Secrets to Living Younger Longer: The Self-Healing Path of Qigong, Standing Meditation and Tai Chi (Bodymind Healing Publications) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "There are experiences in life that change us, and the people around us, at our core..." (more)
Key Phrases: lost golden ball, standing meditation, living younger longer, Tan Tien, Ming Men, Bodymind Healing Purpose (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A splendid break-through that contributes a new slant to meditative practice. -- Dr. Larry Dossey, Author of Reinventing Medicine

A wonderful guide for learning the ancient healing practices of Qigong. Full of clear and practical exercises. -- Dr. Wayne Jonas, Former Director, National Institute of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine

During daily Israeli terrorist attacks I practiced Bodymind Healing Qigong to regain calm and find my inner sanctuary of equanimity -- Hana Matt, Teacher of "World Religions," Graduate Theological Union

Product Description

Secrets To Living Younger Longer is based on Qigong, a many thousand-year-old method of cultivating the energy of life (Qi) through movement, breath, touch, sound, and awareness. Scientific research documents how Qigong can lower blood pressure, increase balance and help with a wide variety of chronic diseases. But this is more than a book on Qigong exercises. Building upon those in the forefront of the mind-body healthcare revolution, Dr, Mayer has created a unique blend, combining Chinese Qigong and Western psychological methods with cross-cultural anthropological research. Secrets… is enlivened by mythic tales and imaginative teaching stories from ancient sacred wisdom traditions.

Secrets to Living Younger Longer contains:

• Health & Longevity Practices: A synthesis of 30 years of Dr. Mayer’s training with some of the most respected Tai Chi and Qigong masters. Learn practices to add to your lifetime preventative medicine program:
• Discover the unique Chinese practice of Sung to simultaneously relax and energize your body, Strengthen immunity, Reduce Hypertension, Limber your joints, Release computer shoulder tension Relieve chronic illnesses, Prevent falls, Alleviate insomnia and anxiety, Find relief from arthritis and Fibromyalgia, *See Appendix I for a list of health benefits for all ages. *
• Intriguing Historical Research: Learn how Tai Chi and Qigong have roots in Shamanism and a lost, integrative Self-healing lineage. Rediscovering these underpinnings helps to deepen the healing potentials of these arts.
• Standing Meditation: The key to making Qigong most effective.
• Transforming your Life Stance: Realizations and examples from a psychologist’s life, and from his patients and students.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Bodymind Healing Publications (June 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970431066
• ISBN-13: 978-0970431066
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #906,758 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Valuable, August 2, 2004

By	Ned Roberts "hrned" (Orinda, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Mayer brings numerous perspectives (Western psychologist, storyteller, student of Greek civilization) to his 30+ years of practice of Qigong to deliver an easy-to-read guide to this Chinese method of healing. His broad learning allows Dr. Mayer to share insights and ideas that help both novice and experienced practitioner obtain a deeper experience of the stances and movements that he clearly describes (with accompanying photos). His academic training shows through the logical and systematic development of ideas and exercises in the book. Overall, it was really easy to read, and also easy to use as a guide to various "sets" of Qigong methods for "bodymind healing". The appendices which give a guide to exercises for self-healing and research are useful for quick reference, as well. A great buy.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Integrating Eastern and Western Wisdom, April 18, 2009

By	Barbara Stone (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

As a psychologist, Dr. Mayer brings his awareness of the depth workings of psyche to the healing practice of Qigong for a true integration of mind and body. Rather than just talking about the technicalities of the standing posture, he puts the question to the reader, "What do you stand for?" Mayer shares his personal journey, illuminating his development of this unique perspective of ancient sacred wisdom and the workings of the mind. Section Two of this book has clear step-by-step descriptions of the exercises and excellent photos to guide the reader in learning and doing the practices. Section Three ties Qigong back into modern life with case examples and ways to build Qi (the vital life force) in our everyday life so that we can truly live younger longer!
Barbara Stone, PhD, author of
Invisible Roots: How Healing Past Life Trauma Can Liberate Your Present

3 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a joke, June 30, 2008

By	A. Robinson (Phx, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author of this book seemed a little fruity to me at first, which only became reinforced the further into this book I got. His idea of healthy exercise is childishly ridiculous. One example of this is his deer exercise in which you simply mimic a deer by putting extended palms next to your ears to simulate antlers, and then prance about like a ballerina (pgs 137-141). This is supposedly done to help with problems with the kidneys, but he never explains how he figured that one out - as is the case with all the supposed physiological benefits of his exercises. Then his claims of the existence of "fajing" and "Qi balls" (pgs 172-180) only undermine his credibility even more, especially with his pathetic attempt to prove the existence of Qi balls with the obviously staged photos he took of this in action (pgs 176-178).

For a person with a Phd, I would expect him to at least have a clue what Tai Chi or Qigong is all about, but he clearly does not (see my review of Pain Free by Pete Egoscue). I know of many people who have practiced Tai Chi and Qigong and they all brag about how it has made them FEEL younger and FEEL more fit, but the real life 24-step Tai Chi method requires too much room for use in limited spaces (like for practicing at home), so I thought that standing meditation might be an alternative. I should have known from the title that this was New Age nonsense from the start and I recommend that no one waste their time to buy or read this book if they are serious about these kind of exercises.