The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi by Roger Jahnke Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi
Book Review: Sure to be a standard work
Summary: 5 Stars
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 :-)
Book Review: Valuable Insights for anybody at any level
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't write many reviews, but this book seemed to deserve one. I've practiced Qigong and Tai Chi for over a decade, but recently have committed to taking my practice to a higher level. I have read a number of books written by Chinese masters, past and present and was seeking another when I ran across this one while searching amazon.com. At first I thought to myself "but he isn't Chinese". However, the overwhelmingly positive reviews drew my interest and I ordered the book.
What I found was the most simple and direct explanation of qi theory and practice that I have ever encountered. Despite the simplicity, I found that none of the subject depth had been lost. There are many things about qi practice that I do not believe anyone ever told me, but I figured them out or felt them for myself while puzzling over a multitude of myserious poems and mechanically oriented instructions. I was surprised and gratified to find so much connection between this book and my own experiences. Jahnke also brought me many fresh new insights as well as a strategy for practice and growth. Too often a teacher only teaches the forms and perhaps some of the history, but rarely says much about how mind directs qi.
I can therefore recommend this book for anyone practicing Tai Chi or Qigong. As for readers who are new to qi practice, I can't think of a better introduction.
Book Review: Thoughtful and informative
Summary: 5 Stars
Roger Jahnke brings us an outstanding discussion of subtle energies as Qi. His explanations are interesting and his style easy reading. Richly punctuated with parables, qigong and t'ai chi exercises. Lovely accompaniment of Chinese ideograms in the margins, with English translations.
A few of the many points of interest include discussions of Chinese numerology; The Three Treasures correspondences - the three worldly domains of Earth Treasure, Life Treasure and Heaven Treasure. They find myriads of expressions, as in Body, HeartMiind and Spirit; Yin, Harmony and Yang; Lifestyle healings of Nutrition and exercise, emotional resolution, and spiritual practice/meditation; etc.
Mind and Spirit
In Chinese, there is no discrete concept for mind, nor is there a discrete concept for heart. One single concept, Xin (pronounced "shin"), embraces both. Confused Western translators have struggled with this, often translating Xin only as "heart" or only as "mind." There is no heart and there is no mind, there is only Xin - HeartMind.
Many forms of qigong
There are many variations on the theme of qigong. An unusual one is to move intuitively, freely, allowing the flows of Qi to guide you.
This book is warmly recommended as a thoughtful and informative read.
Book Review: impressed
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow! This book offers more than just technique. It offers an in-depth view into another world really, the inner world of what chi does inside the body, how to let it flow, how to cultivate it, etc. I found this book very helpful and learned so much from it. I have several other books I ordered at the same time as this one, all of which offer something, butI felt this offered more than them all. It answers all my questions and I refer to it all the time, and every time I read it I gain more understanding of what is being said, in other words, I get something new from it every time I read it. I feel that the author has done a great service to the sincere qi gong practitioner, and I feel grateful to him. I highly recommend it, especially to people like myself who are just beginning to walk the path of qi gong and want a clear and deep understanding. Thank you Roger.Book Review: I wish there were more stars to give!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book dwarfs all the other books on Tai Chi, Taijiquan and Qigong, including Embrace Tiger Return to Mountain and Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan. If Amazon.com would allow 10 stars for best, then I would give this 10, and all others so far, only 5 stars. Why?1. Every book focuses on the teachings of particular lineage or teacher. The book may be very good, but since no teaching can be called ABSOLUTE it just becomes one among others. This book, instead of teaching a particular style of Tai Chi or Chi Kung, focuses on explaining all the aspects of Chi cultivation. It creates the space in you for further insights which you can use in whatever style, level or aspect of Qigong you are working with.
2. The author maintains a very fine and enviable balance between theory and practice. There is enough theory to make you an informed practitioner rather than a blind believer in the curative benifits of Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan, but at the same time there are detailed descriptions of practices which you can learn. The illustrations are excellent and very artistic. The theory never gets so informative that it makes the reader confused. This also shows that the author knows what he is speaking about or else one can never maintain this balance.
3. This books writing style and content clearly makes it evident that the author not only has studied Chi Kung but also lives it as well. This helps in trusting the teacher as you learn from the book.
4. This book is life changing because of the fresh and open perspective it gives and the way it unifies all the concepts of Taoism, Tai Chi and Chi Kung, the way it elaborates on the concepts and the simple yet powerful practices it teaches.
5. There was one amazing thing I noticed with this work: The author when explaining the theoritical aspects never asks you to believe in what he says!!! In fact he says not to bother about it too much and go ahead with the practice, which he says will automatically teach the theory behind it.
6. No matter what level of practice you are at, no matter which style you do (Taijiquan-Yang/chen/Wu or Qigong etc.) this book will help you, this much is for sure.
7. The first part of the first chapter seems repetative after reading the introduction because the author simply keeps repeating the benefits of Qi cultivation. But this in NO WAY reduces the glory of the Book.
8. The book is so designed that you can begin with any chapter at any time.
9. I wish the book were a little smaller in size so as to enable me to carry it wherever I go.