Qigong Through the Seasons: How to Stay Healthy All Year with Qigong, Meditation, Diet, and Herbs
The book is divided into the following chapters.
Chapter 1: Qigong
Chapter 2: The Five Phases
Chapter 3: Meditation: Mindfulness, Awareness, Visualization, Awakening
Chapter 4: Food, Herbs, and the Five Phases Diet
Chapter 5: Chronobiology
Chapter 6: Spring
Chapter 7: Summer
Chapter 8: Autumn
Chapter 9: Winter
Conclusion: Spirit Returns to Earth
This year has been challenging in so many ways. With Covid-19 and me being such a high risk, I have not been able to go to acupuncture for pain management. Years ago, I said that without acupuncture I would probably not be mobile. I am finding out just how important it is to my well-being. Since I am not able to go for treatments, I have become creative in my search of exercises I can do without hurting myself. I was so glad I found this book. It has helped me throughout the year especially with becoming more mindful and stress relief.
He discusses the three treasures: Jing, Qi, and Shen. His describes Yin Yang and the flow of qi through the body. I love the diagram of the seasonal circulation of qi. His discussion of the five phases is thorough with the inclusion of the acupuncture meridians and the diagrams of the five phases (elements). Right now, the focus of Yin Yang organs for Autumn, is the lungs and large intestine which is important to me since I have been suffering from respiratory issues since last December. The seasonal diet for Autumn considers the structure, movement and sensation which would be lungs – downward – pungent.
I learned that chronobiology is how time affects living organisms. This includes the circadian cycle and the times when the meridians in the body are replete with qi. Each season has exercises designed for the specific phase. There are drawings to demonstrate the movements. The meditations that he includes for each season are wonderful. They are easy to follow and can be recorded on an audio device for playback so you can listen instead of reading the meditation.
A few of the exercises for Autumn are Circling the Sparrows, Crane’s Frolic, Crane’s beak, and Crane flaps wings. These are easy for me to do and provides a wonderful stretch to my arms and back. The meditations for Autumn include Medicine Man Breathing, Breath Counting, and Embryonic Breathing. I was unaware that the lungs can suffer from prolonged grief and can be the underlying cause of breathing related illnesses. I love the gargle recipe to ward off a cold. I am going to make some and keep it handy.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. There is so much information that I cannot include it all in my review. If you are interested in helping yourself feel better, mentally and physically, you should consider this book.
