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 Celestial 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 ONE teaches five basic standing meditations of the Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Chi Mediation system.  Through these easy-to-do standing meditations, Terry Dunn teaches beginners the three cornerstones of qigong:  Shape-form (Xing), Mind or Intent (Yi), and breath (Chi).   Three basic quiet, stationary standing meditations focus qi development at three corresponding chakras or energy centers:  €œMonk Gazing At Moon€--the  third eye, €œMonk Holding Peach€--the heart, €œMonk Holding Pearl€ €“the lower tan tien.  They are followed by two dynamic moving meditations that concentrate and circulate qi flow through the entire body:  €œBending the Bows€ musters energy from the extremities and channels it through what in Chinese medicine and acupuncture theory are called the Conception Vessel (Jen Mo) and Governing Channel (Tu Mo); €œWind Above the Clouds€ perfects physical balance and flexibility by strengthening the waist, opening the hips, regulating qi flow to the legs and arms by symmetrical bending and stretching movements. Each Flying Phoenix exercise consists of a safe and easy €œbreath-control sequence€ performed once, followed by a classical Qigong posture that is either stationary or involves movement.  Every practitioner of Flying Phoenix Qigong without fail experiences profound energizing and rejuvenating effects that are tangible, repeatable and verifable. (60 min.)