent introduction to the basics of chigong. It includes the basic practices with easy to follow pictures and explanations.
This book is a n excellent introduction to the basics of chigong. It includes the basic practices with easy to follow pictures and explanations.
September 13, 2018
Good Basic Read
Very quick read with solid basic information. Will be very useful for a novice but not much New for more seasoned practitioners
Very quick read with solid basic information. Will be very useful for a novice but not much New for more seasoned practitioners
October 15, 2020
Great start
I am new to this type of exercise. I did find this book great for my beginning in learning Qigong.
I am new to this type of exercise. I did find this book great for my beginning in learning Qigong.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews