Description

Qigong is a health-oriented art involving both body and mind, one that can help prevent and cure illness and otherwise make life more pleasant. The ease and convenience of its exercise add to its popularity. It can be performed virtually anywhere at any time, requiring nothing more than a pair of willing hands. The exercises themselves are mostly slow and gentile and are thus suitable for people of widely varying age and health. The old and the sick may find qigong particularly suitable for their needs.
Deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, it is inseparable from ancient Chinese philosophy, medicine and religion. It is based on a wealth of theoretical concepts unique to China – the yin and yang, the five elements of nature, and the jingluo system in the body among others. These concepts are readily grasped by the Chinese, but may at first strike the uninitiated as incomprehensibly exotic. Yet, it is impossible to appreciate the true value of qigong without understanding its theoretical basis. The publication of this book help further popularize qigong outside China by explaining fundamental concepts pertaining to the art.

The book is written in three parts. Part I offers a general treatment of the subject, the meaning of qigong, its origin and development, basic principles and methods of practice, its value as a healing art, recent achievements in scientific research, etc. Part II introduces a range of basic exercises widely practice in China. Easy to learn and illustrated for convenience, the exercises detailed can be readily picked up by the reader. Though simple, these exercises have proved highly effective in maintaining goo9d health and fighting disease. Part III contains articles written by two North Americans about their personal experience in practicing qigong as a miraculously effective healing art.