Secrets to Living Younger Longer
Secrets To Living Younger Longer is based on Qigong, a many thousand-year-old method of cultivating the energy of life (Qi) through movement, breath, touch, sound, and awareness. Scientific research documents how Qigong can lower blood pressure, increase balance and help with a wide variety of chronic diseases. But this is more than a book on Qigong exercises. Building upon those in the forefront of the mind-body healthcare revolution, Dr, Mayer has created a unique blend, combining Chinese Qigong and Western psychological methods with cross-cultural anthropological research. Secrets… is enlivened by mythic tales and imaginative teaching stories from ancient sacred wisdom traditions.
Secrets to Living Younger Longer contains:
- Health & Longevity Practices: A synthesis of 30 years of Dr. Mayer’s training with some of the most respected Tai Chi and Qigong masters. Learn practices to add to your lifetime preventative medicine program:
- Discover the unique Chinese practice of Sung to simultaneously relax and energize your body, Strengthen immunity, Reduce Hypertension, Limber your joints, Release computer shoulder tension Relieve chronic illnesses, Prevent falls, Alleviate insomnia and anxiety, Find relief from arthritis and Fibromyalgia, *See Appendix I for a list of health benefits for all ages. *
- Intriguing Historical Research: Learn how Tai Chi and Qigong have roots in Shamanism and a lost, integrative Self-healing lineage. Rediscovering these underpinnings helps to deepen the healing potentials of these arts.
- Standing Meditation: The key to making Qigong most effective.
- Transforming your Life Stance: Realizations and examples from a psychologist’s life, and from his patients and students.
For a two minute video of the author speaking about Living Younger Longer click here.
PROLOGUE: MY VISION QUEST ……………………………………………..xxi
PREFACE …………………………………………………………………………….. xxiii
Overview of the Tradition of Bodymind Healing
Summary of the Book
SECTION I: STANDING MEDITATION: WHAT DO YOU
STAND FOR? …………………………………………………………………………… 1
Overview to Section I:
Introduction: My Experience with Standing Meditation Qigong
Background of my Teachers
CHAPTER 1: HISTORICAL ROOTS OF STANDING
MEDITATION ……………………………………………………………………………….. 5
— A Mythic Journey: “Trance-forming†your Posture with Shape-Shifting
— The Primordial Language of Posture
— The Spiritual and Shamanic Roots of Posture
— The Anthropology of Standing Postures
— Chinese Shamanism, Posture, Health and Longevity
— Hindu and Buddhist Roots of Standing Meditation
— The Static Chuan Fa Tradition
— Destruction through Dispersion: The Diaspora of Chuan Fa
— Authors’ Lineage
CHAPTER 2: STANDING MEDITATION: THE MILLION DOLLAR
SECRET OF ANCIENT SACRED WISDOM TRADITIONS ……………………. 23
— Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Standing
Standing: A Buddhist Path to Enlightenment
The Lost Golden Ball of Western Fairy Tales
The Taoist Practice of Cultivating the Golden Ball
Standing as a Method of Qigong: Cross-Cultural Dimensions
— Standing: Mysteries and Realities of the Posture
— Comparison Between Yoga, Sitting and Standing Meditation
— My Experience Standing: An Alchemical Initiation
CHAPTER 3: JUST STANDING: “DOING NOTHING†AND FINDING
CONTENTMENT IN BEING ALIGHT ……………………………………………….. 35
— Wuji Standing Meditation Practice
— The Practice of Wuji Standing Meditation
A Note of Caution Before Standing
Structure of the Practice
Posture: Are you a Pushover?
CHAPTER 4: SECRETS OF CULTIVATING INTENTION THROUGH
STANDING ………………………………………………………………………………….. 43
— Yi Chuan: The Mind of Standing
— The Intention Behind Various Types of Breathing
Awareness of the Breath
Crane or Diaphragmatic Breathing: Sinking Qi to the Tan Tien
“Rock and Roll,†Taoist Style: Ocean Wave Breathing Meditative Breath and Awareness
Elevator Breathing to Develop our Connection to Ground
Microcosmic Orbit Breathing for Healing
— Awareness on the Energy Centers of the Body
Focus on the Tan Tien
Focusing on the Bubbling Well Points
Awareness on the Heart and other Energy Centers
Developing Integration of the Bodymind: The Sphere
of the Embodied Self
— Oiling the Hinge to the Door of the Heart, Cultivating the Sphere of the Self
and Reversing your Fear Response
— Integral Force and Embodied Centeredness
— Standing Meditation: Healing the Healer
— The Ground of Self Knowledge, and the Roots of Our Lives
— Standing Like a Tree: Zhan Zhuang
— Circulating Qi: The Healing Circle that Arises from Stillness
The Circle of Spirit: Spiraling Out to the Ends of the Universe
CHAPTER 5: HIDDEN KEYS TO OPEN GATEWAYS OF HEALING
ENERGY ……………………………………………………………………………………… 61
— Opening Six Energy Gates: Holding Golden Balls in the Stream of Life
and Laying Hands on the Earth
— Developing the Golden Ball of the Heart and the Sphere of your Self
— Oiling the Hinge of the Door to the Heart of Space
— Finding your Stance towards Life and Death
CHAPTER 6: STANDING MEDITATION AND ALCHEMY …………………… 69
— Using the Elements of Nature to Amplify the Energy of Standing Practices
Are Hot Tubs and Saunas Gateways to the Elixir of Immortality?
A Final Footnote about Standing, Scuba Diving and Holding the
Philosopher’s Stone
— What Do You Stand For?
SECTION II: BODYMIND HEALING QIGONG EXERCISES FOR HEALTH AND
LONGEVITY …………………………………………………………………………… 75
CHAPTER 7: THE 10 SETS OF BODYMIND HEALING QIGONG …………… 81
Overview to Bodymind Qigong Practice – Some General Principles of
Practicing Qigong
Set 1: Unifying Heaven and Earth: Raising and Lowering the Qi with Heavenly Palms – To
draw healing energy from the earth and sky and balance the chakras ………………………………. 81
Method 1: Raising Qi to Tan Tien and Back to the Earth
Method 2: Press Qi to Kidneys and Circle Around
Method 3: Raise Qi up the Chakras
Method 4: Prayer over Crown Chakra to the Heavens
Method 5: Finding the Heavenly Heart of Space
Method 6: Lowering Qi down the Chakras
Method 7: Opening and Gathering Energy into the Center of the Heart – The Whole
Body, Heart-centered Breathing Method
Method 8: Opening and Gathering Energy into the Center of the Tan Tien –
The WholeBody, Belly-centered Breathing Method
Set 2: Tai Chi Ruler – For energizing and relaxing parts of the body in need of healing,
balancing the body’s fire and water prinicpals, preventing renal failure syndromes,
changing chronic low energy and reversing the fear response …………………………………… 89
Rolling the Ball of Life – For energizing the kidneys, healing lower back problems
Set 3: Wuji Qigong Standing Meditation – To gather & cultivate chi ………………….. 92
— Holding Golden Balls in the Waters of Life – To dcvelop your groundedness
— Laying Hands on the Earth – To develop your ability to emit healing energy
— Developing the Golden Ball of the Heart – To open your heart
— Holding Three Balls in Front of the Heart – To heal the heart
— Holding Three Balls in Front of the Belly – To heal the organs in the belly
— The Circle that Arises from Stillness – To circulate and prevent stagnation of Qi
— Dr. Sha’s “One Hand Near One Hand Far Method†– To balance your energy field
Set 4: Exercises after Standing to Disperse Stagnant Qi –
To cleanse stagnant energy …………………………………………………………………………………. 100
Method 1: First Cycle: Electromagnetic Cleansing of Skin
Second Cycle: Cleansing the Internal Organs
Third Cycle: Cleansing the Bone Marrow
Method 2: Massaging and Tapping – To activate energy
Method 3: Horse Tapping Feet – To reduce stagnation of Qi in the feet
Method 4: Horse Whipping Tail – To release shoulder tension
Method 5: Tapping the Belly – To increase digestive tract circulation, constipation
Method 6: Wild Goose Taps its Chest: The Way to Say Hello and Good-bye –
To release bronchial congestion, and energize the lungs
Set 5: Five Element Internal Organ Healing – Sounds and movements for
balancing the functions of the key yin organs: heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver ………. 104
— Wood: Opening the Shoulder Well – To release muscular tension from excesses of
“civilized†life, intellectual activity, computer tension and work related stress
— Fire: Buddha Opens the Heart to the Heavens – To clear the heart chakra
— Earth: Raising Qi to the Heavens and Sinking Qi to the Earth – To balance the
Stomach Meridian, reduce hypertension
Crane Stands on One Leg – To prevent falls and find balance
— Metal: Opening the Bow – To energize and clear the lungs; for grief and letting go
— Water: Energizing the Kidneys – To let go of fear and activate your vitality
— Wood: Releasing Toxins and Stagnant Qi from the Liver – To detoxify; increase
natural self-assertion and release depressed energy
Set 6: Exercises for Transforming the Muscles, Ligaments, Tendons and Bone
Marrow –To stretch and strengthen key elements of the musculoskeletal system ………111
— Yi Jin Jing – Spinal Stretch
— Abductor Stretch – For releasing blocks in the pelvis and neck
Set 7: Ancient Animal Qigong –To activate the instinctual energies of the
bodymind, facilitate the Qi to flow through the meridians and balance the functions
of the internal organs …………………………………………………………………………………………. 115
— Introduction to the Shamanic Tradition of Animal Movements
— The Spirit of the Practice of Animal Movements
— Removing Snake Skin from the Legs: Dionysus meets Chinese Shamanism –
For youthful skin, opening the psoas muscle
— Moving Snakes through the Joints and Dipping Hands into the Waters of Life –
For preventing problems in the hips and shoulders, and activating spiraling energy
for healing
— Grasping the Ox’s Tail – For stretching the hamstrings and quadraceps
— Giving the Earth an Acupuncture Treatment and Praying Mantis Holds Two
Acupuncture Needles – For entering into participation mystique with nature
and healing left-right body imbalances
— Dragon – For opening the pelvic muscles, clearing sexual energy blockages and
activating spinal spiraling energy
— Wild Goose Searches for Food – For energizing the kidneys and healing knees
— Hua Tuo’s Five Animal Frolics –An Overview
Bear: Wood, Liver – For excess anger, depression, self assertion, detoxification,
stroke prevention
Crane: Fire, Heart – For emotional wounding, opening and purifying the heart,
and preventing falls
Monkey: Earth, Spleen – For balancing the digestive organs, bringing out the fun
parts of ourselves, loosening rigidities
Tiger: Metal, Lung – For energizing the lungs and spine, opening the hips
Deer: Water, Kidney – For vitality, prostate gland and ovaries, opening the higher
energy centers, healing hip and neck imbalances, reducing hypo or hypertension
Set 8: Spiritual Qigong –To open the energy gates of the ears and eyes ………………….. 142
— Beating the Heavenly Drum and Opening the Eyes to the Beauty of the World
Set 9: Walking Meditation –To learn the secrets of walking in harmony with the
environment and finding the primordial Self thereby ………………………………………………. 144
— Sufi Teaching Story – Being Present in Every Step of Life
— Walking Meditation Practice: The Sacred Walk – For preventing falls, strengthening legs,
taking steps to walk with shamanic spirit
— Walking with Heart and Mindfulness
Set 10: Tai Chi Chuan –To unlock the meanings of the healing powers in this most
famous Qigong system ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 151
— Introduction to Tai Chi Chuan: Some General Principles for Tai Chi Practice
— The Shamanic Origins of Tai Chi Chuan
— The Long Form of Yang Style Tai Chi: First Cross Hands
— Additional Tai Chi Movements for Health and Longevity
Cloud Hands – For clearing the heart, insomnia, stress reduction, anxiety
Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg – For enhancing balance, preventing falls
— The Tai Chi and Yi Chuan Two-Person, Joining Hands, Self-development Method –
For learning the practice of the Golden Ball
SECTION III: REBIRTHING THE TRADITION IN MODERN TIMES … 181
CHAPTER 8: STANDING UP FOR YOURSELF: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
GROUND BENEATH STANDING MEDITATION ………………………………. 183
— Changing Your Stance in Life: The Transformation of Self-Identifications
My Experience: Bullies, Qi and the No Sword School
Standing up for your Self – Three Case Examples:
The Bullied Boy, The Exploding Karate Kid, A Woman in Search of “The Right Manâ€
— A Concluding Perspective on Psychological Standing Meditation
CHAPTER 9: THE TAO OF EVERYDAY LIFE …………………………………… 197
Introductory Shamanic Teaching Story – The Extraordinary in the Ordinary
— Standing in Lines: The Grocery Store, Bank and Department of Motor Vehicles
— Traffic Jams on the Freeway: An opportunity to clear clogged arteries of Qi
— The Alchemy of Everyday Life – At Home and at Work
— Food, Eating and Fasting
Food as Medicine: Our Body’s Wisdom
Overeating, Diet and Eating Disorders
Allergies
Fasting
The Water Element in Eating
Food Combinations
Bringing Qi to your Food: A Sacred Eating Ritual
— Guarding Shen (our spiritual energy): At Parties, in Psychotherapy and in
Everyday Encounters
— Sex, Qi and Making Love with Life – The Play of Tao
— Sleep and Insomnia
— Standing and Walking in the Woods at Night: Activating the Primordial Self
— Sleeping Outside to activate the Primordial Self
— Tree Climbing
— The Big Picture: Everyday Options for Living Younger Longer
— Internal StarGazing: Big Dipper Meditation
— Gathering Starlight
APPENDIX I: EXERCISES FOR SELF-HEALING – SAMPLE OF
SELECTED BODYMIND HEALING QIGONG MOVEMENTS
ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO HEALTH ISSUES …………………………….. 223
APPENDIX II: QIGONG – SELECTED REVIEW OF RESEARCH ON
HEALTH AND LONGEVITY …………………………………………………………… 227
APPENDIX III: SUMMARY OF TAITable of Contents
PROLOGUE: MY VISION QUEST ……………………………………………..xxi
PREFACE …………………………………………………………………………….. xxiii
Overview of the Tradition of Bodymind Healing
Summary of the Book
SECTION I: STANDING MEDITATION: WHAT DO YOU
STAND FOR? …………………………………………………………………………… 1
Overview to Section I:
Introduction: My Experience with Standing Meditation Qigong
Background of my Teachers
CHAPTER 1: HISTORICAL ROOTS OF STANDING
MEDITATION ……………………………………………………………………………….. 5
— A Mythic Journey: “Trance-forming†your Posture with Shape-Shifting
— The Primordial Language of Posture
— The Spiritual and Shamanic Roots of Posture
— The Anthropology of Standing Postures
— Chinese Shamanism, Posture, Health and Longevity
— Hindu and Buddhist Roots of Standing Meditation
— The Static Chuan Fa Tradition
— Destruction through Dispersion: The Diaspora of Chuan Fa
— Authors’ Lineage
CHAPTER 2: STANDING MEDITATION: THE MILLION DOLLAR
SECRET OF ANCIENT SACRED WISDOM TRADITIONS ……………………. 23
— Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Standing
Standing: A Buddhist Path to Enlightenment
The Lost Golden Ball of Western Fairy Tales
The Taoist Practice of Cultivating the Golden Ball
Standing as a Method of Qigong: Cross-Cultural Dimensions
— Standing: Mysteries and Realities of the Posture
— Comparison Between Yoga, Sitting and Standing Meditation
— My Experience Standing: An Alchemical Initiation
CHAPTER 3: JUST STANDING: “DOING NOTHING†AND FINDING
CONTENTMENT IN BEING ALIGHT ……………………………………………….. 35
— Wuji Standing Meditation Practice
— The Practice of Wuji Standing Meditation
A Note of Caution Before Standing
Structure of the Practice
Posture: Are you a Pushover?
CHAPTER 4: SECRETS OF CULTIVATING INTENTION THROUGH
STANDING ………………………………………………………………………………….. 43
— Yi Chuan: The Mind of Standing
— The Intention Behind Various Types of Breathing
Awareness of the Breath
Crane or Diaphragmatic Breathing: Sinking Qi to the Tan Tien
“Rock and Roll,†Taoist Style: Ocean Wave Breathing Meditative Breath and Awareness
Elevator Breathing to Develop our Connection to Ground
Microcosmic Orbit Breathing for Healing
— Awareness on the Energy Centers of the Body
Focus on the Tan Tien
Focusing on the Bubbling Well Points
Awareness on the Heart and other Energy Centers
Developing Integration of the Bodymind: The Sphere
of the Embodied Self
— Oiling the Hinge to the Door of the Heart, Cultivating the Sphere of the Self
and Reversing your Fear Response
— Integral Force and Embodied Centeredness
— Standing Meditation: Healing the Healer
— The Ground of Self Knowledge, and the Roots of Our Lives
— Standing Like a Tree: Zhan Zhuang
— Circulating Qi: The Healing Circle that Arises from Stillness
The Circle of Spirit: Spiraling Out to the Ends of the Universe
CHAPTER 5: HIDDEN KEYS TO OPEN GATEWAYS OF HEALING
ENERGY ……………………………………………………………………………………… 61
— Opening Six Energy Gates: Holding Golden Balls in the Stream of Life
and Laying Hands on the Earth
— Developing the Golden Ball of the Heart and the Sphere of your Self
— Oiling the Hinge of the Door to the Heart of Space
— Finding your Stance towards Life and Death
CHAPTER 6: STANDING MEDITATION AND ALCHEMY …………………… 69
— Using the Elements of Nature to Amplify the Energy of Standing Practices
Are Hot Tubs and Saunas Gateways to the Elixir of Immortality?
A Final Footnote about Standing, Scuba Diving and Holding the
Philosopher’s Stone
— What Do You Stand For?
SECTION II: BODYMIND HEALING QIGONG EXERCISES FOR HEALTH AND
LONGEVITY …………………………………………………………………………… 75
CHAPTER 7: THE 10 SETS OF BODYMIND HEALING QIGONG …………… 81
Overview to Bodymind Qigong Practice – Some General Principles of
Practicing Qigong
Set 1: Unifying Heaven and Earth: Raising and Lowering the Qi with Heavenly Palms – To
draw healing energy from the earth and sky and balance the chakras ………………………………. 81
Method 1: Raising Qi to Tan Tien and Back to the Earth
Method 2: Press Qi to Kidneys and Circle Around
Method 3: Raise Qi up the Chakras
Method 4: Prayer over Crown Chakra to the Heavens
Method 5: Finding the Heavenly Heart of Space
Method 6: Lowering Qi down the Chakras
Method 7: Opening and Gathering Energy into the Center of the Heart – The Whole
Body, Heart-centered Breathing Method
Method 8: Opening and Gathering Energy into the Center of the Tan Tien –
The WholeBody, Belly-centered Breathing Method
Set 2: Tai Chi Ruler – For energizing and relaxing parts of the body in need of healing,
balancing the body’s fire and water prinicpals, preventing renal failure syndromes,
changing chronic low energy and reversing the fear response …………………………………… 89
Rolling the Ball of Life – For energizing the kidneys, healing lower back problems
Set 3: Wuji Qigong Standing Meditation – To gather & cultivate chi ………………….. 92
— Holding Golden Balls in the Waters of Life – To dcvelop your groundedness
— Laying Hands on the Earth – To develop your ability to emit healing energy
— Developing the Golden Ball of the Heart – To open your heart
— Holding Three Balls in Front of the Heart – To heal the heart
— Holding Three Balls in Front of the Belly – To heal the organs in the belly
— The Circle that Arises from Stillness – To circulate and prevent stagnation of Qi
— Dr. Sha’s “One Hand Near One Hand Far Method†– To balance your energy field
Set 4: Exercises after Standing to Disperse Stagnant Qi –
To cleanse stagnant energy …………………………………………………………………………………. 100
Method 1: First Cycle: Electromagnetic Cleansing of Skin
Second Cycle: Cleansing the Internal Organs
Third Cycle: Cleansing the Bone Marrow
Method 2: Massaging and Tapping – To activate energy
Method 3: Horse Tapping Feet – To reduce stagnation of Qi in the feet
Method 4: Horse Whipping Tail – To release shoulder tension
Method 5: Tapping the Belly – To increase digestive tract circulation, constipation
Method 6: Wild Goose Taps its Chest: The Way to Say Hello and Good-bye –
To release bronchial congestion, and energize the lungs
Set 5: Five Element Internal Organ Healing – Sounds and movements for
balancing the functions of the key yin organs: heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver ………. 104
— Wood: Opening the Shoulder Well – To release muscular tension from excesses of
“civilized†life, intellectual activity, computer tension and work related stress
— Fire: Buddha Opens the Heart to the Heavens – To clear the heart chakra
— Earth: Raising Qi to the Heavens and Sinking Qi to the Earth – To balance the
Stomach Meridian, reduce hypertension
Crane Stands on One Leg – To prevent falls and find balance
— Metal: Opening the Bow – To energize and clear the lungs; for grief and letting go
— Water: Energizing the Kidneys – To let go of fear and activate your vitality
— Wood: Releasing Toxins and Stagnant Qi from the Liver – To detoxify; increase
natural self-assertion and release depressed energy
Set 6: Exercises for Transforming the Muscles, Ligaments, Tendons and Bone
Marrow –To stretch and strengthen key elements of the musculoskeletal system ………111
— Yi Jin Jing – Spinal Stretch
— Abductor Stretch – For releasing blocks in the pelvis and neck
Set 7: Ancient Animal Qigong –To activate the instinctual energies of the
bodymind, facilitate the Qi to flow through the meridians and balance the functions
of the internal organs …………………………………………………………………………………………. 115
— Introduction to the Shamanic Tradition of Animal Movements
— The Spirit of the Practice of Animal Movements
— Removing Snake Skin from the Legs: Dionysus meets Chinese Shamanism –
For youthful skin, opening the psoas muscle
— Moving Snakes through the Joints and Dipping Hands into the Waters of Life –
For preventing problems in the hips and shoulders, and activating spiraling energy
for healing
— Grasping the Ox’s Tail – For stretching the hamstrings and quadraceps
— Giving the Earth an Acupuncture Treatment and Praying Mantis Holds Two
Acupuncture Needles – For entering into participation mystique with nature
and healing left-right body imbalances
— Dragon – For opening the pelvic muscles, clearing sexual energy blockages and
activating spinal spiraling energy
— Wild Goose Searches for Food – For energizing the kidneys and healing knees
— Hua Tuo’s Five Animal Frolics –An Overview
Bear: Wood, Liver – For excess anger, depression, self assertion, detoxification,
stroke prevention
Crane: Fire, Heart – For emotional wounding, opening and purifying the heart,
and preventing falls
Monkey: Earth, Spleen – For balancing the digestive organs, bringing out the fun
parts of ourselves, loosening rigidities
Tiger: Metal, Lung – For energizing the lungs and spine, opening the hips
Deer: Water, Kidney – For vitality, prostate gland and ovaries, opening the higher
energy centers, healing hip and neck imbalances, reducing hypo or hypertension
Set 8: Spiritual Qigong –To open the energy gates of the ears and eyes ………………….. 142
— Beating the Heavenly Drum and Opening the Eyes to the Beauty of the World
Set 9: Walking Meditation –To learn the secrets of walking in harmony with the
environment and finding the primordial Self thereby ………………………………………………. 144
— Sufi Teaching Story – Being Present in Every Step of Life
— Walking Meditation Practice: The Sacred Walk – For preventing falls, strengthening legs,
taking steps to walk with shamanic spirit
— Walking with Heart and Mindfulness
Set 10: Tai Chi Chuan –To unlock the meanings of the healing powers in this most
famous Qigong system ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 151
— Introduction to Tai Chi Chuan: Some General Principles for Tai Chi Practice
— The Shamanic Origins of Tai Chi Chuan
— The Long Form of Yang Style Tai Chi: First Cross Hands
— Additional Tai Chi Movements for Health and Longevity
Cloud Hands – For clearing the heart, insomnia, stress reduction, anxiety
Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg – For enhancing balance, preventing falls
— The Tai Chi and Yi Chuan Two-Person, Joining Hands, Self-development Method –
For learning the practice of the Golden Ball
SECTION III: REBIRTHING THE TRADITION IN MODERN TIMES … 181
CHAPTER 8: STANDING UP FOR YOURSELF: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
GROUND BENEATH STANDING MEDITATION ………………………………. 183
— Changing Your Stance in Life: The Transformation of Self-Identifications
My Experience: Bullies, Qi and the No Sword School
Standing up for your Self – Three Case Examples:
The Bullied Boy, The Exploding Karate Kid, A Woman in Search of “The Right Manâ€
— A Concluding Perspective on Psychological Standing Meditation
CHAPTER 9: THE TAO OF EVERYDAY LIFE …………………………………… 197
Introductory Shamanic Teaching Story – The Extraordinary in the Ordinary
— Standing in Lines: The Grocery Store, Bank and Department of Motor Vehicles
— Traffic Jams on the Freeway: An opportunity to clear clogged arteries of Qi
— The Alchemy of Everyday Life – At Home and at Work
— Food, Eating and Fasting
Food as Medicine: Our Body’s Wisdom
Overeating, Diet and Eating Disorders
Allergies
Fasting
The Water Element in Eating
Food Combinations
Bringing Qi to your Food: A Sacred Eating Ritual
— Guarding Shen (our spiritual energy): At Parties, in Psychotherapy and in
Everyday Encounters
— Sex, Qi and Making Love with Life – The Play of Tao
— Sleep and Insomnia
— Standing and Walking in the Woods at Night: Activating the Primordial Self
— Sleeping Outside to activate the Primordial Self
— Tree Climbing
— The Big Picture: Everyday Options for Living Younger Longer
— Internal StarGazing: Big Dipper Meditation
— Gathering Starlight
APPENDIX I: EXERCISES FOR SELF-HEALING – SAMPLE OF
SELECTED BODYMIND HEALING QIGONG MOVEMENTS
ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO HEALTH ISSUES …………………………….. 223
APPENDIX II: QIGONG – SELECTED REVIEW OF RESEARCH ON
HEALTH AND LONGEVITY …………………………………………………………… 227
APPENDIX III: SUMMARY OF TAI CHI HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
RESEARCH ………………………………………………………………………………… 239
APPENDIX IV: LIST OF CHINESE NAMES AND TERMS …………………. 241
APPENDIX V: GLOSSARY OF COMMON QIGONG TERMS ……………… 243
Endnotes ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 247
Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………………………… 261
Index …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 267
CHI HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
RESEARCH ………………………………………………………………………………… 239
APPENDIX IV: LIST OF CHINESE NAMES AND TERMS …………………. 241
APPENDIX V: GLOSSARY OF COMMON QIGONG TERMS ……………… 243
Endnotes ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 247
Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………………………… 261
Index …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 267
A wonderful guide for learning the ancient healing practice of Qigong. Full of clear and practical exercises.
National Institute of Health,
Office of Alternative Medicine
A splendid break-through which will certainly contribute a new slant to meditative practice.
Author of Reinventing Medicine