The Body in Balance: Qigong Healing at Any Age with Energy, Breath, Movement, and 50 Nourishing Recipes

309 Pages·2017·5.68 MB·English

by  Master FaXiang Hou

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The
information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your
health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been
prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge
you to seek competent medical help.
The information in this book is meant to supplement, not replace, proper exercise
training. All forms of exercise pose some inherent risks. The editors and publisher
advise readers to take full responsibility for their safety and know their limits. Before
practicing the exercises in this book, be sure that your equipment is well-maintained,
and do not take risks beyond your level of experience, aptitude, training, and fitness.
The exercise and dietary programs in this book are not intended as a substitute for any
exercise routine or dietary regimen that may have been prescribed by your doctor. As
with all exercise and dietary programs, you should get your doctor’s approval before
beginning.
Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not
imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies,
organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the
publisher.
Internet addresses and phone numbers given in this book were accurate at the time it
went to press.
Copyright © 2018 by Hearst Magazines, Inc.
All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Rodale Books, an imprint of the
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Photographs by Mitchell Mandel Fitness model: Katrina Phillip Cover design by Yeon
Kim Cover illustration by Marina Demiclova/Shutterstock Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.
ISBN 9781635651737
Ebook ISBN 9781635651744
v5.3.2
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For my family, especially my father
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
My Family Tradition of Healing
1 FIND YOUR VITAL ENERGY
An Introduction to Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine
2 FROM GIRLHOOD TO MENOPAUSE AND BEYOND
Qigong Healing at Every Stage of Life
3 NATURAL PATHS TO GOOD HEALTH
How Qigong and Herbal Remedies Can Make a Difference in Your Life
4 A DIFFERENT WAY TO EXERCISE
Internal Qigong and the Power of Moving Meditation
5 WATER, WATER…AND MORE WATER
Seasonal Fasting for Health and Longevity
6 SIMPLIFY YOUR DIET, HEAL YOUR BODY
Qigong and Nutrition
7 FEED YOUR QI
50 Simple Recipes for Energy and Balance
CONCLUSION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INDEX
My Family Tradition of Healing
By FaXiang Hou
S
ince I was a boy in the northwestern province of Gansu, not far
from the Mongolian border along the ancient Silk Road trade
route, I have practiced the ancient, natural Chinese way of healing oneself
and others known as qigong (pronounced chee-goon).
Qigong in China has a 2,000-year history, based on observations by our
ancestors about the natural world and the way human beings interact with
it. In the simplest terms, qigong refers to the movement of vital energy to
clear blockages that cause illness, pain, and discomfort within the body. Qi
means energy or air, and gong means success, knowledge, good practice, or
skill. This energy movement can be accomplished with health-enhancing
foods; a beautiful, flowing series of meditative, low-impact exercises; and
the occasional use of plant-based remedies, as well as hands-on treatment
from a skilled master of qigong acupressure and acupuncture such as
myself.
I was taught the art and science of reading people’s bodies, sensing their
blockages, and healing their complaints by my father, who learned from
his father, who learned from my great-grandfather and his father before
him. I am the fifth generation in a direct line of qigong healers, and have
dedicated my life to the practice of restoring the body’s balance through
energy-based acupressure, acupuncture, and exercise. Like my ancestors, I
also educate those I treat about the healing benefits of certain foods and
herbs. I believe that many common physical complaints can be cured by
eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones. My way is to try to
prevent problems before they start by teaching my patients about the
importance of holistic, healthy living.
My family, like everyone in our community, had always used traditional
Chinese medicine for our health needs, and much of my work today is
based directly on the tenets of this 2,000-year-old health system. However,
I tend to favor a more proactive approach to healing the body than many
of my fellow traditional Chinese medicine practitioners do; my approach
emphasizes detoxifying the body rather than tonifying qi, or administering
tonics that work gradually. In other words, if someone has weak lungs or
bad digestion, I don’t believe in immediately administering tonics, or
remedies, intended to treat the condition. Instead, my first line of defense is
to detoxify the corresponding organ and get rid of as much bad energy as
possible. Otherwise, how can the organ be clear enough to accept a
medicine? I explain that it’s like a dirty room in a house: no matter how
much nice furniture you put into it, the room won’t be inviting until it’s
been cleaned. I believe in preventive medicine, and working to get rid of
negative, harmful vital energy as soon as it is identified.
As a child in the People’s Republic of China, I watched my father treat
women, men, children, the elderly, and the gravely ill. I listened to him
advising sick people about beneficial herbs and foods that promote
healing, and watched him using his hands or his acupuncture needles to
address a great variety of ailments. Life was difficult, and some of those he
treated were very poor. He graciously accepted whatever they offered in
payment: a few coins, an apple, once even a small bowl of noodles. He