Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Chi Gung for Lifelong Health

Most people will not have the discipline and patience to work through this workbook on qigong, but for those who do, this is absolutely the finest presentation around. Even more advanced practioners will want to refer to this fundamental book again and again. This book works through the physical alignments and beginning standing-dissolving practice as foundation for all advanced work in healing, martial, and meditative qigong/neigong. The old edition was excellent, but the new revised edition is even better, adding a step-by-step chapter on Taoist breathing which is a very welcome addition, and one which is a stand-alone practice in its own right.

I bought this book reluctantly as it sounded, well, a bit new-agey and filled with BS. When everyone's talking Quigong and Taijiquan, etc. what's one more book about our Chi, energy bodies, etc.?In this case, this is a book that is no-BS, gets down to business, and gets the job done.Forget new-agey claptrap and people who sound like they've seen too much Dragonball Z. The author's history is presented, a quick guide to Chi and other energy issues, then straight into the exercises. There's no bragging (though the part on the author that was written by someone else gets a tad grandiose), no pointless buzzwords, just instructions on a useful series of exercises for health and well-being.To add to this delightful book, it has advice any good master would give his students - warnings of what not to do and reminders that self-development is something that takes months to get off the ground. The author fully believes (and perhaps demonstrates) the mystical powers of Quigong, but he admits that one can harm themselves if they're not careful and warns that there's no substitute for hard work.I'm not even through all of the exercises completely, and I've noticed significant improvements in my health and well-being. As a person with a sceptical nature, I'm convicned this book is 100% worth it.

In this book, Frantzis Kumar describes techniques which are essential for all energy work as well as a precondition for practicing internal martial arts; that is, he gives detailed instructions on opening the channels that control the flow of chi ("the energy gates"). By following the instructions step-by-step the practitioner learns to generate an uninterrupted flow of chi through the major meridians and dan-tiens. Any dedicated practitioner of aikido, tai-chi, chi-kung, capoeira and other martial arts knows that this is not an easy thing to do - learning to manipulate chi takes years of practice and one has to be lucky to have instructors who are willing to impart this knowledge. Internal energy techniques used to be (and still are) rather secret in China and it is rare to encounter a Chinese master who is willing to teach these to non-Chinese disciples. That's why we're lucky to have this book written by a Westerner for a Western audience. Kumar starts from the beginning, with techniques designed to dissolve energy "knots". He then describes all the major points on the meridians where stale energy is wont to accumulate and introduces a simple Cloud Hands practice, which is an optimal way to open the shoulder blades and the pelvic girdle (stretch them darn psoas muscles!). He ends with teaching a simple spinal stretch method (which reminds me of Feldenkreis). The book is filled with helpful hints and admonitions. It is also well written, unlike many other similar manuals which tend to suffer from mistranslations and bad grammer. Written text of course is no substitute for a live teacher, whose help is crucial so that we learn to correct the warped micro-postures and subconscious mis-alignements that tend to plague our steps into the wonderful world of energy work. As a supplement, however, i think Kumar's book is very useful and i recommend it highly.

I strongly recommend this book for all who want comprehensive health, vitality, and want to take their health into their own hands. This is a WORKBOOK for the general public, but also has much, practical theory which is marvelously articulated. I have practiced the six exercises in this book for several months, and I feel like I'm getting physically younger every day (I'm 38 years old). These practices enhance bodily comfort, health, and physical performance in every way. The reader must put forth a sustained, regular effort, but this moderate effort is rewarded many times over. My health is now in MY hands, and I see that I don't have to grow stiff and weak as I age!!! If everyone used the material in this book, there would by a lot of unemployed doctors. I'm grateful to the author, B.K. Frantzis.