Every month - that is the plan, anyway - I will review a book selected
randomly from my Paranormal Library. This month, I will review Tai Chi Chi Kung by Peter Chin Kean Choy.
Background: I found this excellent book in a local Oxfam shop, having asked the guy at the till if he knew whether they had any books on 'Qi gong'. He didn't know what that was and said that he didn't think that they did have any books on it. I looked anyway and found Tai Chi Chi Kung by Peter Chin Kean Choy. I knew that contrary to what the guy told me, this was a book on what i was looking for, since 'Chi Kung' is another term for 'Qi gong'.
Tai Chi Chi Kung by Peter Chin Kean Choy review
I'd previously read Choy's other book, 'Tai Chi', so I was not surprised by the layout - which did not seem to have changed in the slightest. As usual, colourful, uplifting photographs of smiling people were used to illustrate the movements. As indicated by the title, the book teaches techniques from both Tai Chi and Chi Kung.
Although just as informative as ever, the only real difference with the Tai Chi Chi Kung - aside from the fact that the book Tai Chi Chi Kung dealt with Chi Kung as well, whilst the Tai Chi book didn't - is that it has pages referring to 'Homework' with instructions for the reader regarding the exercises to practise, as well as space to record their own experiences or feelings regarding the exercises. These I feel are a nice idea, although I've never really bothered to make use of them.
The reader cannot get confused with which exercises are 'Tai chi' and which are 'Chi Kung' because, aside from the fact that by the chapter name at the top of the page it says which practice it belongs to, at the start of each exercise in bold writing, it says whether it is Tai chi or Chi Kung.
Furthermore, whilst the Tai chi book has a small introduction to 'Aqua Tai chi', the Tai Chi Chi Kung book has fun Chi Kung exercises that are aimed at young children, which I think is a great idea.
In summary, the book made simple, yet informative, inspiring and uplifting reading. The pictures of the people in colourful clothing with smiling faces made the reading even more enjoyable - a trait shared with Choy's Tai Chi book. And although it carries out the same layout as the other book, it has some well-made differences, too - like the exercises for young children to do. Once again, a book that can be recommended to anyone who wants to learn how to do Tai Chi, Chi Kung or who has children who they want to teach - and do with them - Chi Kung.
Look out for next month's book review!
Look out for next month's book review!
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