Chi Kung: The Way of Healing

The five foundational standing qigong postures in this book are the same as in the author's excellent earlier work, but does not include any more advanced postures. The author also replaced the "Eight Pieces of Brocade" exercises with simple Taijiquan movements. This book has a section on qigong healing massage and modified qigong for those who are very ill, i.e. - being bedridden. But there are books by other authors who cover qigong healing massage in more detail. It seems this book is out-of-print. Unless the price is very attractive, the author's previous book, "The Way of Energy" is a better buy, since it covers most of the material.

This excellent book by Master Chuen adds to the set of books that he has written that introduce the methods of working with and enhancing you own internal energy (Chi or qi). The emphasis in this book as implied by the title concerns using qi for healing, mostly oneself, but others are mentioned. There is information presented in this text that is also in his other texts, especially The Way of Energy, though this is a little more focused on self healing. The major emphasis in all of his books are a set of deceptively simple practices called variously "universal post", "tree standing" though the author uses their generic Chinese name Zhan Zuang. These exercises are central many types of internal qigong exercises, though they have a bit of an aura of secrecy around them. Mostly this is because martial arts teachers don't tend to teach them to their students until they have become quite advanced. (You want to know that a student is sufficiently serious and patient to benefit from these practices, else why waste your time teaching them). Many martial arts teachers discount these practices as not being effective since they don't involve much external movement (how could you fight with them?). The same could be said for typical qigong health practitioners since most trainers think it is better to be aerobically moving, running or stretching than just standing. Master Chuen explains these postures and their supported mental awareness, using some of the best visual images and metaphors in any qigong book I know of. I use some of his images in teaching taiji and qigong students daily. This teacher's unique facility is in explanation and imagery, especially for the western student unfamiliar with the Chinese concepts of five elements, yin & yang or chi flow. I think that this book steers a line between explaining difficult concepts and giving too much overwhelming detail about qi meridian theory. The practices listed in this book have many names, and they change depending on the qigong tradition that they came from. One final caveat, just because these movements don't seem very dynamic don't think they are trivial or easy. The subtleties of standing well, balanced, relaxed and aware are a lifetime study. Returning to read some of the posture descriptions or tidbits of information after you have been standing for a while, you may find an item that you passed over on first reading may become the central concept to improving your posture or inner awareness.

When I purchased "The Way of HeaIing" I was a hatha yoga practicioner for over 20 years. I was not very impressed with Lam Kam Chuen's exercices, because they seemed silly. However, I started doing the easiest exercices regularly, and after 3 months I was very impressed with the results. I was feeling better than ever, even practicing my yoga exercices. I then started practicing the more difficult exercices, those of Zhan Zuang. Well, after three years I feel really great. At a first glance, doing the exercices seems to be easy. This is not the case at all. It requires a good deal of effort and concentration. But the results are great for one's health, life quality improvement, better sleeping, better work and hapiness. I strongly recommend reading "The Way of Healing" BEFORE reading and practicing the exercices of "The Way of Energy", by the same author. The exercices of "The way of Healing" are easier and prepares your mind and body for the hardest Zhan Zuang exercices, described in "The way of Energy". Try practicising Lam Kam Chen's C'hi Kung exercices regularly (daily) during one year, and I assure that you will be very happy.

After reading Sifu (Master or Teacher) Lam's earlier work "The Way of Energy" I bought this book because it deals more with the healing aspect of Qigong (chi kung). I happen to have an intense interest in natural forms of healing.I have two complaints against this book1. Sifu Lam neglects to include an illustration of where the meridians (energy pathways) occur on the body. "The Way of Energy" also neglects this information.2. On page 109 Sifu Lam implies that Qigong (chi kung) exercizes will improve visual acuity. This is true providing that the visual deteioration is caused by lack of blood flow to the eyes. However deformity of the lens in problems like astygmatism will not be helped.After studying the exercize regimen in this book, I noticed that this book only includes the first five Zhan Zhaung (Jan Jong) poses listed in the earlier book "The Way of Energy", and the fact that he has changed the name for some of the poses.On page 150 Sifu Lam cautions readers to pay attention to the subtle signals their body sends to them. I agree with this 100%! Overall: this book is a very good place to start, but IMHO "The Way of Energy" is the better book.If I may be of assistance feel free to E-Mail me.William H. LambdinReiki Master/Teacher (Karuna, Tibetan & Usui)Seichim Master

As a big fan of master Chuen's previous book, The Way of Energy, I eagerly sought out this book when I learned it was available. It is a very useful companion book to his earlier one, and it stands well on its own, too. It is a bit simpler in style and information, but contains additional useful practices and other interesting tidbits. It seems geared toward a reading audience that would be more interested in a less intense chi kung regime than that in The Way of Energy.