Dainin

DC, out of the different sets that I practice, I find that Pan Gu Shengong and Xiang Gong (aka Fragrance Qigong) seem to produce the strongest and most consistent sensations, especially in the feet and hands. I'm finding that a little preparation before practice, in terms of setting intention, relaxation, and clearing the mind, makes a real difference in feeling energy in any qigong form, as well as expressing gratitude afterwards. Tai Chi practice can produce really strong sensations as well. One time years ago, I was sitting in a movie theater at the end of the aisle, with my arm and hand hanging down relaxed. I began to make really small, barely perceptible spirals with my arm. Within 10 minutes it felt like my entire arm was vibrating with energy. After that, sometimes I would practice this with both arms at the same time while standing. Again these are very small spirals, like less than an inch. In fact, it seems like the smaller you can make them, the stronger the sensation is. Well, I thought this was my personal discovery and never told anyone about it. A few years later when I took Jeff Primack's workshop, I found he was using the spiraling motion too, although not as small spirals. There are probably other forms that use it too... Thanks for the tip about the Pranic Healing. A lot of people seem to speak highly of it here, as well as the Spring Forest qigong. I hope to check out both of those eventually.

I've done several 7 day juice fasts, as well as a few of shorter duration. The protocol I use is 50% celery, 25% carrot, and 25% beet, 8 ounces 4x a day. Water and/or herbal tea in between. 3 tablets each of bee pollen, garlic/cayenne mix and chlorella at "breakfast and "lunch." Stool softener at night. Enemas every other day. Last time I did one, I tried using a product called "Cell Food", six drops in a glass of water. It seemed to minimize the side effects. In my opinion, a 1 day fast won't do you much good, unless preceeded by a longer one. It's not enough time to allow the cleansing to occur. If you do a longer fast beforehand, it's a good maintenance routine. For the same reason I also don't recommend water fasting until you've done a few juice fasts. It's powerfully detoxifying, and you almost certainly feel like crap. I've switched to water after 4 days of juice, that worked out okay. My experience has been that the first day is fine, detox symptoms begin the second and intensify on the third. After that they begin subsiding. I've felt really calm and clear on later days of a fast. And it's amazing how much time becomes available in your day. Mikaelz consider getting a juicer, even if you have to import one. There must be all kinds of cool produce to juice in China! Finally, breaking the fast properly is extremely vital. Don't jump right back into cooked foods. Watermelon is great, then fruit smoothies, then other solid fruits, on to vegetables, etc. Good luck, and have fun!

I think "Robert Kim" learned all his "secrets" from "Ashida Kim"!

I happened to pick up an old issue of "The Empty Vessel" this morning, and in the article "Medical Qigong: A Vital Branch of Oriental Medicine" by Jampa Mackenzie Stewart I noticed this statement: "Another system, called Shu Xin Ping Xue Qigong, is specifically used for the treatment of heart diseases. It has been proven beneficial for angina, hypertension, and congestive heart failure". That's all he says about it. I'm not familiar with it myself, but maybe someone here could comment on it, or you could google it for more information.

I tend to think these "skills" are rehearsed, and that they are pre-pierced, rather than being any manifestation of a divine connection. In my opinion, a true Sufi would not need or want to show off in such a manner. If this sort of thing impresses you, you can learn to do some of it here: Coney Island Sideshow Skills Workshop

"El Topo" and "The Holy Mountain" by the Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky include some of these elements, as well as a whole lot more (Gurdjieff, tarot, etc). These are very strange and amazing films. I'm surprised no one mentioned the most obvious one: Star Wars!

Yes, I practice the first level form almost every day, it's one of my favorites. It's pretty easy to learn, there are videos on the web. I learned it from the video you can get at http://www.taichi18.com/. After practicing it for about a year, I went up to Toronto to take a workshop on it with Sifu Cheung. He makes corrections, and adds relaxation and meditation practices to create a more complete session. There are also videos on YouTube with the creator of the form, Master Lin Housheng. Some of the 18 movements are taken from tai chi (like repulse monkey and wave hands like clouds) but without the footwork. It can also be used as a good warmup for tai chi or other activities. I really enjoy doing this form. There is also a good book on the first level form: The Theory and Practice of Taiji Qigong by Chris Jarmey. I plan to start working on the second level soon. I've heard there are even higher levels, maybe five or seven, but haven't found any documentation on those. If anyone here has any info on the higher levels, could you please share it? Thanks in advance.

Ken Cohen demonstrates them while standing on this DVD: Qigong: Traditional Chinese Exercises for Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit

Like Steven Segal?

The book "The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques to Release Your Body's Own Medicine" by Roger Jahnke includes a chapter on self-applied massage.

Not sure about online sources, but there is a short book, "Meditation for Beginners" by Jack Kornfield, that includes these type of instructions, as well as a number of other methods. Each chapter is pretty short, plus it comes with an audio CD featuring guided meditations for each chapter.

Most traditional Asian medicines (Ayurveda, Tibb, etc as well as TCM) use food therapy. Also herbalism can be intertwined with food therapy in the form of seasonings. I think that in our modern societies, the majority of people's systems (myself included!) are so loaded with toxic chemicals, factory foods, synthetic drugs, and other crap, that the health benefits of the traditional dietary regimines would be greatly diminished in comparison with persons living in the pre-1900s. In my opinion, these systems would be more effective today if preceded by a period of cleansing and detoxification, creating a cleaner field for them to work in. Daniel Reid's book "Tao of Detox" talks about some of this. Also, raw foods and veganism definitely appear to have a therapeutic effect, especially in obesity and Syndrome X related disorders. I don't know if they are as good over the long haul. I've heard that author of the first book you mentioned is not a very healthy-looking person.

His story sounds kind of like Paul of Tarsus!

There is an interesting account by one of Dr. Glenn Morris's students of attending a Christian revival in Texas in this blog: Breathe Deeply See the post entitled "Headbanger's Ball". I don't know the author, Andy, but he has a lot of interesting stories to tell about training with Glenn (and Santiago & Tao), living in Taiwan, massage and yoga training in Thailand, etc. on his blog.

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup, They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe...

K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India, one of the world's leading yoga teachers, died on Monday night at the age of 94. He helped popularize Ashtanga Yoga throughout the world by teaching it to foreigners. His orginal flowing vinyasa style developed into many other styles of "power yoga." K. Pattabhi Jois Institute "Do your practice and all is coming..."

There are many good choices listed above, I'll just add a few others that I like: Dr. Roger Jahnke: "The Healer Within" and "The Healing Promise of Qi" Wong Kiew Kit: "Chi Kung for Health and Vitality" and "The Art of Chi Kung" Chris Jarmey: "Theory and Practice of Taiji Qigong" After you've been practicing for a while, check out: Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming: "The Root of Chinese Qigong" Also, while I agree that it's best to study with a teacher, there are some DVDs that I feel are pretty good at conveying moving qigong forms: Francesco and Daisy Garripolli: "Beginning Qigong" (the Wuji form on this one is very nice) Ken Cohen: "Qigong" (the first one, not the healing one) Dr. George Love: Meridian Qigong (a fine all around form from my teacher) Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson: "Chi Kung: the Healing Workout" (outstanding production and great sequence) I hope you establish a practice that you enjoy!

Mal, I have used one of these a few times and it is fun. A while back one of my yoga teachers warned against using one for more than a short period of time at the beginning, as it could be damaging to the eyes (too much pressure I think). Because it is easier than doing the pose traditionally, people may be tempted to stay in the pose longer than they should. So I would recommend using a timer and increasing session times gradually.

Traditional Chinese Therapeutic Exercises: Standing Pole Product Description The "Standing Pole Exercises" are a unique form of calisthenics involving the cultivation and integration of mind and body under the conditions of non-movement or slight movement. In this book, the authors outline the ancient Chinese tradition of therapeutic exercises, now known as qi-gong, of which these exercises form a part, the practice of the "Standing Pole Exercises" today, and the physiological factors underlying their therapeutic effect. These exercises constitute a very simple and effective system for the treatment of illness and the development of overall health and fitness, suitable for practice by persons of all ages and physical constitution.

I've read some really nasty comments from this guy Elixxir about the late Roy Walford being old and feeble, etc. Walford died from ALS, which can attack young and healthy people, like Lou Gehrig, as well as old. There is a lot of information about caloric restriction at The Calorie Restriction Society. It does have scientific validity, at least in some species. I think the "Magnetic Qigong" guy is into the "physical immortality" thing also. I seem to remember him doing a course on it a few years ago.

If you could control your own mind, then controlling the minds of others would probably become irrelevant.

Much ado about...Nothing!

Be sure to try his Magnetic ESP Pills while you're at it! Lol!

I agree, this is an amazing film! Also check out "El Topo" by the same director. It's the odyssey of a gunfighter who wanders through the desert to face a series of masters that reflect various eastern philosophical approaches. Then things really get weird! Supposedly it was the first "midnight movie" back in 1970.

"Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3