DVD: Understanding Qigong DVD 4

In Understanding Qigong DVD 4, renowned Qigong (chi kung) expert and author Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming discusses the theory of Four Seasons Qigong (Si Ji Gong).

Four Seasons Qigong is a well-known traditional medical Qigong practice in which one learns how to regulate the body from one season to the next to avoid common illnesses. This Qigong specializes in training the five internal Yin organs; heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen, which correspond to the four seasons the year.

It is believed that when we get sick it is often due to the body’s difficulty in adapting to the changes from one season to another. For example, when Fall arrives, it is easier to catch a cold, and when Summer comes, the heart can be too excited. By practicing Four Seasons Qigong, you are able to adjust your body’s Qi during the change of seasons so your health can be maintained.

This multi-language program is captured in High Definition, and builds on the theory taught in DVDs 1, 2, and 3. Dr. Yang's systematic approach to teaching offers deep insight into the ancient art of Qigong with modern scientific data to support his theory from both an Eastern and Western perspective.

• Dr. Yang instructs 25 qigong exercises & explains the related healing sounds
• Basic Five Elements theory and its relationship to the organs
• Learn Four Seasons self-massage techniques
• Understand how to use qigong to alleviate depression

SPECIAL FEATURES: Dozens of Scene Selections • Narration: English • Multi –Language Menus & Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese • Interactive YMAA Catalog with video previews

YMAA PRODUCTION • DR. YANG, JWING-MING • “UNDERSTANDING QIGONG DVD4” • WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY DR. YANG, JWING-MING • EDITING & DVD AUTHORING BY OCEAN SILVER • PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY DR. YANG, JWING-MING & DAVID SILVER

AUTHOR(S)

Yang, Jwing-Ming Ph.D., is a renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Born in Taiwan, he has trained and taught Taijiquan, Qigong and Chinese martial arts for over forty-five years. He is the author of over thirty books, and was elected by Inside Kung Fu magazine as one of the 10 people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." Dr. Yang lives in Northern California.

REVIEWS

5 of 5 stars, Consistently good instruction , Cynthia AD Shadish, October 2007

I've watched the entire DVD series, and the practice is explained in detail. I'm grateful for the plethora of information offered in this series. ...valuable addition to anyone's library.

5 of 5 stars, Taijiquan.com Patrick Dickson,
June 2007

Understanding Qigong DVD4 is the latest and most bountiful DVD of the Understanding Qigong series. Master Yang's understanding of Qigong has grown exponentially over the years, evident in the fruits of his labors, DVDs, videos and books that he has shared with his students and readers. Fortunately, along with his growth in knowledge is equally strong growth in passing along the knowledge in ways that the average student can assimilate and find useful in their lives. I've always believed that true teaching involves being able to bring the student to an understanding of the process involved, as opposed to being able to merely recite the correct answer.

Over the years Master Yang's ability to pass on an understanding of the "key" to the knowledge being presented, has grown along with his own understanding. Many people claim to extensively study or practice the particular art or skill that they profess to embrace. Yet when you see the fruits of their efforts, they are not healthy or bountiful.

Master Yang cites the numerous ancient texts that he has studied in his quest for mastery. When his teaching products are reviewed, it becomes obvious that he can "walk the talk". He is able to link the ancient Eastern knowledge with equally valuable modern Western knowledge. Master Yang is truly a dynamic and committed teacher. His dedication to the sharing of correct knowledge is something I am so thankful for.

One basic theme of this DVD is "Use it or lose it". Just as stagnant water is not healthy, the body also needs to have movement to keep itself healthy. Due to today's modern society the majority of people have lost their daily contact with nature and live in an artificially designed world. Master Yang explains how in the past roads were not flat and smooth, but were hilly with rough and bumpy sections. Walking on this uneven surface helped the ligaments, tendons and connective tissue to stay strong and flexible.

The roads that many people use today for jogging and exercising are perfectly smooth and flat, consequently resulting in only a small part of the connective tissue being used and strengthened. In a similar vein, I've always believed that people that work out with free weights are stronger than those who use weight lifting machines. In free weights, the person has to balance the weight from side to side and forward to back, as well as lifting the weight vertically. With a weight lifting machine, it balances the weight for you, resulting in less of a workout for the connective tissue.

Over the years I've found that persons who lift free weights have more ability to neutralize a Qin Na move on their wrist than those who use machines for weight lifting. This is due to the strengthening of the connective tissue and muscles when having to balance the weight as well as lift it.

Master Yang provides very powerful arguments for linking lack of movement to modern day medical problems, such as cancer. Someone very close to me who was not exercising had reached the point where she could not lift her arms above her head. Within a year or two she developed breast cancer. Master Yang talks about how important it is for women to learn upper body exercises to heal the body and prevent cancer from developing in the first place. Men are advised to use their legs properly in order to help prevent colon cancer. Corresponding exercises are demonstrated and explained for the various yin organs of the body.

The exercises on the DVD are excellent. Even if they were just demonstrated, with no explanation, it would be a wonderful collection of valuable, effective and useful exercises. But Master Yang goes much further than just a demo tape, he provides extensive and thorough explanations of the various movements and their specific health benefits for the various yin organs. This is not someone just mimicking the movements and putting out a video, but rather a master who is taking the time and energy to properly and fully present the material. Master Yang's growing understanding of these concepts is so very much in evidence while watching this DVD.

Master Yang tells a personal story about his mother experiencing the beginning stages of Alzheimer's Disease and how she began to lose her memory. After not seeing her for a few years, he was surprised to discover that she was no longer having problems with her memory. His mother told him that when she realized she was beginning to have memory problems, she would make a practice every day of trying to memorize phone numbers of all their friends and relatives. From using her brain every day in such a manner, it became more active, more electricity (Qi) was reaching the brain, and her memory became healthy again. When you use your muscles or your brain, you make electricity and oxygen move in your body. This leads to a healthy organism and helps prevent problems from arising as you grow older.

Master Yang provides information about the role of fascia, which being a poor conductor, separates and shields different parts of the body which operate at different energy levels and different functions. Fascia surrounds the diaphragm, which is a good conductor, expanding and contracting constantly second by second throughout the day and night. Master Yang points out that a good conductor sandwiched between poor conductors satisfies the definition of a battery. This is the middle dan tien.

In the upper half of the body is found the lungs and the heart, surrounding the heart is a sac, which is referred to in Chinese Medicine as the pericardium. The Chinese doctors believe that the pericardium is so important that it is not part of the heart, but rather a separate organ. Master Yang explains that the heart is like an engine, and the pericardium is like the cooling system.

I like the fact that master Yang does not denigrate the Western modern science alternative, but rather, showing that it is a part of the whole, it can be used to further our understanding of how the channels in the body work, or to better see the structure of the meridians and the vessels. Master Yang states that the Chinese theories on energy are two thousand years old, and he believes that modern technology can enhance this ancient knowledge.

Even if you are experienced in Qigong, or a beginner, start with DVD1 of the series and watch them in order. And then, most importantly as Master Yang points out, "just do it". A wonderful series on Qigong and a necessity for anyone studying internal martial arts/external martial arts or body energy work, such as Qigong. As always, another wonderful production by David Silver and Master Yang.

The table of contents is as follows:

· General Theory Review 1. Herbs and Food 2. Sounds 3. Breathing 4. Meditation 5. Exercises 6. Chinese Documents 7. Song Dynasty 8. Yuan Dynasty 9. Ming Dynasty 10. Qing Dynasty 11. Qi and Qigong 12. Upper Body and Lower Body 13. 12 Qi Channels 14. 6 Yin & 6 Yang 15. 12 Qi Channels Circulation · 12 Primary Channels / Vessels · All four Seasons · Four Seasons Exercises 1-8 1. Both Hands Hold up the Heaven 2. Large Dragon Loosens its Neck 3. Buddha Explores the Sea 4. Circle the Waist Horizontally 5. Regulate the Middle & Lower Burners 6. Loosening the Upper Burner 7. White Crane Loosens its Wings 8. White Crane Shakes its Wings · Summer & Fall (Heart and Lungs) · Summer and Fall Exercises 1-9 1. Forward and Backward Swinging Arms 2. Left and Right Windlasses Turn 3. Feudal Lord Pulls the Bow 4. Immortal Pushes the Stone Tablet 5. Large Roc Arcs its wings 6. Large Roc Spreads its Wings 7. Shake the Head and Swing the Tail 8. Baby Bird Receives the Food 9. Crane Shakes its Wings · Summer & Fall Massage · Winter (Kidneys) · Winter Exercises 1-4 1. Two Hands Hold the Toes 2. Phoenix Spreads its Wings 3. Turn the Head to see the Moon 4. Large Bear Softens the Waist · Spring (Liver) · Spring Exercises 1-4 1. Left Right Single Lifting 2. White Ape Picks up the Peach 3. Loltan Bows 4. Zhong Wan Up and Down · Spring Massage · Conclusion