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Reviews (1)

amazing results
This CD has really great meditational and energizing breathing exercises.It is very instructional and has relaxing flute music in the background. His voice is very gentle and easy to follow. You can really feel physical results after each exercise.It was wonderful. I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: New Age    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Eastern - General    4. Healing - General    5. Magick Studies    6. Meditations    7. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    8. Fitness & diet    9. Oriental martial arts   

Subjects:  1. Health & Fitness / Exercise    2. Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts & Self-Defense    3. China    4. Chinese    5. Exercise    6. Health & Fitness    7. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    8. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    9. Qi gong    10. Sports & Recreation   

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. General   

Reviews (3)

Excellent illustrations
If you are crazy enough to try and learn Tai Chi from a book, this is the one to use. Big photographs on every page, footwork diagrams, etc.

learning with video support
you can get videos that match this book by the author! Details available from PO Box 110 Faversham. Kent. ME13 9QA. England

Use with Terry Dunn's video
You cannot learn Tai Chi from a book, but this book is a good supplement.It contains body positions with emphasis on hands and stepping diagrams for the Ching style.If you cannot get to a teacher, use it with Terry Dunn'svideo of the Yang Short Form.It is an exact match. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health/Fitness    4. Martial Arts - Taichi    5. Qi gong    6. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (5)

The Inner Structure of Tai Chi: Tai Chi Chi Kung I
THE LISTED PRICES FOR USED COPIES OF THIS BOOK ARE RIDICULOUS -- FROM $149! IT CAN BE BOUGHT FOR $15.95 AT http://www.universal-tao.com.

Very nice overview of Tai Chi biomechanics and Qigong
Mantak Chia's books are all detailed and well-organized.Although this book didn't teach me much, it did confirm Good reference bookbeyond Tai chi styles
The book is very well written and full of useful tips. The basis of Tai Chi (basis in this case doesn't mean "elementary" but, as in the title, "the inner structure") are very well approached and described. What I've really appreciated is that every explained concept has the related exercise, tips and correction.Although the reverse breathing is not explained in this book and all the exercise and techniques are performed by using the normal breathing, the back spine role, position and work are exhaustively described as well as for the waists, knees, arms, elbows and wrists. That's what really makes this book a worth to buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness    2. Martial Arts - Taichi    3. Qi gong    4. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (11)

Pretty good stretching recommendations
I have read all the gushing glowing reviews and thought I would add my 2 cents, as a nonchalant reader of this book.If you take the "35 days" in the title seriously, you should be prepared to spend most of your waking hours with this book during those days.
Finally, a mind-body program with tangible results!
Unified Fitness is awesome!As a high stress, type "A" person, I've tried every mind-body practice out there: biofeedback, mindfulness-based meditation, yoga, etc.Unified Fitness is the only practice that has provided tangible results and real, lasting benefits.By combining traditional exercise with mind-body techniques that actually work, John Alton has created a program that resonates with those of us who are not completely comfortable with many of the new age or purely spirituality-based practices that one typically finds.It takes some effort and time, but the results are nothing short of astounding!Buy it, read it, practice it and you just might change your life.

Powerful integration of healing and contemplation
John Alton's Unified Fitness presents a powerful new practical vision of traditional Asian healing and contemplative practices.Working with an intimate knowledge of traditional Chinese practices, he has reformulated the entire system from the ground up based on its core principles to create a new process designed to suit contemporary lifestyles and realities. The book cuts through the difficulties of traditional presentations, as well as the superficiality of so many contemporary "manuals", to achieve a rare and powerful synthesis with potent results for personal physical and mental health.Despite being an associate Professor at the University of Virginia in Tibetan Buddhist Studies specializing in contemplative systems with many years of research in Tibet itself, I have seen few contemporary models so deeply based in Asian healing-contemplative traditions, and yet so precisely and powerfully reorganized for a contemporary audience.I highly recommend Unified Fitness. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Physical fitness    6. Qi gong    7. Exercise & workout books    8. Popular medicine   

Reviews (11)

Long on talk;short on walk
This book has a lot of text on chi as far as it relates to body meridians, and various expressions of chi in sex, and disease. It covers the more esoteric parts of chi if your interest is along that line. There are good graphics to go along with these explanations. The book is very nicely broken down but I have to admitt that I'm not one for flowery chapter headings that sound more like vague generalizations than specific divisions. But this may just be my personal preference.
Inspiring
I will be off to an intensive course to learn from the best.Sifu Wong is simply inspiring.

Have to read the book to judge it.
This book is really just an insight to Chi Kung. Its a wonderful book but mostly about meditation and wonders Chi Kung works, not very great for trying to learn moves of Chi Kung. Kiew Kit Wong is an amazing teacher though. I have 2 other books of his that are very informative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Exercise    3. General    4. Health/Fitness    5. Philosophy    6. Qi gong    7. Fitness & diet   

Reviews (5)

Well worth your time and money if you can find it
This is an excellent book on qigong. Probably the best qigong book I've ever read. I bought this book when I lived in Boulder, CO. The book's editors Ross and Michael Cohen lived in Colorado at the time, and practiced Yan Xin Qigong with our group in Boulder occasionally. A Good Book For All Levels of Traditional Qigong Practioner
If you want to understand the basic and yet amazing levels Traditional Chinese Qigong can reach, this is a good book to start with. Lots of theories and practices are simple but powerful. Dr. Yan Xin's scientificexperiments has caught lots of attention of top scientists. This book is agood start of touching the tip of the iceburg.

A good book to learn more about traditional qigong
I found that one can learn a lot about traditional qigong from Dr. Yan Xin's speech.He is very objective and knowledgable about traditional qigong.All the examples mentioned in the book are tracible with scitificproof.Dr. Yan Xin, unlike most popular qigong master, doesn't try to"sell" his own qigong method.He uses "I" or"me" very few times when he explainsqigong, except telling hisown stories.He encourages people to learn qigong with a scietificapproach and attitude, which is very different from the other qigongmasters.I am quite impressed about his medical knowledge and traditonalChinese culture background as well. Read more

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness    2. Qi gong   

Reviews (3)

Worth your time
This book is a good read if you are interested in the historical and cultural foundations of T'ai Chi.It suffers a little bit from bad editing (possibly done by a computer spellchecker?).The author shares his knowledge of T'ai Chi by way of explaining how deeply-held Chinese beliefs almost inevitably resulted in the art of playing T'ai Chi.I did not find it tedious at all.Most ofthe black and white figures were very helpful and well done, although one or two sequences (e.g. those showing a woman practicing "T'ai Chi Walking") were not as well explained as they might have been.This book would probably be less enjoyable for a reader who had no prior knowledge of T'ai Chi but regular Players will find it an interesting addition.

A bridge between the Classics and the West
Arieh Lev Breslow presents a very academic study of Tai Chi Chuan and itscultural and historical roots.He is quite thourough in his detective workinto the understanding of religious belief that influenced Tai Chi (in aninformation based manner), but so thourough that at a couple points itbecomes a dry read (Hence the three stars instead of five).Stick with itthough!After suffering through a couple sections of footnote afterfootnote Breslow brings it all back together in a manner that will excitethe mind and reach the spirit.He does well to explain quotes of the TaiChi Classics in modes that westerners will understand. A great history of the development of T'ai Chi
Arieh Lev Breslow has been teaching T'ai Chi for over 20 years, the last 14 at the Jerusalem School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, which he founded in Israel. In Beyond The Closed Door he provides us a well documented and fascinatingjourney through 4500 years of Chinese culture leading to the creation ofT'ai Chi Ch'uan. The amazing part is that he does it in less than 400pages, using clear layman's terms, keeping you interested with everychapter. Read more

Editorial Review

T'ai chi ch'uan is usually seen as a ritualized series of movements--an exercise system, rather than a martial art. But it began as a fighting system, and this book shows both aspects: a long, clearly illustrated section detailing the 37 movements, or forms, that can be practiced as a mode of physical and mental exercise; and a shorter section on self-defense applications. Although you'll still probably want to take classes if you're interested in pursuing t'ai chi, Stewart McFarlane's Read more

Reviews (8)

Good book, lack few important points
This book is great. The only thing that the author miss is the flowing of all the movements at a slow, even and inpausible pace. The author concentrates on 'song', relaxation awareness, this is vital but he miss pointing out that tai chi is actually an art of constant change and not taught by the numbers. Furthermore Grand Master Cheng Man Ching's 37 step form takes about 9 and 12 minutes preferbably. All these reference is taken from Nigel Sutton's, Tai Chi Chuan: Roots and Branches.

Complete Book of Tai Chi
By far the best book I have found that explains Tai Chi in terms a beginner can understand.Stewart describes each move by breaking down body movements. I am an instructor of the Yang style and recommend it to all of my students, use it daily myself.Thank You Stewart Bad technique but informative
The photos in the book are very clear but that's a bad thing...The book presents bad technique and form.As a tae kwon do, wing chun, and with a months experience in tai chi, even I know that it has bad form.But, the book gives you a lot of information and teaches a lot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exercise    2. Health/Fitness    3. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    4. Martial Arts - Taichi    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. T'ai chi ch'uan    8. Tai chi    9. Oriental martial arts    10. Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts & Self-Defense   

Reviews (3)

Doesn't provide a useful description of the movements
I've been taking T'ai Chi classes for several months and I bought this book hoping that it would supplement my instruction.I have an excellent teacher but there are so many elements to each movement that I thought it would help to have static images that I could examine at my leisure.I haven't found this book useful in that respect.The main problem is that it's not clear how the pictures relate to the written descriptions of the movements.Even for sections of the form that I know very well I am often unable to figure out which movement the pictures are trying to convey.

Good general information, poor form instruction.
It is not possible for me to study Tai Chi with a master so I must relay on books and video tapes to learn the forms.The Tai Chi Workbook lacks sufficient graphic information about the postures and transitions to enableme to do this.McFarlan's book, while lacking the general information,does a much clearer job of demonstrating the form.

An excellent, thoughtful introduction
Paul Crompton's treatment of Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing's Tai Chi form is incredible, good illustrations and explanations, plus a realistic view of the art in self defense and philosophy. Crompton's work is to be commended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Martial Arts    2. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    3. Martial Arts - Taichi    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. T'ai chi ch'uan    7. Tai chi    8. Oriental martial arts    9. Sports & Recreation / Martial Arts & Self-Defense   

Reviews (10)

good
There is so little literature about Zhineng Qigong and this book reflects the teaching of what Dr. Pang Ming offers for us westerners who can not read any of his books. It is well written and gives great insides to the teaching for the practicioner and a good inside about Zhineng Qigong to those who want to get to know it. As a practitoner I am greatful to the authors for this book.

Serious Practioners of Healing QiGong
This book is an instruction book for the SERIOUS practioner of HEALING QiGong. I highly recommend this book. It goes into the scientific workings of QiGong.

A true guidebook for the west.
The book is excellent. A hardcover is a must for the second edition. It'struly a good "meal" for the hungry ChiLel/Zhinengpractitioners.Read more

Subjects:  1. New Age    2. Qi gong   

Reviews (1)

A Useful Addition to the Qigong Literature
This is a typically workman-like product of the Chinese Foreign Languages Press, that has been putting out textbooks for many years. It is comprehensive and well-produced.
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Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit / Healing / Energy (Chi Kung, Reiki, Polarity)    2. Health & Fitness / Acupressure & Acupuncture    3. Health & Fitness / Alternative Therapies    4. Acupressure & Acupuncture    5. Acupuncture    6. Alternative Therapies    7. Body, Mind & Spirit    8. Chi kung    9. China    10. Healing - Energy (Chi Kung, Reiki, Polarity)    11. Health & Fitness    12. Massage & Reflexotherapy    13. Massage therapy    14. Medicine, Chinese    15. Qi gong    16. Specific disorders & therapies   

Reviews (2)

finally qigong for real people
I wanted to learn qigong but all the books, classes, and videos were waaaaaaaaaay too complicated.I didn't want to be a "master" I just wanted some help with grounding my nervous system.This program of 5 elements was JUST what I was looking for!! Easy to learn and I do it EVERY DAY for five minutes and I feel sooooooo much better!! I can wake up grumpy and achy and after doing 5 element qigong for 5 minutes I'm all put back together. It's a great book. Easy to follow. thanks!!!

I can set my own pace in learning step by step
I am in my late sixties and with these easy to follow instructions I can set my own pace in learning the movements, step by step. Jamie Moffet's Five Element Qigong exercises are a wonderful way to energize my body and set a positive mental attitude to approach my daily activities. And I love that.Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent introduction to the practice of Qigong.
In Qigong For Women, Dominque Ferraro gives clear, easy-to-understand instructions, accompanied by sequential photos for dozens of exercises addressing the specific health and fitness needs of women. Along withinformative chapters on stress relief, aging, and physical toning,information is included on female sexuality, osteoporosis, menstrualdifficulties, and problems related to pregnancy. Through regular practiceof Qigong, women can improve blood circulation, reinforce the immunesystem, and reestablish emotional equilibrium. Middle-aged and older womenwill enjoy the added benefits of recovering elasticity, whether in theirjoints or in the psyches. Qigong For Women is essential reader for bothnovice and experienced female practitioners of Qigong and will prove ofimmense interest and value to students of alternative health and medicinepractices. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health and hygiene    5. Health/Fitness    6. Qi gong    7. Women    8. Women's Health - General    9. Body, Mind & Spirit / Healing / Energy (Chi Kung, Reiki, Polarity)    10. Exercise & workout books    11. Mind, Body, Spirit    12. Oriental martial arts   

Reviews (1)

A TREASURE. A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN QIGONG
Master Tzu Kuo Shih has put together a very good book for anyone who is new to qi gong. The book does not demonstrate any physical techniques, rather it lays the foundation for why qi gong works the way it does. Thisbook is a must for any one who is interested in the origins of qigong inregards to traditional chinese medicine. Book is more TCM based thanmartial art based. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Healing    3. Health/Fitness    4. Healthy Living    5. Mental healing    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. New Age / Parapsychology    8. Qi gong    9. Complementary Medicine    10. Oriental martial arts   

Reviews (23)

some anomalies in the book
The book presents some interesting thoughts and ideas. It has plenty of exercises and a few of them actually work (especially those for enhancing energy) BUT there are quite some anomalies in the book too. Take Charge of Your Health
The next best thing to hearing Dr. Sha speak is reading his book, Power Healing. Filled with exercises and techniques to help one take charge of their own health, this book is easy to understand and very inspiring. I recommend it for anyone interested in alternative methods of healing to use in conjunction with more traditional Western medicine.

A New Believer
A friend gave me this book in Mid April, he said when he saw it at the bookstore, it just jumped out at him and he had to buy it for me.Diagnosed with Systemic Lupus 4 years ago, I recently began exploring alternative medicine, but I was getting frustrated with all the difficult and costly methods I found.I have always believed that my body could heal itself, I just didn't know how to help it."Power Healing" is the answer I have been waiting for.I know nothing about Chinese Philosophy or any of the other Ancient healing arts, although I have heard of Reiki.This methods in this book work, regardless of any prior knowledge or belief.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chinese medicine    2. Consumer Health    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Eastern - General    5. Healing    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Medicine, Chinese    9. Mental healing    10. Qi gong    11. Qigong    12. Health & Fitness / Healing    13. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques   

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. General    3. 05-1513,051513,1-4120-6602-6,1412066026,The Journey Home,Charles J. Shovlin,healing,tai chi,taiji,Qi gong,spirit mind and body,autobiographies,why feel old just because time passes    4. Biography & Autobiography / General    5. Health & Fitness / General    6. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Subjects:  1. Complementary Medicine    2. Oriental martial arts