A Complete Guide to Chi-Gung: The Principles and Practice of the Ancient Chinese Path to Health, Vigor, and Longevity

I purchased this book in 2006 while in trade school for basic therapeutic massage. At the time, I found a level of innate skill within myself for the more complex and esoteric forms of massage and noticed a basic affinity with chi itself. This proved problematic as I began treating clients in basic massage; I found myself absorbing their emotional duress when I manipulated the soft tissue of their musculature. It didn't take me long to make sense of a plan of action: find a way to rid myself of this negative chi and protect my own energy system. Dan Reid's book was of immense help to me and without it, I doubt I would have made it thru clinical trials without sleeping 14 hours every nite (something I really did not have the time to do). The moving meditation set outlined in this book is not long or complicated and there is an adequate amount of preliminary information before Reid makes it to the meditation practices (it is worth reading, trust me). I began using the moving meditation set the morning before I started treating clients and found myself not only energized for the entire 12-hour-day of treating clients, but also immune to the energetic damage of their emotionally stressed bodies. I deviated from using this book and the meditation set for several years while I continued my study of energetic therapy but picked it up again and it still provides all the energetic benefits it did when I was in school. If you want an introduction to cultivating your chi and commanding your internal energy, this book is a very good start. Be warned that moving and balancing your chi with the meditation set can cause your body to release negative chi and the effects might not be instantaneous; work the meditation set for a few weeks to a month and you'll see the benefits. Stay with it.

*Warning, This is the same book as CHI GUNG, just re-covered by a different publisher*I read this book about 9 yrs ago when I got serious with my martial arts training, I wished to learn The Dragon Tiger Double Sword Style (a 630yr old method) but 'Before I could lift a blade I must become proficient in Chi Gung Training' I had no idea what this "Chee goong" was, so I looked for a source to study.This is the book I purchased.The first half of the book is a summary of Chinese history, the origins of Chi Gung & a bunch of stories &"scientific" studies verifying the results of high level practice's in healing. I liked the one about the Monk who healed the cancer patient in hospital from the temple some distance away, the patient could smell the incense the monk was burning while in his healing meditative trance. Interesting stuff, but depending on the reader this can become long winded & it feels like he's trying to convince a sceptic "it really works". I take everything I read with a grain of salt, but its doubtful many who purchase this book will need convincing.The results speak for them self as anyone who has done at least a few months Chi Gung training will know.I usually read books cover to cover, but I was forced to jump to the practical sections in the second half of the book & begin training. I ended up reading the book twice through then lent it out to several interested friends & it eventually disappeared, its defiantly one for the collection so I got it again on here.After reading this book I went on to find a Sifu to train with & now I can call the Chi with a slap of the palms & a deep breath, it is a beautiful thing. I recommend this book & any other Chi Gung book as long as it leads you to practice.Cheers.Nik.

It's not easy writing a review about a book explaining practices that have grown up over millennia and untold generations. Added to this is the fact that Chinese health practices are so varied, and are just that...practices. They need to have time and effort invested (gong fu) to yield fruit. This book provides a good overview of the territory of chi-gung for both the curious and long-time practitioners who are looking for a summary view. It is not the practice(s) itself. Some western trainers are finally voicing the Chinese idea that health and fitness are different, with health being important for a long, vital, and engaged. life. As a Chinese lineage holder said to me many years ago, most people are not "serious". That said, I found this book a worthwhile read.

Having only begun practicing Chi-Gung and enrolling in an instructor's course, this book was on our reading list. It is a very good foundation book with all of the necessary understanding of principles and explanations. Being a yoga instructor also, I was happy to see the warm-up exercise section displaying many exercises used in yoga, allowing me to design a fusion class incorporating both Chi-Gung and yoga practices to satisfy all of my students. I am very glad that I chose this as one of my first books to read on this subject.

Seems this may just be one style of Chi Kung? For I not seen certain forms that I do use,and he focus so much on Taoist. Which he should of explained the title better as Complete Tao Chi Gung insteade. So the title is misleading. But the book is ok,little confusing than what I Iwas use to reading. So its ok to add to your collection. Good to know that all Qi Gong practice are not the same,but same goals.

The book is great. However, the copy I received was a pirated copy. The highlighted parts were gray, the binding glue and duct tape. I think that's illegal to photocopy a book.

Well written and detailed guide of diverse chi kung exercises. The only thing that would make it better is if there were some actual photos, instead of vague drawings.

In here is information that can truly change one's perspective on Qi and breathing and many things in life. Bravo, Daniel Reid!

This is a very thorough overview of Qi gong, ancient and modern, by an adept of many years standing and mastery of the Chinese language. I thoroughly recommend it. It contains many useful insights which can be applied to whatever qi gong system the reader uses, and to Tai ji. The only thing that surprised me is that Daniel Reid makes no mention of 18 movement "tai ji qi gong Shibashi", which is one of the most widely practiced forms, certainly in Britain. For anyone with a real interest in qi gong, this book is a very good buy.

Brilliant book ,as a beginner this book makes me feel like a seasoned student of Chi Gung.It would be good if Amazon included immersive reading into the kindle.H.Bains

excellent product, An expirence from a world where questions are asked. I enjoyed tremendosley

I got so much from this book. It is clear, inspiring, comprehensive and authoritative. As a relative beginner I was able to put together a sequence of exercises from it that I have now been practising for over a year.

Daniel reid has done it again, his understanding and ability in communicating chi-kung is second to none. I have many books on Chi-kung but the exercises in this book are some of the best, safest, and most powerful that i have done. Warm ups and cool downs are alsoe included...which is VERY important! Also a history of Chi-kung and its development is included. GREAT!