The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing
by Ken Cohen
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ken CohenEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1999-03-09
ISBN: 0345421094
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: Wellspring/Ballantine
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780345421098
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Book Reviews of The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing
Book Review: Solid and Meaty Introduction. Entices and Equips the Reader Very Well to Keep Digging Deeper.
Summary: 4 Stars
As a first book with a broad general description of the rationale behind gigong (and relevant chinese philosophical and medical concepts) this is a well organized and very readable initiation.
Some Strengths:
1. The breadth of the author's personal study here and in China. He has not only been a scholar of QiGong, but also of the language, culture and religion, especially Daoism -- the ancient chinese root of these practices. This broader context enriches his ability to read more widely in the original sources/commentaries, to ground what he teaches in its social context for China as well as the US, and to be discriminative about implied meanings and claims.
2. The breadth of his studies in other indigenous health traditions, whether specifically mentioned here or not, I suspect adds to his comparative abilities to recognize and ocmmunicate some of the "universal" concepts particularly well for beginners.
3. Very extensive footnoting and referencing which helps provide more sources for those interested to verify his assertions and/or expand their own studies. These provide a solid resource for returning even after the "beginning stage" seemed to have past -- then again at some level one may be a beginner for a very long time when attempting to understand and use a tradition that has evolved across millenia!!!
4. Appropriate and useful information about learning to "interpret" scientific studies about qigong and the claims of masters.
5. Introduction to some of the most common techniques for health purposes (Eight Brocades, Five Animal Frolics, etc) with readily accessible references to study them more deeply.
6. Includes a representative variety of breathing, meditation and active techniques -- many of which are adaptable to persons with limited physical endurance or mobility.
6. A schematic of a potential learning/workout program that can then be individualized according to one's own needs/interests.
Persons wishing to learn a single technique in great detail (such as microcosmic breathing, the Eight Brocades, or the full movements associated with a particular school or animal) may find this work by itself to be too broad and not deep enough for their specific focus. Likewise, the person who is time pressured and just wants a simple place to start a few exercises may feel lost in all the choices and details. However, I enjoyed finding his carefully detailed and researched map of the world of QiGong. Thus am grateful for the opportunity to experience through his eyes a well-guided skyview, before attempting to diving in on my own solo missions. After the first read; I have eagerly returned to select my own places to start within his array of choices, I have felt better equipped with knowledge about why I would be doing a particular practice, and I have felt his book enhanced my enjoyment of seeing where these trails lead me.
A nice companion for those unavoidable hurried times, however, are the very succinct books by Suzanne Friedmann.
Summary of The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing
Qigong is an integrated mind-body healing method that has been practiced with remarkable results in China for thousands of years. The Chinese have long treasured qigong for its effectiveness both in healing and in preventing disease, and more recently they have used it in conjunction with modern medicine to cure cancer, immune system disorders, and other life-threatening conditions. Now in this fascinating, comprehensive volume, renowned qigong master and China scholar Kenneth S. Cohen explains how you too can integrate qigong into your life--and harness the healing power that will help your mind and body achieve the harmony of true health.Qigong (ch'i kung) is the modern incarnation of a Chinese energy art that goes back over 2,000 years. With superior scholarship and scientific acumen, The Way of Qigong covers the entire range of theory and practice, including relaxation, meditation, massage, therapeutic touch, and postures. Qi (ch'i) means "life energy," and the goal of qigong, master and Chinese scholar Ken Cohen tells us, is "to train the mind to send qi where it is needed." In this encyclopedic work, Cohen teaches us not only how to do qigong, but what it means and how it benefits us, from what kind of tea is best in the summer to how to have better sex. Cohen is at his best when reducing arcane Chinese theories to plain English, and as a result, The Way of Qigong is as interesting as it is useful. --Brian Bruya
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