Customer Reviews

Eight Simple Qigong Exercises for Health: The Eight Pieces of Brocade

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Although I would recommend this text to even a beginner, Chi-gong is perhaps not the easiest thing to initially learn without someone to guide you. If you've had any previous experience in Chi-gong, Tai-chi or a decent amount of an external martial art, this is an invaluable text not just for improving your health, but also increasing the effectiveness of your energy when you need it most.

Zakarius

Dr. Yang's book starts with a very thorough, but not too long explanation of the principles of Qigong. It is definitely from a Chinese point of view, but does not leave the Westerner with that "far-away-land" feeling that some books on Chinese martial arts do.

The Qigong routines taught in the second half of the book, are very popular traditional routines that are hundreds of years old. They are not the watered-down, "simplified-for-dumb-Westerners" routines that you find in some books. Yet they are not hard to learn.

Dr. Yang's credentials are impeccable, and he is very down-to-earth in his approach.

I recommend this book for people who are serious about learning an authentic form of Qigong. Those who want to space out to cosmic vibrations should look for another book.

Having had a certain experience in Chi Kong and Tai Chi, I found this book very helpful, as a matter of fact a real poetry both intellectually and CHI wise. I have read many of Dr. Yang's books which I found very instructive. I wanted this book for its exercises and was attracted by the fact that they can be performed in 10-20 minutes. This was my only disappointment. How can this be possible when you have to perform each exercise at least 24 times? Personally, it takes me about 40 minutes, 40 enjoyable minutes.

Although thin, this book contained more information than I expected. It talks about what is qi and what is qigong (including its history), it tells the life story of this set's creator - Marshall Yue Fei, and enumerates the main qigong purposes (i.e for healing, maintaing health, prolonging life, martial arts and enlightenment). The two main categories are explained: Wai Dan (External Elixir) and Nei Dan (Internal Elixir). In Taoist terminology, the book talks about the three treasures: Jing (essence), Qi (energy) and Shen (spirit), which can be nurtured through Qigong training. In order to succeed, one needs to regulate the body, mind, breath, Qi and spirit - only then the benefits which one can reap from training will be reaped.
The next two chapters present the sitting and standing set of "Eight pieces of brocade", respectively. There are details, but not exhaustive, and I feel that one should also get the DVD with the same name to have a better understanding of the sets - short of having a teacher. This is actually what Dr. Yang recommends - work with both the book and DVD, for there are details which cannot be explained in the latter, but you cannot get the feel and moves from the former as much as from the DVD.
The book ends with a rather comprehensive glossary of terms (book names, authors, masters, etc.) and with an index.
All in all, this is a great book for beginners, but by all means it cannot be considered the end - it is only an introduction, and a good one. This being said, there might be probably better introductions in other books, but everyone has to start somewhere, and this work isn't bad at all.

With HMOs, insurance headaches, premiums driven up by the 65 percent of Americans who are overweight, increasing daily stress, we all could use a magic elixir for energy and increased quality of life. Who better to provide it than the Chinese, inventors of tai chi chuan, green tea as a curative, and acupuncture?

Qigong, as alternative health expert Dr. Wang Jwing-Ming explains, functions like tai chi chuan or yoga as a way of maintaining longevity, youth, energy and health. Dr. Yang explains that most practitioners of qigong seek enlightenment, awareness and health through wai dan (physical tai chi type qigong) or nei dan (meditation).

Once you have read the half of the book devoted to the nature of qigong, like most Westerners, you're itching to get started. Dr. Yang stresses that qigong is not about fancy moves, but about careful attention. The exercises, like weight or strength training, require several repetitions. The qigong exercises may seem slow. However, for those who are sick and tired of being sick and tired, patience will pay off when you choose to set aside 10-20 minutes a day. The accompanying videotape purports to be another great investment in your health. Dr. Yang skillfully shows us the path to wellness.

On page 23; Dr Yang cautions the readers about the health risks of the Nei Dan (Mental) aspect of Chi Kung. While it is true that you CAN hurt yourself. In my opinion the Nei Dan aspect of Chi Kung is nowhere as dangerous as some of the breathing exercizes. On page 27 Dr. Yang cautions readers to perform the hand forms exactly as shown. The Hand forms are the least important aspect there is to Chi Kung. The mental (Nei Dan) and the breathing exercizes are far important. Now you should perform the hand forms as accurately as possible so that you will derive the most benefit from them. But if your joints, muscles, and tendons will not allow to perform the form exactly. do not worry about it. Perform the hand forms as accurately as you can. and give your body time to adjust. When performing the Chi Kung exercizes, perform them with a relaxed and cheerful attitude; or don't do them. The exercize "Draw the bow" On the Cover Dr Yang demonstrates the arm holding the bow where the wrist is straight pointing two fingers in the direction the arrow would go. There is a very easy way to improve this exercize and cause chi (qi) to gather in the arm. You should bend the wrist back as nearly 90 degrees as comfortably possible and only extend the index finger. This will stimulate the liver meridian. Try the exercize both ways and decide for yourself which way is more effective. Dr. Yang spends quite some cames talking about the meridians (He uses the term channels". however; I wish Dr. Yang had included a drawing to show where the meridians occur. May your chi (qi) flow wild and free.

This would be a great book if someone who knew nothing about qigong had proof read it. As it is, there are big gaps in the instructions. Yang assumes you know things that you might not. The solution is to buy the video that goes with it (and Dr. Yang suggests that you do), or just buy a different book -- one that explains things well enough so that you don't need a video.

Dr. Yang explains the exercises very well, especially what they do to the body. All of his books (those he wrote, anyway) are excellent (not all qigong books are, so appreciate him!). It took me about 90 mins to learn the exercises, and it takes a good 20 mins to do them quickly (about 45 mins if you do the 20 repetitions he recommends). The exercises HAVE been around for thousands of years, and they're also called Ba Juan Din (or some such), and no one's sure if they were warm up exercises or for healing. I wish Dr. Yang would've said how long it takes before results are seen, or how long to practice. I've since learned it's 100 days. YMAA has a feedback page on their Web site, and I filled out the registration page so I could post and was annoyed when a computer glitch prevented me from posting. Emails to the YMAA to address this were never answered.

The very good book for everyone who seriously think about Chinese philosophy and healthily life. Eight pieces of brocade states for eight main exercises providing health, curing, martial and enlightenment for people wanting to spend 15 minutes every morning and evening improving their life.

Qigong realy works, but if you are interested in spiritual growth and enlightenment as well, go to the falundafa web site. You can see a video of five simple exercises, and You can also download all the books for free.