The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi

I can't add much to the other reviews here. The book has earned all of its stars. The only caveat I have is with the superficial description of the Microcosmic Orbit Meditation (I call it that because I like the monogram :-) Jahnke is the real deal and his writing style is excellent. No redundancy, no copy/paste blah blah blah as seen in most Qigong books. This one is truly unique. Many Qigong books attempt to sound poetic, but they have no soul. Jahnke is all soul and this makes him sound poetic. You can open this book to any page and just enjoy the writer's enthusiasm for Qigong. I especially enjoyed his frank, pragmatic discussion of sexual Qigong. It's an important subject and most authours are either too embarrassed or too unknowledgable to discuss it in detail. Dr. Jahnke takes the mystery out of the subject and gives us some practical, practiceable tips for building up our Qi reserves (for men AND women!). This direct discussion is missing from, for example, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming's book, "The Secret of Youth", which *should* essentially be a frank discussion of Daoist sexual practices but which turns a blushing cheek on the subject in a way that this book does not. In a couple short pages, Jahnke casts a whole new light on the Yang book. I love both books, but this one is more accessible and easier to put into practice. Well, for a really good introduction to Qigong, I have to recommend this book and Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming's "The Root of Chinese Qigong". They really complement one another nicely. Keep an open mind about Qigong. Don't believe ANYONE who says he/she has *the* best method. Don't be afraid to experiment :-)

Healing and empowering, no matter what your state of health. The explanations in this book are crystal clear. There is value here for every reader, whether you are an expert in Qigong or new to this practice. I especially appreciate Jahnke's explanations of the underlying concepts; they not only help you understand Qigong, but also the basics of much of today's emerging energy medicine. Exercises are simple to use and can be effectively integrated into daily living. My favorite exercise (so far) is "Watching Clouds Pass" on page 157. This exercise balances and centers my body while it reminds me that problems and situations can pass like clouds. I highly recommend not only this book, but also Jahnke's earlier work, The Healer Within. Accessible, easy to understand, and powerful. Great for gift giving.

Roger Jahnke has taken the ancient practice of Qigong - a healing meditation practice that combines gentle movement with focus, posture and breath - and has truly made it accessible to beginners. And we're not just talking about theory here: I was able to immediately begin practicing on my own with his clear instructions and accompanying illustrations. On the theory side he weaves a remarkable story using current scientific insights to support ancient Chinese concepts in a way that leaves you inspired and confident that this is indeed the real thing. The key to any meditative healing practice is actually doing the practice and this book is as motivating as I've ever read in getting me to get up and go for it. It has the feel of a companion that I'll be able to turn to for years to come, without it ever getting stale or out-of-date. The three promises of Qigong - it's free and accessible to everyone, you'll benefit if you practice, and it's easy to do - are clearly derived from the author's years of personal experience, practice and deep desire to share this wisdom with a wide audience. Many thanks from a new student.