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.

There’s a vibrant source of energy that fuels the universe, and it’s available for you to use to meet any physical or mental challenge. That energy is chi, and you can harness its power through the exacting yet simple methods of breath control and movement known as Chi Kung. Stop feeling rundown and spiritless. Through conscious interaction with this universal energy, you can revitalize your immune system and store up reserves of strength. Chi Kung for Beginners takes you progressively through the exercises: the preparatory stages; meridian-clearing techniques; mediation techniques; body movements; and advanced techniques of focusing, storing, redirecting, and extending chi from your body.

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.

Reiki: The True Story is a comprehensive investigation of Reiki as both a healing practice and a lifelong path of spiritual awakening. Author and Reiki expert Don Beckett weaves together a new story about Reiki’s origins and its founder’s true vision. The foundation of this book is the teachings of a group of Reiki founder Makao Usui’s original students, who held their master’s knowledge in secrecy for more than seventy years. After a general introduction to Reiki, Beckett presents a thorough history of the discipline (including the testimony of some of Usui’s students) as well as an in-depth manual for practice. The author rounds out his exploration with material from world renowned, contemporary Reiki Masters, Beckett’s own insights into the nature of Reiki energy, as well as information about the chakra system, yin and yang, and the Five Transformations. The book concludes with a chapter entitled “Beyond Reiki,” which bridges knowledge of Reiki with the lesser-known practice of Johrei. Thorough explanations coupled with cutting-edge discoveries about Reiki’s past make this a compelling volume for novice and experienced practitioners alike.