Abstract

Long before Tai Chi and Qigong became household names in the West, an American sailor visiting Shanghai discovered a gentle Chinese exercise called Jiangan - The Chinese Health Wand. This exercise system is simple yet potent and involves the manipulation of a lightweight pole traditionally made of bamboo.

Jiangan co-ordinates slow diaphragmatic breathing with graduated stretching and strengthening exercises to promote circulation and stimulate the cardiovascular system. This book offers a concise practical guide to Jiangan exercises, providing detailed instructions and illustrations while also exploring the Chinese philosophy behind the art. Although a gentle and meditative form of exercise, the book shows that Jiangan has the muscle-toning and weight-loss potential of more robust gym workouts and is an ideal daily exercise routine or warm-up for a range of sports and martial arts classes.

This book will be a valuable resource for teachers and students of Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as anyone looking for a simple and effective way to improve health and fitness using Eastern health arts.

Michael Davies is a senior instructor with the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain and has been practising Chinese internal arts for over 30 years and teaching Tai Chi Chuan for 13 years. He runs a Tai Chi club with regular classes, workshops and seminars in Tai Chi, Qigong and Jiangan. He lives in Hertfordshire, UK.
It is always refreshing to deal with a different and unusual approach to Chinese hygienic exercise. Michael's knowledge of and skill in the mysteries of Chinese Health Wand make him unique in the Tai Chi community. His publishers are to be congratulated in making this rare material available to the public. I wish the book every success.
Dan Docherty, Chairman of the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain
Using a personable, reader-friendly style backed up by clear figures and illustrations, he communicates the materials effectively enough that one can begin practicing jingan merely by reading the book. That's quite an accomplishment!... This information should prove useful for students and teachers of the Chinese martial arts as well as most anyone interested in healthful, low-impact exercises.
Foreword Magazine
We have more and more need in these frenetic times for the wisdom of Chinese medicine. Michael shows very clearly how Jiangan exercises can be used to benefit ourselves. I regularly see, in my own practice, how people's health and vitality can be transformed by following such exercise regimes. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book for those who want to become more healthy and for those who want to maintain their health.
Dr Stephen Gascoigne, medical doctor, acupuncturist, herbalist, UK and Ireland