Product Review

CHI KUNG (qigong) means "energy work," the ancient Chinese yogic art that cultivates man's intrinsic internal energy, or vital life force--which the Chinese call "chi" (qi). For centuries, Qigong has been practiced for healing, rejuvenation and longevity and is the foundation of all systems of Chinese martial, healing, and spiritual arts. Chi Kung For Health is a ground-breaking DVD series by Terry Dunn (creator of Tai Chi For Health dvd s) that teaches the very rare and powerful "Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations"--a remarkable system of medical qigong (there are also martial styles of Qigong, which this is not). It was created more than 400 years ago by legendary Taoist sage Feng Tao Teh of Ehrmei Mountain (Omeishan) in Szechuan Province who traveled extensively throughout China's western frontier and Tibet to acquire his yogic knowledge. This rare and powerful healing art has been impeccably preserved by seven generations of Taoist martial arts masters, and is now available to the public--as a precise, safe, and dynamic program for natural health, healing and illumination. It is comprised of standing and seated, stationary and moving exercises that impart profound health benefits: improved circulation, respiration, metabolism, skeletal strength, neuromuscular function and immunity. Flying Phoenix Qigong is ideal for beginners and advanced students alike because its exercises are simple and fool-proof, can be practiced safely without the supervision of a Qigong master, and yet they impart profound energizing and rejuvenating effects. Because of the deep state of physical relaxation and mind-body integration that it fosters, Flying Phoenix Qigong is also an excellent complement to Tai Chi practice, while being considerably easier to learn and practice. This wonderful hygienic art not only promotes splendid good health and longevity, but it as a complete classical Qigong system, it provides an invaluable foundation of experience by which one can fully understand and evaluate all methods of yoga and meditation. The five-volume DVD series is beautifully filmed by Mike Hoover. Terry Dunn s expert, step-by-step instruction is enhanced by multiple camera angles and accompanied by transcendent musical scores by Robert Scott Thompson. VOLUME THREE teaches two intermediate Flying Phoenix Qigong exercises called Wind Through Treetops and Moonbeam Splashes On Water . Both exercises impart sublime energizing effects by bringing the body s organ functions under the regulation of the subconscious mind. Wind Through the Treetops promotes tangible Qi circulation in the three orthogonal planes: first, through the body s vertical core with two cycles of inward circling; second, as the torso is brought to a horizontal position by bending forward, arm movements synchronize with chi circulation in the manner of Turning the Wheel (as Qi flows up the Governing Vessel and down the Conception Vessel); when the torso is reclined backward to 45 degrees, the chi activates slow outward circling of the arms that finally return to the anterior of the body at the level of the liver and kidneys. Then the Qi is lifted, lowered and concentrated in the middle and lower tan tien by three Tai Chi-like movements. Moonbeam Splashes on Water is a powerful and beautiful meditation form that musters the Flying Phoenix healing energy and circulates it through the entire body. Terry Dunn quite effectively teaches this form in three sections. The first section trains waist flexibility and control and the alignment of upper and lower body joints in movement. The second section promotes chi circulation in through Tai Chi-like martial postures similar to Press Push, and Fan Through the Back. This is followed by the third section, which circles the body s vertical axis through a conical (