The Book of Ch'i takes a fascinating look at the origins of ch'i and the wide range of practices that focus on ch'i, our living essence. It teaches us ways to awaken this energy and fulfill our true potential.

In the West, we give little thougtht to energy, but the understanding of our energy, or life force, is the basis of virtually all Eastern healing and exercise practices. The Chinese believe that understanding and balaincing the flow of the ch'i energy is essential for well-being.

When we have abundant ch'i energy flowing smoothly through our bodies, we are physically, emotionally and spritually in balance. But when this energy is blocked our health can suffer. Ch'i is the vital force behind healing practices like reiki, chi kung, shiatsu and acupuncture, which help to clear energy blocks and restore harmony in the body. Feng shui taps into ch'i energy to bring about change within your environment, while martial arts, like tai ch'i and aikido, specialize in the dynamic harnessing of this energy for self protection.

Whether your interest is in healing, marital arts or feng shui, The Book of Ch'i will bring you to a profound understanding of this vital energy and how to access and channel it for your own well-being.

Paul Wildish is a martial arts expert and a senior instructor for the British Aikido Association. He has studied aikido, shiatsu and reiki with the world's most eminent teachers in the UK and in Japan.

Contents

Introduction What is Chi?
Chapter 1 The Way
I: The rigins of ch'i
II: The quest for eternal life
Chapter 2 The Breath of LIfe
I: How Ch'i works
II: Ch'i Kung: Movement, stillness, and breath
Chapter 3 The Healing Touch
I: Acupuncture
II: Shiatsu
III: Do-in
IV: Reiki
Ckhapter 4 Energy, Form, and Spirit
I: The martial mind
II: T'ai Chi Ch'uan
III: Pa Kua Ch'uan: Eight trigrams palm
IV: Hsing I Ch'uan: From and intention fist
Chapter 5 The Harmonious Spirit
I: The spirit of budo
II: Aikido
III: Iaido
Chapter 6 Nature and the Flow of Ch'i
I: Feng Shui
II: The spirit of the Japanese garden
Chapter 7 The Still Heart of Ch'i
I: The spiritual centre
II: Meditation and breath
III: The energetic voice
Chapter 8 Ch'i flows west
I: Western energetic ways
II: Therapeutic touch
III: Reflexology
Chapter 9 The Mind of Ch'i
I: Stepping out on the way
Index