Living Qigong: The Chinese Way to Good Health and Long Life
WhileLiving Qigonggives beginners a few basic steps to start with, it is not a how-to manual so much as a guide to the inner workings of Qigong. John Alton's book is much like a travel diary from someone's visit to a foreign country. He describes this ancient art form with compelling detail, but you will never get the full effect unless you experience it yourself. When it comes to actually working with Qi, Alton encourages you to find a teacher. Why so much emphasis on first-hand experience? ThroughoutLiving Qigong, Alton makes wonderful comparisons between Qigong and swimming: anyone can get in the water and splash around, and some people even learn to swim, but there are multiple strokes one can learn, and even then there is a whole other world beneath the surface of the water. The realm beneath the surface of Qigong is where Alton encourages you to explore on your own, andLiving Qigongwill point out some of the interesting stops along the way. --Brian Patterson