Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Qigong for Lifelong Health

by Bruce Frantzis

Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body explains the practice of chi gung (qigong), the 3000-year-old self-healing exercise system from China. Originally published in 1993, this book has become a classic that has inspired tens of thousands of Westerners to learn to activate their chi—life-force energy—to improve their health, reduce stress and reverse the effects of aging. This fully revised edition has more than 100 pages of new material, including Longevity Breathing methods; how cross-training in chi gung can enhance other exercises such as yoga, golf and weight training; and nei gung techniques for advanced practitioners. Chi gung exercises utilize a system of energy channels in the body that are similar to an electrical circuit. Frantzis’ thorough knowledge of energy arts and the Chinese language allow him to peel away the secrecy and metaphors. He presents this 300-page edition in easy to understand terms to suit beginners, with enough meaty detail and depth for the advanced martial artist, healer or meditator. Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body includes a comprehensive guide to chi gung theory and a systematic lesson plan with more than 100 illustrations. These low-impact exercises are suitable for almost any age or fitness level. They provide the foundation for learning any other chi practice, such as tai chi, martial arts, meditation or TAO Yoga. Frantzis explains not only how these inner aerobics are done, but why. Going beyond mere body movement, he teaches from the inside out, linking the biomechanics and anatomy of the physical body with the subtleties of chi. This book provides practical methods to help people become balanced, relaxed and joyful. Frantzis trained for more than a decade in China, became a Taoist Lineage Master—quite a rare occurrence—and came back to the West to teach. “My hope is that chi gung and tai chi can become mainstream exercises in the West,” says Frantzis. “We have a major health crisis looming; practicing chi gung or tai chi is one of the most effective ways people can reclaim control of their health and well-being.”

Genres: Health, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Martial Arts, Self Help, Taoism, Canon

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 1995

About the author

Bruce Kumar Frantzis is a Taoist Lineage Master with more than 40 years experience in Eastern healing systems. He is the first known Westerner to hold authentic lineages in qigong, bagua, tai chi, hsing-i and Taoist meditation.
Frantzis has developed a practical, comprehensive system of programs that can enable people of all ages and fitness levels to increase their core energy and attain vibrant health. (-amazon)

Reviews

[Foxthyme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've worked with this book, this method, for a lot of years. When it comes down to all the qigong I've worked with, this is the one I come back to again and again. I did it for many years, then stopped my daily pattern at some point in the last three years due to stupid reasons like excess stress. Which should have had me continuing, but I decided to go comfortably numb instead. Not a good thing, but a survival thing.

As the stress has continued in my life and caused more than temporary increase in health issues, I've realized I need to go back to what works. The clearing exercises in this book. Profound if you do them right. Profound even if you do them partially right. No reason not to do them!

A workshop with Frantzis is great, but know he can be larger than life. He'll tell you that himself on his website.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first degree black sash in Tai Chi I found this book to be a very good introduction to the 'bigger world' that's out there beyond what I've already learned. I gained some very good insights and knowledge.

Like he says in his book though, I still recommend finding a good teacher of Nei Gung and Tai Chi to practice under. The subtle alignments you need are not easily understood from a book. You need another set of trained eyes to look objectively at what you're doing.

I found the dissolving and sinking techniques he described to be the most universally helpful from the book. You can just do some standing meditation or embracing horse posture while dissolving and sinking your chi blockages. Do this regularly and the benefits gained will be many.

[Katja Vartiainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read 1/3 of this book, and until I get my breathing correct and my alignment automatically correct,I will not advance! That means physical practice. What I ahve read until now- this book is great. Clear, informative.

[Jace Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Bruce's first book. The first of his many books marketing himself and his teaching but not really offering much information. There are great stories of his journey and teachers and some techniques. It is one of the 4 books that I have found to tell people how to feel and move Chi but the information was so nonchalant that I didn't see it until I read it again. It was in a small 2 paragraph section and the way he described it was bit tough to conceive of that the profoundness of the technique (not spoken of as a technique) is easily missed. He said Qigong begins with feeling the nerve endings of the body. And this was it. To me this is a hugely important technique and piece of information regarding the cultivation of Chi but yet it was buried in his book and easily missed. Maybe he didn't really get the importance of this himself or he was writing to people that just want cool stories and some physical martial art style movements. I don't know but so far he still has yet to speak of it in any of his other books I have read.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to read with easy to follow exercises that can help you start learning qi gong. The author does a great job of breaking down the actions you need to take, along with example diagrams and pictures. It’s a good supplement to in person or video training and what it really teaches you is how to cultivate the qi in your body. I have done these practices and benefited greatly from them.

[C Settles · Rating 5 out of 5]

B K Frantzis provides simple straight forward explanation of qigong. These practices are directly applicable to meditators and martial artists alike. Good place to begin for those that do not have qigong experience.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guy has a detailed bio of long training sessions. Can't expect "five minutes to peace, flexibility, and super strength here." It's worth taking some time mulling over the fairly minimalist practices.

[Geoff Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single best book ever written on qigong--yet still more valuable if you have access to Bruce Frantzis or one of his senior students. Check out his website energy arts.com for a list of his authorized instructors-- he doesn't authorize teachers easily.

[Scotty]

If you want to know about qigong, this is a great place to start. BKF is the man.

[Joe Eudovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for those practicing Energy Gates.
One of the best, accessable books on Qigong.