Marcus Santer is the author of Shaolin Chi Kung: 18 exercises to help you live a longer, healthier and happier life. Founder and Chief Instructor at Qigong15,he was the Chief Instructor (for the UK) of an international Qigong and Shaolin Kung Fu institute for 5 years, and has been practicing qigong for over a decade.
Shaolin Qigong (the type of Qigong he teaches and practices) is the worlds best kept stay young, stay healthy, stay happy, energy secret in the world today.
Shaolin Qigong is NOT:
- Some new Exercise gizmo – that you’ll buy with great optimism only for it to end up gathering dust after a week or two and leaving you out of pocket (it’s okay, I’ve done it too!).
- A fad diet – whilst it’s common sense to eat a well balanced diet with Shaolin Qigong there’s no need to become an angel – you can have your cake and eat it!
- It doesn’t involve going to the gym – and paying expensive membership fees months in advance. You know why they make you pay months in advance? Because they know that you are statistically very likely not to be there for long – (In the article Time Management Facts and Figures by Dr. Donald E.Wetmore, it says that 90% of those who join health and fitness clubs will stop going within the first 90 days).
- Expensive supplements or pills – and let’s face it most people who take dietary supplements don’t need them and they just end up as expensive urine.
- You don’t have to join a group – or travel somewhere special to do it. I mean after a long day at work, who really wants to travel to the gym – work out – and then go home and make tea? I mean after you’ve done all that it’s time to go to bed! Shaolin Qigong takes just 15 minutes once or twice a day. Imagine what you can do with all that free time?
- It’s not paying someone to listen to your problems – hey, I used to be a counsellor, so I’m not saying talking to a neutral 3rd party isn’t helpful!
- It’s not a religion – you don’t need to be Buddhist, dress up in fancy clothes or accept a load of new theological beliefs.
- It’s not Yoga – it’s far less strenuous than that.
- It’s not Tai Chi – it’s far easier to learn than Tai Chi.
- It’s not acupuncture – I’ve had acupuncture and believe you and me, whatever they may say, when they start ‘twiddling’ those needles, you know they’re there!
- It’s not some new gimmicky exercise – it’s actually been around for about 5000 years give or take a few. Though the method I’m specifically talking about has only being around for 1500 years.
So What is Qigong?
Most Qigong is a composite of gentle external movements, co-ordinated with the breathing performed in a meditative state of mind. Each Shaolin Qigong practice session takes around 10-15 minutes, and you can practice once, or twice a day.
