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T'ai Chi & QiGong
T'Ai Chi Ch'uan: A Simplified Method of Calisthenics for Health and Self-Defense
This is the original classic about Short Form, the most popular and widespread form of T'ai Chi in the West." T'ai Chi Ch'uan" is a must-read for every serious T'ai Chi student. This book is not meant to "teach" T'ai Chi Ch'uan, but meant to expound upon its meaning to the earnest practitioner; to offer the layperson a glimpse into this ancient art; and to communicate the author's unique perceptions and experiences that only a lifetime of practice can cultivate. Taken in this context, this is a most valuable book.
Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong: Health and Energy in Seven Simple Movements
Practiced by millions in China to release stress and maintain robust health, Dragon and Tiger qigong is also used to help prevent and heal cancer and to mitigate the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. Frantzis chose Dragon and Tiger from among several hundred sets he researched because its seven simple movements are easy to learn and offer about 80 percent of the health benefits found in the more complex sets of 50-100 movements. Dragon and Tiger qigong uses simple body movements to accomplish the same chi balancing as acupuncture. Each movement is designed to stimulate not just a single meridian but groups of meridians. In Chinese medicine, the tiger is a metaphor for a strong, healthy liver and powerful muscles, and the dragon is a metaphor for healthy and strong lungs. The Dragon and Tiger form accomplishes three major changes in the body necessary for healing: it releases stagnant chi energy; increases the speed, strength, and evenness of the circulation of chi, blood, and other fluids; and quickly raises the body's energy levels to boost its natural healing capacities. With over 150 illustrations accompanying clear, thorough instructions, "Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong "offers an accessible and effective path to health and healing.
Qigong Energy Healing: Five Elements Rejuvenation Therapy: The Personal Program to Heal and Strengthen Your Life with Sounds, Diet
Chi gong energy healing means strengthening the life energy with sounds, the right timing and diet, with certain mudras, and with the five rejuvenation exercises. These five elements are the basis for revitalizing the energetic field of the body and mind. With the help of this book, everybody can find out his own "chi code," the best time of the day, the right sounds, the mudras, and the vitalizing five elements rejuvenation exercises that correspond to their personal type. These exercises are short meditation movements that allow the chi energy to flow into the body.
Qigong Fever: Body, Science, and Utopia in China
"Qigong"& mdash;a regimen of body, breath, and mental training exercises& mdash;was one of the most widespread cultural and religious movements of late-twentieth-century urban China. The practice was promoted by senior Communist Party leaders as a uniquely Chinese healing tradition and as a harbinger of a new scientific revolution, yet the movement's mass popularity and the almost religious devotion of its followers led to its ruthless suppression. In this absorbing and revealing book, David A. Palmer relies on a combination of historical, anthropological, and sociological perspectives to describe the spread of the "qigong" craze and its reflection of key trends that have shaped China since 1949, including the search for a national identity and an emphasis on the absolute authority of science. "Qigong" offered the promise of an all-powerful technology of the body rooted in the mysteries of Chinese culture. However, after 1995 the scientific underpinnings of "qigong" came under attack, its leaders were denounced as charlatans, and its networks of followers, notably Falungong, were suppressed as "evil cults." According to Palmer, the success of the movement proves that a hugely important religious dimension not only survived under the CCP but was actively fostered, if not created, by high-ranking party members. Tracing the complex relationships among the masters, officials, scientists, practitioners, and ideologues involved in "qigong," Palmer opens a fascinating window on the transformation of Chinese tradition as it evolved along with the Chinese state. As he brilliantly demonstrates, the rise and collapse of the "qigong" movement is key to understanding the politics and culture of post-Mao society.
Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Millions of people worldwide practice t'ai chi, the most popular form of which was codified beginning in the 1960s by Cheng Man Ch'ing. In this scholarly yet practical book, Professor Cheng shows precisely how the postures and moves of t'ai chi work, with examples from anatomy and physics, both internally as energetic principles and externally on opponents. He clarifies the spheres, triangles, and centripetal and centrifugal forces within physical exchanges such as push-hands. Contrasting Western and Chinese techniques of healing, he also explores the relationships of organs to one another in pathology and the necessary dynamics of treatment. Professor Cheng explains how the practitioner may serve as his or her own doctor and, likewise, as the physician or trainer of an attacker. The martial arts, he says, are not a special case of unusual power, simply an aspect of adapting natural and cosmic law to circumstance. This edition of the classic text contains 13 major essays; oral secrets from Cheng's teacher Yang Cheng'fu; a Q&A with commentary on martial arts classics; the author's application and functions of each of the 37 postures of the short form, with the original photographs of him as a young man; two prefaces; and much more.
Yang Style Traditional Long Form T'Ai Chi Ch'uan: As Taught by T.T. Liang
Gordon Muir began his martial arts studies at the age of twelve, followed by years of serious study of a wide variety of disciplines including judo, kyokushinkai, karate, kempo, several kung fu styles, and kickboxing. Eventually he discovered the internal martial arts, which led to t'ai chi and Master T. T. Liang, renowned teacher of Yang style. The culmination of the author's longtime study of this style is this enlightening look at the Yang style of t'ai chi. Focusing on the revered traditional form rather than the more recently created short form, the book describes in depth the type of movement t'ai chi strives for that distinguishes it from other martial arts. Clear and concise instructions help students understand how to move in order to create internal strength. Numerous photographs and detailed descriptions showcase and simplify the movements, which include the traditional Yang stances, hand and arm positions, and moving and powering. Written in a simple, engaging style, the book is designed to help new students get started in this rewarding tradition and more advanced practitioners deepen their knowledge of it.
The Essence of T'ai Chi
The deepest benefits of T'ai Chi cannot be realized without an understanding of its underlying principles. This book presents these principles through translations of three core classics of T'ai Chi that are often considered the "T'ai Chi Bible," accompanied by the author's insightful commentary. Master Liao demonstrates how to increase the body's inner energy (ch'i) and transform it into power, health, and well-being. By reading the clear and precise explanations of the fundamental principles of T'ai Chi, students can develop a more complete understanding of the art and philosophy of this traditional martial art.
Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'Ai Chi Ch'uan
In this erudite yet practical book Professor Cheng shares the secrets of his lineage and takes us to the heart of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, presenting it as a martial artm a medicine, and a means of exercise and self-development. With examples from anatomy and physics, he demonstrates precisely how the postures and moves work, internally as energetic principles, and externally on opponents. Professor Cheng always emphasizes that disease (like an attack from an opponent) is an opportunity for training. The practitioner of T'ai Chi Ch'uan may serve as his (or her) own doctor and, likewise, as the physician (or trainer) of an attacker. This special text includes: -Thirteen essays on his insights into T'ai Chi Ch'uan. -Oral secrets from his teacher, Yang Cheng'fu. -Questions and answers giving his commentary to the classics. -Descriptions and mechanics of push-hands, San Shou, and Ta Lu. -Prefaces by both Madame Cheng and Bejamin Pang-Jeng Lo.
There Are No Secrets: Professor Cheng Man Ch'ing and His T'Ai Chi Chuan
"Wolfe Lowenthal's quiet little memoir will with window-opening wisdom reinforce, I think, my view of how Cheng stood on Tai Chi. It tells how a young writer reacted to this strange Chinese man when he appeared in New York City in the mid-1960s and stayed there for a decade before returning to Taiwan to die in 1975. In a nickel town where neurosis is a cardinal virtue, the Tai Chi center established by Cheng soon became an oasis of learning. In my visits there I was invariably approached by a quiet fellow with a ready smile and loads of questions. His form and sensing hands improved but he never lost his kindly ways. This led me once to tell the three seniors that the one person in the club who best exemplified Tai Chi was this junior. That man who has since become a teacher of the art is the author if this book." -Robert W. Smith, from the Preface
T'Ai Chi According to the I Ching: Embodying the Principles of the Book of Changes
- Reveals the close relationship between the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi and the hexagrams of the I Ching. - As handed down in the teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng. - Explains the physical and spiritual benefits that result from the practice of the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form. - An essential reference book for any serious student of T'ai Chi and the I Ching. T'ai Chi is a physical expression of Taoist thought--a philosophy in motion. The relationship between the I Ching, Taoist philosophy, and T'ai Chi is well established in many of the classical texts and teachings handed down by the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng, yet it has essentially remained a mystery in the West. Stuart Alve Olson, a longtime student of renowned T'ai Chi Ch'uan Master T. T. Liang, shows how the hexagrams of the I Ching relate to the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi, and how together they comprise the orderly sequence of the postures in the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form. The practice of this form initiates a process of internal alchemy that allows for the stimulation and accumulation of chi through the major energy systems of the body. Physically, this process restores youthful flexibility. Spiritually, it frees the mind to roam the sublime Tao. Because the Before Heaven sequence of postures is the foundation of all T'ai Chi forms, this book provides valuable advice for all practitioners, regardless of the style they practice or the depth of their experience. An essential reference book for any serious student of Taoism, "T'ai Chi According to the I Ching" is an invaluable guide to how even the most esoteric aspects of Chinese philosophy are firmly rooted in a physical practice.
Women's Qigong for Health and Longevity: A Practical Guide for Women Forty and Older
Here is a detailed, easy-to-use guidebook for women forty and older on how to use gentle but powerful traditional Chinese exercises, breathing techniques, massage, meditation, and vocalizations to promote health, fitness, relaxation, and mental clarity; improve stamina; and even treat specific health concerns. Acupuncturist and longtime qigong practitioner Deborah Davis explains the traditional Chinese approach to health and the various components of qigong practice; gives general health routines for women in specific age groups; and offers do-it-yourself practices and routines for specific health issues including insomnia, hypertension and heart disease, menopause, sexual vitality, breast health, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and depression.To learn more about the author, visit her website: www.womensqigong.com.
Heal Yourself with Qigong: Gentle Practices to Increase Energy, Restore Health, and Relax the Mind
Qigong (pronounced chee-gung) is an ancient Chinese practice consisting of physical movements, meditation, creative visualization, and breathing exercises to help revitalize the body and heal the spirit. Similar to tai chi, qigong cultivates vital life-force energy in the body for better health, heightened energy, and longevity. Its powerful benefits have been known in China for thousands of years. This unique book presents over 100 easy, five-minute qigong exercises designed to target specific health issues, from strengthening an aching back and reducing stress to improving sexual function and boosting energy. You can use this book to quickly find the best qigong exercises to target your particular physical and mental health needs. Heal Yourself with Qigong allows you to customize routines, making it ideal for both experienced practitioners and those new to qigong. Choose and combine from these four sections: Instant energy boosters Exercises for restoring physical vitality Emotion-balancing techniques Practices for calming the spirit
Qigong for Women: Low-Impact Exercises for Enhancing Energy and Toning the Body
- Low-impact, time-efficient exercises that relieve stress, restore physical health, and rebalance the mind. - Provides step-by-step instructions, with accompanying photos, for dozens of exercises specifically designed for women. - 300 black-and-white photographs. - Addresses concerns specific to women's health, including special sections on female sexuality, osteoporosis, stress, and pregnancy. - Techniques developed and perfected over the course of 2,000 years by Taoist and Buddhist monks and doctors. In today's high-powered world, women frequently find themselves pulled in many different directions. As they try to balance the demands of careers and family life, they are too often left with a feeling of imbalance, a feeling that can manifest in both physical and emotional stress. To reclaim their equilibrium and find relief, more and more women are turning to qigong, a low-impact, time-efficient daily practice of gentle exercises based on the ancient concept of acupuncture meridians. Developed and enriched over two thousand years by Taoist and Buddhist doctors and monks, chi kung offers techniques for improving breath control and mental concentration, releasing stress through self-administered massage and acupressure, and reaching and maintaining desired weight. In "Qigong for Women," Dominique Ferraro gives step-by-step instructions, accompanied by photos, for dozens of exercises that address the specific concerns of women. Along with chapters on stress relief, aging, and physical toning, Ferraro includes information on female sexuality, osteoporosis, menstrual difficulties, and problems related to pregnancy. Through regular practice of chi kung, women can improve blood circulation, reinforce the immune system, and reestablish emotional equilibrium. Middle-aged and older women will enjoy the added benefits of recovering elasticity, whether in their joints or in their psyches. Valuable for all ages, "Qigong for Women "provides a system, both preventive and curative, to maintain the sense of well-being that we all deserve.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'Ai Chi and Qigong
The most comprehensive and highly regarded book on T'ai Chi will now be one of the most illustrative. -- The current edition has sold over 34,000 since its release in January, 1999. -- The new edition will include a totally revamped T'ai Chi exercise program, featuring over 200 line illustrations that will add depth to the instructional component of this book, and make learning T'ai Chi much less intimidating. -- The author, Bill Douglas, is the Founder and Director of World Tai Chi and QiGong and is recognized as the T'ai Chi expert, both domestically and abroad. The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to T'ai Chi & QiGong, Second Edition will add to what is already the most comprehensive book on the subject by making it easier for readers to learn and complete an entire T'ai Chi exercise (consisting of 64 groups of movements). Added instruction and 200 top-of-the-line illustrations will be added to enable readers to pick-up on the subtleties of the various movements involved and complete a twenty-minute exercise without getting lost.
Qigong & Baduanjin
A unique new and enlightening text on the ancient Chinese Art of Qigong (Ch'i Kung) brought up to date with the world's first ever description of Qi (Ch'i or Bioenergy) is and does. Illustrated throughout with detailed exercises, descriptions and safety advice. Baduanjin or Pa Tuan Chin 'Eight Strands of Silk Brocade' is also illustrated in all three methods, Seated, Basic Standing and Advanced. This is the "new safer" Standardised Set and is recommended for health care as well as health care workers as an invaluable tool to aid health and healing. The author has been practising and studying Internal and Healing Arts since around 1971.
Arthritis Relief: Chinese Qigong for Healing and Prevention
Healthy joints are vital to pain free movement and Qigong exercises can help heal and prevent arthritis. Dr. Yang presents numerous Qigong exercises, updated theory and expanded instruction. Young or old, sedentary or athletic; it is likely that one out of seven of us will be afflicted with arthritis in our lifetime. Since healthy joints are key to pain free movement, rejuvenating them is vital to well-being. Although Western Medicine has made great progress in treating arthritis, it has limited success in actually healing it; rather focusing more on relieving pain and inflammation. Chinese Medicine, over the last four thousand years, has developed many of its own methods to treat arthritis, including Qigong exercises, acupuncture, massage, and herbal treatments. By doing Qigong exercises, you can effectively treat many types of arthritis and rebuild the strength of your joints, which is the root of complete healing. This book introduces Qigong exercises that have been successfully used in China to treat arthritis. It begins with general concepts of Qigong, a summary of arthritis according to both Western and Eastern medicine, an explanation of how Qigong treats arthritis, and finally gentle Qigong exercises you can use to help prevent, treat and heal arthritis.
Looking Through the Eyes of Nature; A T'ai Chi Player's Guide to the Way Things Are
Full color with a foreword by Wudang Master Tseng Yun-Xiang. Max Wright shows how the well-known t'ai chi (yin-yang fishes) diagram portrays the entire process of creation in exquisite detail. The essentially Taoist foundation of the t'ai chi symbol is laid down by the ancient sage Lao Tzu in the "Tao Te Ching." Westerners often find it difficult to fathom the metaphorical language of the Chinese classics, but here, layered in for the first time, is the combination of the bagua or trigrams of the "I-Ching" plus the essence of the Vedic teachings of ancient India - to deepen our understanding and illuminate the symbolism within the diagram, building a truly complete system for understanding our reality. Practical principles are explained using the popular martial art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. By describing the processes as they work in our busy daily lives, including the modern business arena, the text takes something very subtle, very precious, and makes it plain to see on the surface of life. With a new perspective, we can see how the innocent result of an individual practice - working consciously from the deepest level of Nature's functioning - can result in a happy and peaceful world community, the ultimate aspiration of the martial arts and enlightened people, from every tradition, all over the world.
The Essence of T'Ai Chi Ch'uan: The Literary Tradition
A handbook of the classical Chinese literature on which the art of t'ai chi is based. First English translation of the classic texts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. This is required reading for practitioners of every style.