Accessories

Very Helpful
A great book. Simple to follow but with great benefits. I would recommend this to anyone, even if they don't have health problems.

Good Intro, but a bit soft on technical details
I don't mean to dampen the enthusiasm other readers have shown. This book is a terrific introduction to the theory and idea of qi and its cultivation and uses. The tone is a bit "New Agey" though, with Stuart Smiley-style affirmations at the end of each chapter ("I create, maximize, and sustain an inner reserve of potential to optimize my health, life, and being.") And in covering a wide swath, Jahnke invariably sacrifices depth for breadth. As one reader noted, the Macrocosmic Orbit, widely considered a key to qi cultivation, is given a very cursory description. If you're new to this stuff, this book is a great overview of the subject, but understand that it is really an orientation, not an adequate how-to manual. And there's the danger that in all the warm and cozy prose, one can lose sight of the fact that the Chinese regard qi gong as a discipline requiring exactitude, discipline and dedication. So buy this or read it if you're looking to get oriented in the subject, then buy one of the clear technical manuals available or, better yet, have the supreme good fortune to find a great teacher.

Highly Recommended!
I bought this book to learn more in depth information about the qigong class I am taking. I love the way the material is organized! I read this book slowly and underlined many passages. There are some deep truths here. Whether you are trying to decide to start the practice of qigong or are already enjoying it's myriad benefits, this book will increase your understanding of the mysterious qi. There are qigong exercises presented in the book with lovely drawings, but it is still better to find a class or group to fully understand how to perform the movements properly with the breath. The practice of qigong has improved my life, my health, and my energy, exponentially! May you find great benefit, too!

The Practice and Spirit of Qigong/Tai Chi Revealed
What a great book! Well written and fascinating to read. I liked the poetic quotes from various Qi masters that introduce each chapter. I had read some other books on energy healing (e.g., "Energy Medicine"), but this book was the one that brought home the general concepts about energy healing while presenting a practice that is easy to follow without being technical (I.e, if you are interested in details about meridians and Chakras, you're better off with different book like "Energy Medicine," which to me was overwheming in its details and techniques.).

"The Healing Promise of Qi" emphasizes the importance of body alignment, breath, and mind and breaks the Qigong/Tai Chi practice down into ten steps:

1. Discover Qi
2. Gaher Qi
3. Circulate Qi
4. Purify Qi
5. Direct Qi
6. Conserve Qi
7. Store Qi
8. Transform Qi
9. Dissolve in Qi
10. Transmit Qi

Approximately 1-3 exercises are presented for each step (total 10-15 exercises) to help you develop the Qi flow.

The book then finishes off in the later chapters with an "owner's manual" or guide for your practice and a discussion on the science of Qi (fields of energy, mind and consciousness, etc.).

I have been following the practice, and the exercises have really helped me relax amid the stress of everyday life. The exercises take less than 10 minutes, plus they help me to meditate more easily.

The author's words ring true and sincere, and he has organized his topics well. I believe in his general message that anyone's health would benefit from following the practice of Qigong/Tai Chi.

A Seminal Work
After a number of readings, it is clear that this book is both broad and deep. It is very accessible for those just beginning their investigations into Qi, energy and personal cultivation. AND it is among the most penetrating books for those who seek deeper knowledge of wellbeing, energetics and even the eternal nature. There is fact (health, healing, physiology and quantum), theory (Chinese Medicine, Chinese philosophy, Daoism, Buddhism), inspiration (the most profound medicine is within, the eternal radiant spirit can be revealed), story (tales of a probably fictional mountain monastery and probably real Qi masters the author has met and studied with). There is also a profound vision for the potential of the human species as the cultivation of our deeper nature is more widely pursued.

As both a doctor of Chinese medicine and a long time teacher of Qigong and Tai Chi, the author has experience, authority and very alluring language. The book is easy and fun to read. It could be opened anywhere. One endorsement, from the author of Manifesto For A New Medicine, James Gordon MD says "I look forward to referring to -- and using -- this book for years to come." And Joan Borysenko, author of many books on the Mind/Body revolution calls it "A gem that you will treasure for the rest of your life." Deepak Chopra calls Dr Jahnke, "a wise teacher and healer" and his Qigong "simple yet profound".

Nowhere have we seen (and this is mentioned in a number of the Amazon reviews) such a clear map of the territory of Qigong, Tai Chi and the cultivation of personal power and virtue.

I have also appreciated, very much, Dr Jahnke's first book, The Healer Within The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques To Release Your Body's Own Medicine *Movement *Massage *Meditation *Breathing.

These are seminal works in the emerging new Quantum world of energy, empowerment and self-reliance. Qigong, it appears, is an accessible portal to our maximum potential and a method to access our deepest power -- simply yet profoundly.