Max Weier has been studying and practicing many forms of qigong, yoga and other traditions of Eastern philosophies and mysticism, notably vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist approaches with renowned teachers and masters in the East and the West since the Eighties. From his base in his native Switzerland, he conducts retreats and workshops in Europe, Asia and Africa.
www.max-weier.com
Acknowledgements
Foreword
The World of Qigong
What is Qigong
The Phenomenon of Qi
The Meridians and Organs
Taiji
Yin and Yang
Harmony
Dao
The Way of the Body
Warm-ups
Standing Practice
The practice of the Standing Post
The Four Essential Movements
The Way of Energy
Energy Centres
Dantian
Dantian Breathing
The Three Dantian – The Centres of Head, Heart and Belly
The Harmony of Head, Heart and Belly
So Ham
Wudang Qigong
Daoist Alchemy – The Small Heavenly Circle
The Way of Consciousness
Imagination and Intention
Entering Stillness
Entering Stillness Now
The Work-out
Outer Preparation
Time and Duration
During and after the Session
Signs of Practice
Cleansing the Jade Body
Qigong and Haiku
Using Haiku Contemplation during a Qigong Session
I would like to thank all the people and places that have contributed in some way in helping me spread and develop my brand of qigong. My thanks go to David Francisco, Kittisaro and Thanissara, Collien Hendricks, Maren Bodenstein, Katja Abbott, Graeme Williams, Uli Hansen, to the BRC, Emoyeni, Gaia House, Casa de Espiritualidad Marratxinet and last but not least to the teachers and masters I had the good fortune to learn from.
This work attempts to present in a concise form the basic principles of qigong and the theory behind it. Illustrated with photos and drawings and underpinned with short instructions it can serve as an introduction into the practice of qigong or as a manual to inspire and refine one’s own practice.
The exercises presented here have been taken from or inspired by different schools, styles or practices within the vast qigong tradition, such as Daoyin Yangsheng Gong, Wudang Qigong, Taoist Yoga and others.
Today qigong, like most modern yoga styles, focuses almost exclusively on health, leaving out wider aspects of the practice. Hence, in addition to the physical and energetic exercises with their remarkably calming, invigorating and healing benefits, some meditational practices originating in the shamanist, Daoist and Buddhist traditions are also described and incorporated here. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of qigong: returning to one’s Original Nature is briefly touched upon. Eventually qigong can free us from our ego-centred world and open us to the deeper dimensions of who we are.
This book hopes to offer a fresh and more integrated approach to the ancient art of qigong.
Often qigong is compared to a great river that is fed by four streams:
» Shamanism
» Spirituality (Daoism and Buddhism)
» Medicine
» The Martial Arts
The first qigong practices, the first conscious energy-work, was done by shamans. In pre-historic North-East Asia shamans used to imitate animal movements in slow motion during their ritual dances. They discovered that through these emulations they could increase their life-force and, in turn, utilize the amplified internal energy for healing and exorcism.
Later Daoist hermits adapted the archaic shamanist movements, developed new exercises and practices and imbued them with Daoist concepts. After Indian Buddhism was established in China a number of monks resorted to these ancient exercises to keep healthy and as an aid for their long meditation retreats.
From its early beginnings qigong practice entered the arena of healing and over the centuries it became an important part of Chinese medicine as a preventative and self-healing method.
Fighters and folk who had been forced to defend themselves against enemies and bandits have been inspired by qigong practices, converting them into martial arts techniques and creating new exercises.
There has always been, all along the history of qigong, a cross-pollination with the other disciplines.