Rating:  Summary: Excellent resource, practical and straight-forward Review: By far the best book I have found to date on Chinese Qigong. Its strength is in the many exercises described within its pages. The authors provide plenty of pictures to assist their written directions. The book also provides many exercises for beginners to build a foundation in qigong basics and methods of practice for more advanced students.The value of this book is immeasurable. It gives the average student of qigong access to information that would take an individual years to acquire in study with many qigong teachers.
Rating:  Summary: Tremendous Effort Review: Combining a good deal of theory with a tremendous amount of well explained, useful qigong exercises is what makes this book the single most valuable book on qigong available. The authors cover in five separate chapters, the essential theory and practice of five major schools of qigong: Medical, Taoist, Buddhist, Healing, Wu-Shu.The section on Medical qigong covers Qi Permeation technique, various techniques for each of the six organ systems in the body, and the six healing sounds.The section on Taoist Qigong covers three levels of the Taoist system, including the Microcosmic orbit. Everything is presented sequentially to ensure safety. The final steps aren't presented with detailed instructions as they require, according to the authors, supervision.Buddhist Qigong includes Nine Segment breathing, Precious Vessel, Spiritual Flame, Great Perfection, Protective Qigong, and the Nine Esoteric Seals.The section on healing qigong is tremendous. Numerous methods of building, emitting, absorbing qi are given. Also discussed are various abilties related to scanning, auras, and protecting yourself from bad energy.The wu-shu qigong section was somewhat dissapointing. Most of it seemed very external. Still, many exercises are given.The only real downside to the book is that it is sometimes hard to follow based on the layout of chapter and subchapter headings, but a close reading will clarify any problems.Also, I would have liked some information about how to combine the routines into a daily practice.This book is not as detailed on theory as Yang Jwing Mings Root of Chinese Chi-Kung, but contains more actual routines. The two books complement each other well.
Rating:  Summary: Unique Information Immensely Practical and Useful Review: Definitely the best book on QiGong available in English to date. And no doubt better than a lot, if not most, of the QiGong books in Chinese. The "varieties" of QiGong in China number in the THOUSANDS, this book presents some of the best in essence. This 348-page volume is divided into five chapters or "Books". The materials contained in Book 1 (Medical QiGong) are pretty basic, and commonly available, though useful for beginners. The last chapter (Book 5) on WuShu QiGong will be primarily of interest to martial artists and some athletes. The weakness here is that it covers only the "Hard" techniques, but does not include the "Soft" or internal methods like TaiJi and similar QiGongs. Toaist QiGong is covered in Book 2. Being an integral part of Chinese culture from the beginning, Taoism can claim to have the most elaborate and comprehensive QiGong practices. These emcompass the whole spectrum of physical to spiritual development purposes. The disadvantage of Taoist QiGong is that sometimes it can get overly complicated, and burdened by cultural dross. The authors however, have been able to present the information in a reasonably simple and straightforward way, easily comprehensible to those not steeped in ancient Chinese lores. The most unique part is Book 3, which is about Buddhist QiGong, more specifically QiGong as taught in some Tantric Buddhist traditions. Most of the information contained here are not easy to come by, even for students of Tantric Buddhism. This is really a pity as, in my experience, Buddhist QiGong has some of the most powerful and profound techniques. So the author really has done a great service to the general public by sharing such information in a non sectarian way. For some this section alone will justify getting the whole volume. Book 4 teaches the principles and techniques to develop (build), regulate and work with Qi (both within and outside of the individual) for a variety of purposes, especially healing. These really make up the foundation for any advance QiGong cultivation. After you have mastered them, the rest are easy. This section is invaluable to those involved in energetic healing work. ( If you find a QiGong teacher who teaches you these techniques early in your study, you most likely have a good and generous teacher, it may be worth your while to stick around.) The language used throughout the volume is simple and straightforward, the instructions are direct and easy to understand. The numerous photos, charts and illustrations are clear and helpful. Though the volume also contains a fair amount of philosophical and technical details, much of these can be skimmed over without impeding the learning of the QiGong methods, if you are impatient. You can always refer back to them later when necessary. An immensely practical book well worth the price.
Rating:  Summary: Unique Information Immensely Practical and Useful Review: Definitely the best book on QiGong available in English to date. And no doubt better than a lot, if not most, of the QiGong books in Chinese. The "varieties" of QiGong in China number in the THOUSANDS, this book presents some of the best in essence. This 348-page volume is divided into five chapters or "Books". The materials contained in Book 1 (Medical QiGong) are pretty basic, and commonly available, though useful for beginners. The last chapter (Book 5) on WuShu QiGong will be primarily of interest to martial artists and some athletes. The weakness here is that it covers only the "Hard" techniques, but does not include the "Soft" or internal methods like TaiJi and similar QiGongs. Toaist QiGong is covered in Book 2. Being an integral part of Chinese culture from the beginning, Taoism can claim to have the most elaborate and comprehensive QiGong practices. These emcompass the whole spectrum of physical to spiritual development purposes. The disadvantage of Taoist QiGong is that sometimes it can get overly complicated, and burdened by cultural dross. The authors however, have been able to present the information in a reasonably simple and straightforward way, easily comprehensible to those not steeped in ancient Chinese lores. The most unique part is Book 3, which is about Buddhist QiGong, more specifically QiGong as taught in some Tantric Buddhist traditions. Most of the information contained here are not easy to come by, even for students of Tantric Buddhism. This is really a pity as, in my experience, Buddhist QiGong has some of the most powerful and profound techniques. So the author really has done a great service to the general public by sharing such information in a non sectarian way. For some this section alone will justify getting the whole volume. Book 4 teaches the principles and techniques to develop (build), regulate and work with Qi (both within and outside of the individual) for a variety of purposes, especially healing. These really make up the foundation for any advance QiGong cultivation. After you have mastered them, the rest are easy. This section is invaluable to those involved in energetic healing work. ( If you find a QiGong teacher who teaches you these techniques early in your study, you most likely have a good and generous teacher, it may be worth your while to stick around.) The language used throughout the volume is simple and straightforward, the instructions are direct and easy to understand. The numerous photos, charts and illustrations are clear and helpful. Though the volume also contains a fair amount of philosophical and technical details, much of these can be skimmed over without impeding the learning of the QiGong methods, if you are impatient. You can always refer back to them later when necessary. An immensely practical book well worth the price.
Rating:  Summary: Qigong Empowerment Review: Great book !If i had to have only one,this is one. Many authentic qigong practrices never published beforo To many books are writen by armchair intellectuals,who read a lot,compiled good and bad and we have another book. Qigong Empowerment is writen by practictioners,who spend life spend liftime on Qigong path.Real trnsmission of knowledge. Wonderfull gift.
Rating:  Summary: If you only buy one qigong book - make it this one...... Review: I have been searching for a long time to find some of the information contained in this book. It is a must have for any qigong practitioner regardless of what you are trying to acheive... Utter brilliance.....
Rating:  Summary: Only for the uninformed Review: I've been practicing martial arts for 20 years, internal and external from some of the top masters in the world. Shou-Yu Liang knows nothing about real qigong. This is just idiot material. The fact that he is some kind of coach in China shows what little the general public knows about Taoist Methods. If you want to learn Taoism, learn from a real Taoist Master not some coach certified by the Chinese government. As if the Chinese government knows anything about real martial arts.
Rating:  Summary: Best book on the subject Review: Most of the information you will ever need on qigqong is in this book.The book is scientific in its approach to qigong training and cuts out the mystical nonsense.Having practice qigong for more than 25 years i found the book a joy to read.My main interest is hard qigong and i found Master Liangs methods to be very good.They are safe to practice and produce real results.It may seem strange to bang your head against a brick wall but this was the method used by Master Ho,one of Chinas most famous qigong masters.He banged his head against the wall 300 times a night.Qigong does require sexual restraint and Master Liang does mention this in the Taoist section.Experience has shown me that without restraint the results will be poor.Its best to choose one section of the book to practice rather than fliting from taoist to hard qigong etc.One year of hard qigong practice will produce real results, if you follow the instructions to the letter.Cracking bricks under your armpits does tend to leave people slightly bemused!
Rating:  Summary: Best book on the subject Review: Most of the information you will ever need on qigqong is in this book.The book is scientific in its approach to qigong training and cuts out the mystical nonsense.Having practice qigong for more than 25 years i found the book a joy to read.My main interest is hard qigong and i found Master Liangs methods to be very good.They are safe to practice and produce real results.It may seem strange to bang your head against a brick wall but this was the method used by Master Ho,one of Chinas most famous qigong masters.He banged his head against the wall 300 times a night.Qigong does require sexual restraint and Master Liang does mention this in the Taoist section.Experience has shown me that without restraint the results will be poor.Its best to choose one section of the book to practice rather than fliting from taoist to hard qigong etc.One year of hard qigong practice will produce real results, if you follow the instructions to the letter.Cracking bricks under your armpits does tend to leave people slightly bemused!
Rating:  Summary: The Most Complete Book on Qigong Review: Quite simply, this book covers more aspects and types of Qigong than any other book available to the english speaking public. I am a practitioner of the huge Universal Tao System and this one of the only books that that is up to par with Sifu Mantak Chia's books. Furthermore, it uncovers very, very secret practices from the Taoist Internal Alchemy, Chinese and Tibetan Tantrism, Shaolin Secret Arts and even Dzogchen(!) many of which have never been publicly published before. Some of these practices are so secret most practitioners have either: never heard of them or had concluded they had been lost. Yet, Sifu Shou-yu Liang and Sifu Wen-ching Wu have found it in their hearts to share these profound practices with the rest of the world. They are both incredible masters in their own right, not to mention winning numerous qigong and martial arts awards under their belt. Their schools are well known and respected worldwide. Really, Qigong Empowerment is set of 5 books. After reading the introduction you will then be able to choose which books you want to read. If you are feeling unhealthy you might go to the Medical Qigong Book; if you practice a style of martial arts you may go to the Martial Qigong Book. All five books are really amazing though. Each practice is outlined in a very logical and practical manner and really pretty easy to understand. There is also a healthy amount of philosophical explanation and theory. So even the teaching method is complete here: they give WHO founded the particular technique and how it was passed down, WHAT it is in clear explanation, WHERE it is from exactly, and HOW it should be done along with safety tips, and to top it off, WHY you would want to practice such a technique with some examples of the benefits. If your new to Qigong start here. It will give you the proper understanding of Qigong far from those videos at whole foods with some guy waving his arms around. This is real Qigong which involves leading the Qi with the Yi (heart/mind intent) It will also give you thorough understanding of each of the most common Qigong schools. If you already experienced in Qigong or any type of Martial Arts -- buy this book right now and prepare yourself to experience some of the most amazing abilities humans are capable of. The title says it all: Qigong Empowerment!
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