The 3 Keys To A Powerful Qigong Practice

Most people's bodies are too Yang. One of the main purposes of our Qigong practice is to re-balance our body and stop it burning itself out.  This is why we believe that Qigong doesn't just increase the quality of our life but through slowing down the causes of illness, it potentially increases our life span.

1) Keep it Simple

The beauty of Qigong is in its simplicity. At the Shaolin Temple, we don't learn complex Qi theory, we don't focus on one area of our body such as the Dan Tian. We just focus on breath and movement together. The Qigong that we learn at the temple is the same Qigong I teach in my DVDs. These precious teachings are passed down from the founder of Zen, Bodhidharma. He was a great master and didn't gain anything from teaching these treasures. This gives us trust that what our teachers and ancestors have passed down to us is authentic.

2) Practice Consistently

We've been given the key but the only way to open the door is through consistent practice. Minimum, half an hour, five days a week. And always include the Qigong Instant Health Massage with the bamboo brush (or for more advanced students the metal brush.)

3) Do the Qigong Instant Health Massage / or

The Instant Health massage increases the benefit of our Qigong. I'm sure, that, given the choice, most of us would choose to have a massage once a week but the cost is what stops us. With the Instant Health Massage we can have a massage for free every day of the week.

4)  or (for more advanced students) Bone Marrow Cleansing Massage

If you've been using the bamboo brush for a few years and you're not feeling as much benefit then it may be time for you to progress to doing the Instant Health Massage with the Metal Massage Brush. The metal massage brush is about the price of six massages but it will give you a lifetime of massages. Many people mistakenly believe that the metal brush is only used for body conditioning but at the Shaolin Temple we use it for bone marrow cleansing.

Start off by warming up with the bamboo brush then move on to the metal  brush. This heavier brush creates vibrations in the bones and helps to cleanse them so even though you are still doing the Instant Health massage it is having a much more powerful effect. This is where the name "Bone Marrow Cleansing" comes from.  

As we age, not only do our bones and muscles shrink unless we exercise to prevent them but also the blood cells produced by our bone marrow slow down. This is because the marrow becomes dirty. Through using the metal brush we cleanse the marrow and stop this reversal.

WARNING: The metal brush is heavy and is only for professionals and advanced students so only use it if you feel you are ready. The bamboo brush is safe to use even if used incorrectly but the metal brush is not. If used incorrectly it can damage the body. For most people the bamboo brush is all they need for their practice. 

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A Simple Method To Stop Anxiety & Stress

At The Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Institute of Qigong Science, EEG results on Qigong practioners showed a predominance of alpha brain waves indicating that Qigong induces a relaxed and focused mind. After just three or four minutes there was a measurable shift of alpha and theta concentration from the rear occipital regions to the frontal lobes. This corresponds to a union of the mind and body from which feelings of peace and harmony arise. 

If you can, it's good to do some of your Qigong training outside. If you live in the city then get up early and go to the park, preferably a place where there are some trees.

Just as we spring clean our house we can also spring clean our body, being outside helps us to clear our stagnant energy and breathe in fresh air. It also reinvigorates our practice. The important thing is to be awake to the practice. It is important not to do Qigong by rote but say to yourself: For these next twenty minutes I'm going to dedicate myself completely to this practice, I'm going to let go of my worries and my thoughts and just do it.

A practice free from doubt and worry is what we mean by heart mind practice. If the mind and heart are dispersed then our Qi will be, and there won't be as much power in the practice. Because we are so used to thinking all the time, at first this may be difficult but the more we practice, the more we will find that our mind and body remembers, and concentration and letting go will come easily. Ironically it is when we are feeling most stressed and tired that we resist the practice, and this is when we need to do the practice most.

You can do your own experiment; measure how much you are thinking at the beginning of the practice and how much you are thinking at the end. Thinking is necessary but if we can't stop then who is the Emperor of our mind? Our thinking or ourselves?

A relaxed mind is a happy and creative mind, we have our best ideas, and are more functional in our day to day life when we are relaxed. 

Want to learn more about Qigong? Visit: http://www.qigongworkout.com/

Body Conditioning & Qigong Self-Massage - Metal Massage Brush

For many years, my on-line students have asked me to provide them with the metal brush they have seen me using in my book and DVDs. I have been reluctant to do this without seeing the student first because this metal brush is not like the bamboo brush, if used incorrectly, it can cause damage to the body.

The person who uses this brush needs to be trained correctly and train with responsibility. But now that many of my students have followed all of the training from my first DVD through to my fifteenth, I feel, if their body is telling them they are ready to use this brush, then they are.

This is a professional brush, only to be used by highly trained martial artists, fighters, Qigong masters. It is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18, pregnant women, old people or health seekers. The Instant Health bamboo massage brush is perfect for most people and they should continue to use this rather than change to this metal brush.  The bamboo brush is safe to use for all people.

I had this metal brush hand-made to my specific specifications. It was difficult to find someone who could make it for me, and I only have a limited number available. This is a very heavy metal brush, it weighs about 1.6 kg and has 108 metal rods. Shaolin Temple is carved in Chinese on the end of the brush. If used correctly, it will last a lifetime.

Safety Guidelines for Using The Metal Massage Brush

1) The brush needs to be cleaned with a soft cloth before use. 


2) The brush must never be used on the head, face or any other sensitive area.


3) Keep the brush in a private place away from children and adults.


4) Never share the brush with another person.


5) Never use this brush without doing Qigong first. 


6) Warm up with the bamboo brush first then move onto the metal brush.


7) Do not use this brush for body conditioning unless you have had direct training from a qualified master.


8) Only use this brush for self-massage after the Qigong Forms that I teach on my DVDs.


9) Your body should feel happy when you massage. Listen to your body. If something feels wrong or there is any pain, stop immediately. 


10) Exercise extreme caution. Remember, this brush has the potential to damage your internal organs. Make sure you know and understand what you are doing. If in doubt, seek advice from a qualified instructor. 

I teach five Qigong forms that can be used with this brush. They can be found on the following DVDs:
The Way of Qigong Volume 1,2, & 3
Qigong For Upper Body & Lower Body
And in my book:
Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity 

I also teach Iron Shirt for advanced practioners.

Apart from Qigong Volume 1, all of the above give precise instructions as to how to do the Instant Health Massage. The instructions are the same for the bamboo brush and the metal brush. If you are using the metal brush, warm up with the bamboo brush first. The metal brush gives a deeper vibration to the bones.

I've also made this video to give more clarification on the different uses of the brushes. This is only for a guide and is not a teaching video. Please refer to my teaching DVDs and books for correct instructions on the self-massage.

The metal massage brush is available from my website.