Qigong for Health: Chinese Traditional Exercises for Cure and Prevention [Paperback]

Masaru Takahashi (Author), Stephen Brown (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Japan Pubns; 1st edition (March 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870407015
• ISBN-13: 978-0870407017
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book on Qigong and Tai Chi Chi Kung, January 29, 2004

By 

Dennis Yoon "rivermanfire" (Silver Spring, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Qigong for Health: Chinese Traditional Exercises for Cure and Prevention (Paperback)

If you are into the internal aspect of martial arts and want a clear easy to follow manual this is it. The photos are exellent and they flow lucidly. It covers seated meditations and some internal organ exercises and massage. It also has two Tai Chi Chi Kung forms and the presentation is what sets it apart from other confusing manuals. Highly recommended. Snatch these last copies up before they disappear.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Original Chi Kung, March 4, 2010

By 

Prokopton (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Qigong for Health: Chinese Traditional Exercises for Cure and Prevention (Paperback)

These techniques are the result of the very first Chi Kung/qigong that came into being in the 20th century. As described in Dr. David Palmer's Qigong Fever: Body, Science, and Utopia in China, Liu Guizhen learned his first techniques (from an old master, Liu Duzhou) in 1947. His ulcers were cured and the authorities told him to investigate further this mysterious energy-breathing medicine, which acquired the name of Chi Kung at that time. His findings were taught to many, including Masaru Takahashi, co-author of this book. Now anyone can learn the skills.

I can't imagine a better introduction to energy and meditation than this. It begins with standing, seated and lying forms of simple Chi Kung, including descriptions of energy flow, adds moving forms and some simple Tai Chi, and rounds it all out with prescriptions for different ailments. You won't have problems learning from it, because it explains easily and carefully and has many variations; you will find something here that works for you and you will get results. I would consider the affirmations and their wording customizable and optional. The different methods of breathing are very well explained, and I particularly liked the emphasis on Rujing ("Entering into Quietness"). If you can master Rujing and simple chi-gathering moves, when it comes to opening your orbit (see Healing Light of the Tao: Foundational Practices to Awaken Chi Energy for an excellent next step) you will have no problems. I can't think of a better way for a human being to spend time.

As was customary in China then, the health aspect is emphasized. Those in the know will find there are martial and mystical angles as well. If these still seem obscure after a while, this book will help: Path Notes of an American Ninja Master.

Recommended.


EDIT: Another excellent volume, if you want to investigate this 80s medical qigong, is this little pamphlet:

Therapeutic Breathing Exercise

... which contains similar practices, no tai chi, but probably even better prescriptions and dozens of little tips you may find very useful -- as well as an even cooler retro-80s presentation.

In a slighltly different vein and also recommended is:

Complete System of Self-Healing Internal Exercises

... a more eclectic and Taoist approach than strictly 'qigong', with a great deal more chi massage in it. It has a few exercises that are similar to the ones in the other two books, but many that are very different, and the overall focus is different. However, what all these books have in common is that you can practice easily from them right away, and in doing so not only radically improve your health, but also set an energetic and mental foundation on which to build some other very interesting things. What's good about all these volumes right now, too, is the price! Most people don't know that this old stuff is worth practicing. It *is* extremely good for health issues, but it does a lot more than that too... again, read Glenn Morris for that.

The book by Takahashi and Brown, whose page this is, is probably the best of the bunch. The reason being that it has those simple moving exercises which I think are essential for taking Chi Kung to a higher stage.