DanC

Im sending away for his orbit cd as I have never really worked on the orbit for any length of time, I have winns orbit cd but really didnt like it, I found the audio quality was bad and hard to understand. For $20 you cant go wrong.

I have started Yin Yoga as my main morning practice and have a question to the more experienced practitioners on the board, in Yin Yoga by Paul Grilley he states the more Yin your practice you will only need to focus on a few basic postures. My question is, is my routine too simple or is it enough for a Yin practice. Half Butterfly - 2-3 min Butterfly - 2-3 min Seal - 1min Childs pose - 2min Pentacle - 1-2 min Its a very basic routine which is entirely Yin except for the seal which is a yang posture, but Im really trying to focus on opening up chi flow through the spine and all the major meridians. Any feedback welcome Daniel

GT, What where your thoughts on this book, was it simple to understand and put into practice, also is it done inside or outside since its a solar practice. Daniel

which one??

Also check out John Peterson of bronzebowpublishing.com, this man performs sets of 300-500 hindu squats and pushups daily on top of his other exercises which includes bodyweight exercises, isometrics and internal resistence exercises. He is the healthiest and strongest man I have ever seen for his age, also what about Jack Lalane, is now in his 90's and is still lifting weights and doing calisthenics and would probably knock most 90 year old Qigong masters on there arse in terms of strength and health. I feel very strongly about how important these sort of exercises are in health and longevity and feel that not doing exercises that increase and maintain muscular strength and endurance to be a very big mistake. all comments are welcome.. Daniel

I dont buy this Royal Court exercises are bad business, these exercises are found in various Yoga and Qigong books, the bridge for one is found in many DaoYin books and well as yoga books, the hindu/tiger pushup is also found in Qigong/Yoga texts, its very similar to one of the Tibetan rites and is also found in Tim Cartmells Xing Yi Nei Gong book. I for one dont think its balanced to do all exercises soft and internal, we need to balance Yin and Yang, these 3 exercises work every muscle on the body from head to toe, they also work your cadriovascular system as well as strengthen your internal organs. They build strength, endurance and flexibility as well as enhance your build asthetically, after a session of Hindu pushups and squats I am relaxed and have good rush from the endorphins, these exercises strengthen you physically and mentally and I think they are an integral part of any taoists practices. Daniel

http://www.aolisi.net/KuangGuaSha.htm

His orbit meditation seems good to from memory, just focus on each point sensing the breath expanding and contracting at that point in that area.

I bought that book, but his version of the 8 brocades takes over an hour.

My father takes Goji and swears by it, more energy, less stress and blood pressure has come down. Im currently experimenting with a product call FrequenSea which is marine Phyto-Plankton supplement, the story is our bodies are 70% water and the Earth is 70% water, yet we tend to attempt to derive 100% of our nutritional needs from the Earth's 30% landmass. Google FrequenSea or Forevergreen they are the company that make the stuff. I must admit Im sleeping like a log since I started taking this stuff and have also noticed more energy all round including my libido. Daniel

I noticed when I do stretches that open up chi flow along the spine I feel euphoric and relaxed, I actually get into a more relaxed state quicker through stretching then I do through moving Chi Kung. I view Yin Yoga as a form of Chi Kung anyway, its just a static form of energy work. Daniel

Check out http://yinyoga.com/ , this website contains alot of info including how to do the postures. Daniel

Can anyone recommend a book on stillness/emptiness meditation from a Taoist perspective, most of my books on stillness generally are from a Buddhist Zen perspective, although I had a copy of "Chu Meditation" by CK Chu which I lent to my brother which is pretty good.

I was thumbing through boxer Kostya Tszyu's fitness book the other day and he recommends holding the breath to strengthen the lungs and lower the resting heart rate. He says inhale through the nose into the abdomen, then fully exhale all your air out through your mouth and image you are trying to touch your belly buttom to your spine, from there you relax for as long as you can. He says work up to a count of 80 seconds or more, its a great way to relax your body and really get your resting heartrate lower, Kostya Tszyu has had his down to 27 beats per second. Daniel

Probably not worth that amount, there are plenty of books that you could buy instead. I have heard very good things about his Chinese life long health DVD though.

I was looking through my Qigong library and discovered John DuCanes Bliss Qigong video, Im so glad I stumbled across this tape as it has some of the best Qigong techniques I have ever used on it, its the Yang familys own personal Tai Ji Qigong set. Very simple and powerful, if you havent seen it I highly recommend it. Daniel

Very Blissfull

I have plenty of books on Qigong but many fall short in practical exercises that I can do everyday, most books are full of theory but lack techniques, Im looking for a book that is basically a workbook of different techniques and exercises I can choose from. Anyone know of a book which may fall into this category Daniel

For those interested in Isometrics John Peterson of www.bronzebowpublishing.com is soon to release the most comprehensive book on Isometrics ever written, it will be focused on people wanting to increase their strength, endurance and muscle size. Daniel

Yoda can you give me a run down on what its about, is it fairly simple to follow etc etc.. Daniel

It falls into the first category, it is a series of 16 physical exercises aimed at maintaing internal health and vitality as well as internal power development. It can be purchased at amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Xing-Nei-Gong-Mainte...t/dp/0865681740 Daniel

I did them for a few weeks and found them to be a good way to start the day, they seem to produce alot of energy, lots of yang. I went back to some stretching and seated meditation as I seem to get more from that then the rites.

Anyone about Shinto, where does that fit into the Zen sect, did they have any influence..

Ive mentioned this before, Zen practitioners virtually pay no attention to Chi cultivation. Bhuddists from the Shaolin Chan sect seem to be very into Chi and its cultivation, this has always made me wonder why the Japanese Chan (Zen) practitioners really pay no attention to Chi, sure they probably have alot of Chi from so much sitting but they do no practive Chi Kung of any sorts. Whereas Taoist practices all have something to do with Chi. Anyone know why??

Has anyone read Yogani's book on deep meditation, Im looking at buying it due to the great reviews I have read on Amazon, I also like the fact that is only 100 pages which means it is straight to the point. Anyone opinions or recommendations??