The Dan-Tien is a source of primal wisdom and vital energy that resides within each of us. For thousands of years people in the East have learned to gather life energy (ch'i) in this center to promote wellbeing and longevity. Now, Christopher Markert reveals the secrets of the DanTien to Westerners in this friendly guide. When you think or act in a way that disagrees with who you really are, you may experience an unpleasant sensation in your Dan-Tien center. When your behavior is in tune with your emotions, you experience a sense of physical wellbeing. You have an "inner compass" that functions as a sensor (or an indicator); your compass communicates if you listen. Learning to use your Dan-Tien in everyday life is easy and the benefits are immediate. When you engage the energy of your Dan-Tien, your daily tasks become artful activities in which you joyfully engage yourself. Markert says that listening to your DanTien can bring you "millions of happy minutes" in all that you do and in all of your relationships. With the author's examples and visualizations, you can learn to let your DanTien bring you self confidence, love, and happiness.

A fundamental Taoist practice for enhancing and utilizing chi • Includes breathing and movement exercises to promote vitality and healing through the cultivation of chi in the tan tien and perineum areas • Presents the foundational exercises that are essential for more advanced practices such as Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Cosmic Healing Tan Tien Chi Kung is the art of cultivating and condensing chi in the lower abdomen--the tan tien--the fundamental power storehouse of the body. Known as the Ocean of Chi to the ancient Taoists, this lower abdominal area holds the key to opening the body and the mind for the free and continuous movement of chi. Tan Tien Chi Kung contains specific breathing and movement exercises that develop the power of the chi stored in the body to increase vitality, strengthen organs, and promote self-healing. Mantak Chia explains how these exercises also provide a safe and effective method for receiving earth energy, which allows the practitioner to achieve balance physically, mentally, and spiritually--all of which are essential for the more advanced practices of Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Cosmic Healing. It is our mind that directs and guides our chi, but if the mind and body are out of balance or under stress, the mind cannot perform this function. The tan tien actually contains a large quantity of neurotransmitters, making it a key source of body intelligence. It is for this reason the Taoists also referred to Tan Tien Chi Kung as Second Brain Chi Kung and created exercises that would allow practitioners to gain awareness of the tan tien’s function to restore the mind-body balance that is essential for spiritual growth and optimal well-being.

Nei Gong has been a well-kept secret within the Daoist sects of China for centuries. Based upon the original teachings of the great sage Laozi, it has only ever been taught to close students of the masters chosen as the heads of the ancient orders. This book provides a breakdown of the entire Nei Gong process, and explains in plain English the philosophy which underpins Nei Gong practice, and which is based on the original teachings of the ancient Daoist priests. The methodology of Sung breathing, an advanced meditative practice which has until now been reserved for 'inner-door' students is described, and the book contains an entire set of Qigong exercises accompanied by instructional photographs and drawings. This book will be of interest to all practitioners of Qi Gong, martial arts and meditation, and will be a rewarding read for anyone interested in Eastern philosophy.

Be prepared to answer certification questions about shiatsu, and develop the skills you'll need to become a successful practitioner! This comprehensive, easy-to-use textbook covers foundational information and methods, followed by more complex theory and practice. You'll learn how the channels (meridians) affect clients' health, how to conduct assessments, how to maintain proper body mechanics during practice, how to address imbalances in each of the Five Elements, and much more. The accompanying DVD includes over 90 minutes of video showing specific applications described in the book. Workbook-style exercises and questions at the end of each chapter improve your understanding and retention of the material. A title in the Mosby's Massage Career Development Series. Comprehensive textbook introduces you to all the essentials of shiatsu, offering a complete background on the history of shiatsu, relevant Eastern philosophies and Asian bodywork concepts, the channels (meridians), and proper body mechanics. A separate Theory and Practice section explores various assessment methods and how to evaluate assessment information, techniques and positions to address imbalances in each of the Five Elements, and advanced techniques. Includes all of the helpful learning features you expect from a Mosby's Massage Career Development Series title, such as a vibrant, full-color design, chapter outlines and learning objectives, key terms, workbook sections, and a companion DVD. Authored by a leading expert and certified practitioner with a background in shiatsu education and instruction. DVD packaged with the book contains over 90 minutes of video showing specific applications and techniques performed by the author, such as qigong, basic shiatsu techniques, jitsu and kyo, basic kata, including the hara techniques, and a standard treatment session. Each video clip on the DVD is referenced in the textbook with numbered icons that direct you to particular clips on the DVD. Over 330 full-color illustrations visually represent concepts and techniques. Special quote boxes interspersed throughout each chapter, contain thoughts and proverbs from Buddha, Eleanor Roosevelt, the Dalai Lama, Helen Keller, and many others.

The New York Times bestseller that gives readers a paradigm-shattering new way to think about motivation from the author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink (author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others). In this provocative and persuasive new book, he asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction-at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose-and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action in a unique book that will change how we think and transform how we live.

Nei Gong is the practice leading to attainment of real internal skill and transformation, and the philosophical art of change that runs through all Daoist practice. This book provides a unprecedented insight into the entire Nei Gong process, expanding upon the foundations laid in the author's previous widely read book, Daoist Nei Gong, to provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the practice. Going into unparalleled detail whilst remaining accessible, it explains the philosophy at the heart of Nei Gong , and the steps whereby transformation is achieved. Essential reading for anyone seriously interested Qi Gong, Chinese martial arts, and the Daoist tradition, the book will also be an invaluable resource for practitioners of Chinese medicine, or advanced meditation.

An English Language First... (New Large book version) This Comprehensive Guide for students and practitioners is the ultimate path to understanding and using Abdominal Acupuncture .Mastering the Art of Abdominal Acupuncture is the first-of-its-kind to teach the powerful art of Abdominal Acupuncture (AA). One of the most revered and successful acupuncture systems in China, AA is relatively rarely or not as commonly used in the Western World. The reason for this is primarily due to an absence of professional knowledge and teaching expertise outside Asia. Now this book changes all that. Abdominal Acupuncture (Fu Zhen) is both a truly potent yet remarkably painless treatment, and in acquiring know-how and confidence in AA you will not only delight your clientele but gain an exceptional edge over your competition in the TCM field. With 15 years of clinical and teaching experience behind him, author Dave Shipsey offers you a unique insight into the history and rationale of this ancient medicinal art. By following the simple step-by-step chapters in this book, you will quickly and efficiently learn to treat even the most painful and complex conditions with success. Through this book you will: -Gain a deep comprehension of how this system works on many diverse levels-Be guided through the process of using Abdominal Acupuncture in a logical, easy to follow manner-Master a number of possible treatment options for a wide variety of painful conditions-Be taught to confidently locate AA points using two different methods-Benefit from real-world examples of how AA can be used to ameliorate pain and wow clients-Be given the tools and understanding to confidently formulate your own prescriptions-Learn from detailed descriptions and over 120 illustrations of points, prescriptions, functions and depths for best therapeutic results."I have come across a few books in my many journeys to China that focused on abdominal acupuncture, and by far this book surpasses those writings ... I can say professionally this is a must have book to help your medical practice and make your medical library complete" - Dr. Ryan Pedersen, DOM, L.Ac. CMTSo, don't delay - buy this book now! If you're an acupuncture student, practitioner or just genuinely interested in the culture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, you can either gain a new appreciation of this extraordinary system of acupuncture or use it to develop a unique selling point in your own clinical practice.

Ged Sumner writes with rich insights into how to begin to think about your body and how to take the steps that will enable you to transform your Chi Kung practice. This modern, accessible approach to Chi Kung by a highly experienced teacher integrates mind and body and shows you how to become sensitive to yourself.

Within the context of a larger discussion of Dao Yin, Damo Mitchell teaches and explains the Dragon Dao Yin exercises, a set of four short sequences designed to work with the subtle energies of the spine and lead pathogenic energies out of the body. More 'Yang' in nature than Qi Gong, Dao Yin focuses on outwards movements and strong internal cleansing. The book highlights this important distinction and covers the theory, history and development of Dao Yin exercises, as well as the relationship between Chinese medical theory and Dao Yin training. One chapter is devoted to problems related to stagnation and the flow of Qi, and explains the different causes and forms of stagnation. Later chapters look at breathing patterns and the extension of Yi, opening the joints, and rotating the bones and spine. Damo Mitchell also discusses stillness as the source of movement, the philosophical significance of the Dragon and the pearl, and the means of hardwiring Dao Yin exercises into the energetic body. Central to the discussion is the concept of the spine, and how to wake it up. For the first time in the English language, the Dragon exercises – Awakening, Swimming, Soaring and Drunken – are described in detail, with photographs and step-by-step instructions on each of the exercises as individual therapeutic exercises and as a form.