Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity

I just completed my first workout following the instructions in the book. I first read it all the way through. While it's far too early to say how Qigong will be of value to my health, if at all, I can say that the warm-up, stretches and the workout made me feel exceptionally good and quite relaxed. I was somewhat anxious before the workout. It did take my blood pressure down. The workout didn't take long. Admittedly, I'm sure I didn't do it in any professional manner. I just followed the instructions as best I could, as instructed in the book. The feeling after the workout can best be described as total relaxation in mind and body. I generally have problems following exercise instructions in books but found these instructions to be quite good. Now, there are two ways to apply the workout. One is for health and longevity. The other is in conjunction with Kung Fu. When you use it with a martial art, it is somewhat different in many ways and that's not what I want. I do resistance exercise and don't need to add Kung Fu to the mix. But for health and relaxation, it's a wonderful addition to your workouts. The book is an easy read. Lots of big, colorful pictures, large type and nice paper. Lots of luscious photos taken in China. Makes you want to go there. You can read it in a couple of sittings. Of course, it takes many times to even get close to perfecting the complete workout. But it's a workout anyone can do. At least, most anyone. If you are able to walk and move, you can do it. The author gives a good deal of science to back up what he says. There were a few statements he made that wasn't backed by any science in the book. That concerned me somewhat. But, there was enough science that I felt comfortable doing the workout and feeling it would be helpful to me. The author is not a native English speaker, of course. If you watch his DVDs, you'll find it hard to understand him. I think he had help in the writing as it sounds British. The book is divided into three parts . . . Part One: The Art of Science of Shaolin Temple Longevity Part Two: The Fundamentals of Shaolin Qigong Part Three: The Qigong Workout for Longevity Each part is divided into a number of short chapters. In one chapter, the author talks about himself and his own experiences, how he got into Qigong. "I am not a great martial artist which is why I'm always training and always learning. I am not the greatest teacher but I try to give a taste of what Shaolin really is. It's not a dream or a fantasy like it is sometimes made out to be, but the art and science of true health and happiness", he says. He adds, "I believe there are no bad students: there are just bad teachers, and if you choose to study from my books then you become my student and I hope I will teach you well." Of his series of books he says it is "a culmination of my twenty years experience of martial arts and the wisdom that I have learned under the instruction of many great masters. Any errors made are not those of my masters or the Shaolin Temple, but my own", he acknowledges. I must tell you, I didn't know if I would like the book or not when I ordered it. I've read many books on martial arts and none of them really met my needs. This book, however, is quite different. Perhaps it's because I was able to quickly apply it and do the workout with some ease. I'm quite fit and far more flexible than I was a decade ago before working out regularly. I think that makes a difference. But, as I said earlier, I can't imagine anyone not being able to find deep relaxation doing this workout if they got nothing else from it. Highly recommended. -- Susanna K. Hutcheson

Shi Yan Lei gives clear and easy to follow instructions. His pictorials are like a slideshow of each step of the form. His perfect poses and beautiful environment are demonstrative, motivational, and awe inspiring. The photos were taken on location at the Shaolin Temple, Yellow Mountain, the Shaolin Village, and the Canton region. Shifu says, you do not necessarily have to go to a secluded, natural location. You can do the Shaolin workout/practices in your own living room. Warm up, stretches, the Five Fundamental Shaolin Stances, the Eight Treasures form, some Ch'an philosophy as a background context. If you do not do martial arts, you can do whatever type of cardio exercise you want and then do the Shaolin Qi Gong. You do not have to be a Buddhist to do his practices. The accessibility of Shi Yan Lei's workout, his sincerity, the beautiful photography, his sculpted physique have certainly motivated this student to make the Shaolin workout a habit. I highly recommend this book and Shi Yan Lei's upcoming book, Instant Fitness: the Shaolin Kung Fu Workout, his DVDs, and his other merchandise.

Out of the four Shaolin books I bought recently, I find Shifu Yan Lei to be the author most earnest in his teaching and spiritually connected to the Buddhist roots from where Shaolin Wushu had spring. He does a great job at simplifying the Health Workout routine to just four simple groups---"Warm up, Stretching, Qigong, and Self-Massage"---and illustrates them extremely well with step-by-step full-color photographs throughout the entire book, carefully selecting the scenic Shaolin Temple grounds as a background for it breathtaking imagery and serene beauty. He also makes relevant references to his modern day readers who may be of any gender, age group, and physical agility, sounding out why practicing Qigong can help to relieve stress, improve health, and even counteract the ageing process. The text is well spaced and large enough for comfortable reading, as one should feel when reading about an ancient healing art. I especially love the inspirational quotes and images inserted at the beginning of each chapter; they not only serve as interweaving for the chapters but also make me feel connected to the spiritual underpinnings of Qigong.

This is a lovely book with striking photos and large, easy-to-read text on high-quality paper that doesn't stick together when you sweat. As others have noted, this book is accessible to beginners starting their martial arts journey. You can tell Shifu Yan Lei has dedicated many years to mastering martial arts - he is incredibly inspiring. Should you buy this book, even in 2023? I'd say if you're like me and try to unplug while working out, absolutely - add it to your cart now. The photos alone are worth more than the asking price of this book, in my opinion. Shifu provides a plethora of free video content you can leverage in addition to this book. So, if you prefer videos and using your device to follow along, this book may end up as a coffee table book - still worth it for book lovers. The book is perfect for referencing during your workout - watch the video in your room and practice, once you've got it (enough), take the book outside and practice device-free. I love this book and thank you Shifu Yan Lei for creating this wonderful resource.

Book is beautiful! The explanations are perfect. But you certainly need a teacher or at least a dvd to complement this. Nevertheless you can try learning a few stances from the book. Worth the buy!

First of all, I would like to praise the book. It may seem like I'm exaggerating, but it has changed my life to some extent. The breathing exercises helped me calm my mind and find peace within myself, the stretching exercises helped me with my body's flexibility, which is also beneficial for other things. Because both of them helped and benefited me, I also gained discipline because I wanted to do it every day, and I still practice every day. If you do it regularly, you will see a difference for the better from week to week and month to month.

This book is great for anyone wishing to make a positive change in their lives.. since its arrival at my door ive become far more flexible as well as grounded and calm.. my activities are becoming meditative and my breath calm and efficient

This book contains the Eight Treasures - the 8 best moves for energy restoration and clearing the mind. It also contains the basic stances for Shaolin Kung Fu which can help increase leg strength and balance, and a few of them are used in the Eight Treasures. The book also contains some basic Buddhist philosophy surrounding Qi Gong and Kung Fu, and an introduction to Shifu Yan Lei and his road to the Shaolin Temple. It made for a more interesting read than I had expected, and I say this because I purchased it purely for the fitness side of it. The pictures and instructions complement eachother perfectly and it's very easy to follow. I did, however, purchase his Qi Gong Volume 1 DVD first, so I did know my way vaguely around the moves. I was a little disappointed that it didn't include anything from the 2nd and 3rd DVDs, but the book has proven to be more valuable than I had initially thought when I discovered the lack of extra content, believe it or not. The pictures themselves are wonderful and the layout of the book is clear, concise, tidy but also quite pretty. I have a number of fitness and exercise books but the only one I've ever found to be actually usable was Cassey Ho's 'Hot Body Year Round' - this book, its subject matter somewhat different, is only the second fitness book that I've found usable. I take it away with me when I won't be able to use the DVD - the movements of the Eight Treasures are not complicated, but I have a tendancy to muddle them up or forget them, so having a visual representation that I can break out in a park or hotel room helps a lot. I like to try to do things correctly, and the sequence of movements have surely been put together as they have for a reason, and I don't wish to deviate. Call me highly strung, but we all have our own ways of doing things. But, while this book is brilliant for me, I think many people would benefit more from the DVD. Seeing the movements in motion can be easier to follow than pictures. Seeing how heavily or softly to land, seeing how slowly to turn, even getting an idea of how deeply to breathe, it helps to see the movements performed. In short, while the book may not be for everyone, it IS easy to follow, it's also quite relaxing to read, and the pictures are full-colour and beautifully shot.

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