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Tai Chi Qigong: The Internal Foundation of Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi Qigong is the essence of Tai Chi Chuan. Gently conditioning your body and building an abundance of Qi are the requirements for long lasting health and a solid foundation for Tai chi practice. Tai chi chuan is an internal martial art that uses soft/round movements to redirect an opponent's incoming force. Qigong exercises are an internal method of increasing and circulating your body's energy (qi). This book teaches tai chi qigong exercises that are extremely useful for improving your tai chi skills and overall health. IF YOU ALREADY KNOW A TAI CHI FORM, here are some ways that you will use tai chi qigong to reach new levels of skill and ability. IF YOU DON'T KNOW TAI CHI, but want to benefit from qigong exercises, here are some ways tai chi qigong can help you. This edition includes an easy-to-follow layout. Each technique is presented in two to four large photographs and clear instructions, followed by a discussion of how the movements aid in improving Tai Chi practice. Motion arrows are used on the photographs to help you execute the movements correctly.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2013
26 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 7, 2017
A book full of knowledge .
This book has helped me on my journey to inner knowledge. A book that will be read manny times and I will still be learning. A great read.
This book has helped me on my journey to inner knowledge. A book that will be read manny times and I will still be learning. A great read.
December 9, 2018
I think this book is a little bit above my pay grade. The author would say things like "It's really important that you understand this next point" followed by a concept that I wouldn't understand at all.
What I did like, of what I think I understood, was the idea that it is so very important for each and every person to have healthy, balanced Chi. While unfortunately I didn't quite grasp how exactly one should do this, I liked the idea that it matters that everyone equally should.
What I did like, of what I think I understood, was the idea that it is so very important for each and every person to have healthy, balanced Chi. While unfortunately I didn't quite grasp how exactly one should do this, I liked the idea that it matters that everyone equally should.
March 13, 2017
Book Review Tai Chi Qigong The Internal Foundation of Tai Chi Chuan by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
Review by Dawn Thomas
188 Pages
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Chinese Medicine, Tai Chi & Qi Gong, Alternative & Holistic, Health, Mind & Body
Even though the foreword was written in 1998, it could have been written today. Pat Rice, the Director of A Taste of China, wrote how people were reexamining the healthcare system and how many people were turning to alternative health practices. He explained importance for people to take care of their own health concerns instead of allowing someone to fix their bodies for them. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming wrote the second preface in 1998 how the introduction of acupuncture to the West helped with the acceptance of the concept of qi.
Chapter 1 covers a general introduction to Qi and Qigong. The history of Qigong and variations are also included. The author provides information on the four major sources of bioelectricity. The chapter ends with tips on how to use the book. There are several diagrams that show the difference between Yin and Yang. Chapter 2 discusses the root of Yin and Yang. Chapter 3 is the concepts and training principles of Taiji Qigong. The chapter is the bulk of the book. It begins with regulating the body, mind and spirit. From there, the author describes the importance of warming up. There are multiple photos for each exercise and position showing how a student should move throughout the pose. The poses include the still, moving and walking.
Recently, my acupuncture physician began using Qigong with Reiki during a healing session. I feel more relaxed but with a clear mind. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about qigong.
Review by Dawn Thomas
188 Pages
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Chinese Medicine, Tai Chi & Qi Gong, Alternative & Holistic, Health, Mind & Body
Even though the foreword was written in 1998, it could have been written today. Pat Rice, the Director of A Taste of China, wrote how people were reexamining the healthcare system and how many people were turning to alternative health practices. He explained importance for people to take care of their own health concerns instead of allowing someone to fix their bodies for them. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming wrote the second preface in 1998 how the introduction of acupuncture to the West helped with the acceptance of the concept of qi.
Chapter 1 covers a general introduction to Qi and Qigong. The history of Qigong and variations are also included. The author provides information on the four major sources of bioelectricity. The chapter ends with tips on how to use the book. There are several diagrams that show the difference between Yin and Yang. Chapter 2 discusses the root of Yin and Yang. Chapter 3 is the concepts and training principles of Taiji Qigong. The chapter is the bulk of the book. It begins with regulating the body, mind and spirit. From there, the author describes the importance of warming up. There are multiple photos for each exercise and position showing how a student should move throughout the pose. The poses include the still, moving and walking.
Recently, my acupuncture physician began using Qigong with Reiki during a healing session. I feel more relaxed but with a clear mind. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about qigong.
December 16, 2023
Interesting
March 6, 2017
Jwing-Ming Yang is the author of dozens of books and DVDs. He is a man on a mission to preserve the arts of Tai Chi and Qigong, and this wonderful book gives so much more than just the movements known as Tai Chi Qigong. You'll also understand the history of qigong, and how qigong really works to improve your health. This book plus Tai Chi Chuan Classical Yang Style will give you a solid foundation and enough for a long lifetime of rewarding practice.
December 28, 2013
Tai Chi Qigong begins by covering the basics of qi, or chi – I’ll use qi because it’s the convention in the book.
I would hazard a guess that most of the first chapter is the same as Dr. Yang’s Simple Qigong book. Either one will give you a decent primer on qigong. The only new stuff – for me, at least – in this book’s first chapter was covering a brief history of tai chi chuan, or taijiquan.
The key part of this book for me was the second chapter, which talks about yin and yang – the root of tai chi chuan.
Dr. Yang writes that the qigong series in this book are based on the theory of yin and yang: two opposing forces that must balance each other. “If the balance is insignificant, disaster will occur,” he says. “However, when these two forces combine and interact with each other smoothly and harmoniously, they manifest power an generate the millions of living things.”
By understanding this, he says, you’ll have a better idea of what you’ll accomplish in your practice.
He discusses still and moving meditation, breathing, mind and movement, and ways to classify tai chi chuan.
The third chapter brings together a number of pictures displaying how to perform the series he mentions. I personally find these chapters less useful than the theory sections since I would much rather learn movements from a live interaction or, at a distant second place, via video. I think there are many intricate movements we miss out on my trying to practice techniques from a book.
Luckily, there is a companion DVD.
I would hazard a guess that most of the first chapter is the same as Dr. Yang’s Simple Qigong book. Either one will give you a decent primer on qigong. The only new stuff – for me, at least – in this book’s first chapter was covering a brief history of tai chi chuan, or taijiquan.
The key part of this book for me was the second chapter, which talks about yin and yang – the root of tai chi chuan.
Dr. Yang writes that the qigong series in this book are based on the theory of yin and yang: two opposing forces that must balance each other. “If the balance is insignificant, disaster will occur,” he says. “However, when these two forces combine and interact with each other smoothly and harmoniously, they manifest power an generate the millions of living things.”
By understanding this, he says, you’ll have a better idea of what you’ll accomplish in your practice.
He discusses still and moving meditation, breathing, mind and movement, and ways to classify tai chi chuan.
The third chapter brings together a number of pictures displaying how to perform the series he mentions. I personally find these chapters less useful than the theory sections since I would much rather learn movements from a live interaction or, at a distant second place, via video. I think there are many intricate movements we miss out on my trying to practice techniques from a book.
Luckily, there is a companion DVD.
May 1, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy through the kind people at netgalley and was not given the accompanying DVD.
Tai Chi Qigong is an interesting and comprehensive introduction to qigong. There are photographs accompanying each movement and arrows to indicate movement. In the ebook edition these were black and white, making the black arrows not as clear as they could have been. Colour photos would have been useful. As I obtained a copy through netgalley I was unable to view the DVD, but I should imagine it would be a great aid.
I am only a beginner so I shall enjoy getting to grips with these exercise sets. One thing that may discourage beginners was the claim that without fully understanding the concepts, doing these are a waste of time. I think that this book could be enjoyed on a number of levels, so it was a shame to read this.
3.5 stars
Tai Chi Qigong is an interesting and comprehensive introduction to qigong. There are photographs accompanying each movement and arrows to indicate movement. In the ebook edition these were black and white, making the black arrows not as clear as they could have been. Colour photos would have been useful. As I obtained a copy through netgalley I was unable to view the DVD, but I should imagine it would be a great aid.
I am only a beginner so I shall enjoy getting to grips with these exercise sets. One thing that may discourage beginners was the claim that without fully understanding the concepts, doing these are a waste of time. I think that this book could be enjoyed on a number of levels, so it was a shame to read this.
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews