CompleteMartialArts.com - Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Chi Gung for Lifelong Health (Tao of Energy Enhancement)
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Manufacturer: Blue Snake Books
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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 613.7148 EAN: 9781583941461 ISBN: 1583941460 Label: Blue Snake Books Manufacturer: Blue Snake Books Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 224 Publication Date: 2005-12-23 Publisher: Blue Snake Books Release Date: 2005-12-23 Studio: Blue Snake Books
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.”
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Very instructive Comment: This book was eye opening for me. I learned that exercise is more than sweat and pain. The whole Chi movement is well explained and made understandable for a beginner. Customer Rating: Summary: Potentially life changing - must read! Comment: I've been interested in Chi-Gung and Taoist things for a number of years. Took a few classes, etc, but nothing has been as detailed and to the point as this material from Mr Frantzis.
Honestly, most chi-gung books and many classes out there just teach you some physical movements or "standing like a tree".. stand in different poses and hold it without a whole lot of additional instruction as to what goes with it. Mr Frantzis sheds some (in my opinion) much needed light as to what you are really supposed to be doing, the "internal details" of what you are supposed to be doing with your body and with your mind in a clear and straightforward way. Just the first third or so of the book up until the part where he talks about standing is easily worth the price of admission.
I say "potentially life changing" because for a period of maybe a few months I began to do the standing practices (not any of the swings) every morning and every night. After a few days with it, I found that my mind was a lot calmer and I was feeling physically stronger and more vibrant. After a week or two, I felt like I was floating on air.. Ease of movement made me feel like a dancer floating on the clouds, and the sense of wellbeing just continued to increase. It was quite amazing. I was involved in martial arts at the time, and my teacher commented how much better I was getting.. it had nothing to do with the martial arts training though, but just with the standing and dissolving practice. It made my meditation that I was trying to do every day just a whole lot easier.
I let myself get distracted, and stopped doing 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day like I used to. However, you don't have to be that hard-core (though the author said he did 6 hours a day for a time.. if that is whaco or dedication I don't know). I think once a day for 30 minutes or so would produce great results as well, the same as mine eventually just somewhat slower. But there is plenty of material here to get you motivated to put time and effort into the practice. That is another great thing about this book. Not only is the Author obviously very, very knowledgeable, but his story and his presentation is very straightforward and actually kind of inspirational. A must have book for anyone interested in alternative health, chi-practices, or Taoism in general. Customer Rating: Summary: good stuff Comment: I was looking for something that spoke in plain language and answered my questions for me. This was it. A lot of other books were just too complicated or advanced. This helped me to correct my posture, understand what was going on and feel like I was on more solid ground with my practice. Customer Rating: Summary: Fantastic Comment: This book is practical, detailed, and full of insight to help anyone improve his practice of Qigong. Frantzis has broken things down into very simple steps, that when synthesized produce dramatic changes within the mind and body. This book compliments a practitioners practice, as well as provides interesting details and information for anyone interested in the fields of health, martial arts, meditation, or even Chinese History. Enjoy! Customer Rating: Summary: This book can positively change your life, too Comment: Opening The Energy Gates of Your Body is a truly fabulous book. I warmly recommend this well-written book to anyone interested in one's own health, anyone who wants to learn more about chi gung, any athlete interested in tuning up his body after vigorous exercise, or a golfer interested in increasing his flexibility.
Few books make such huge promises and seem to be able to keep them. This book promises for example that the exercises will gradually open up your body to the extent that you will be able to literally feel what is inside you, including your muscles, bones, joints, internal organs and even your nerves. With only less than a year of regular practice, not more than 30 minutes almost daily, I am tempted to believe that this is exactly what these exercises will deliver given enough time.
For me, major results are obvious already now, having only practiced breathing properly into my belly and done the basic standing exercises, but having not even started the moving exercises. The quality of sleep has improved tremendously with no trouble falling asleep. Flexibility in the shoulder, chest, belly and hip area has increased to the extent I did not know was possible, and yet, the muscles are still there. Hands, forearms and feet are more relaxed, as if having more space between the bones. I can hardly wait what it will be like in a few years time.
I originally bought this book, because I wanted to learn to relax my body in order to run, walk and swim with as little effort as possible (these things are taught for example by Danny Dreyer in his books Chi Running and Chi Walking, and Terry Laughlin in his book Total Immersion), but it has already given me more, opened up a new world. I wish I had it years ago during my active sporting years.
