IMPORTANT: FOR BEST TRAINING RESULTS, READ THIS BEFORE USING DVD'S

Essential Guidelines for Flying Phoenix Qigong Practice:
Using the Chi Kung for Health DVD series

Guidelines For Practice

Welcome to Chi Kung For Health. You are about to use a most wonderful yogic discipline to discover and develop the internal energy (ch'i) of your body. The Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations is a medical chi kung system developed more than 400 years ago by a legendary Taoist alchemist and healer, Feng Tao Teh of Ehrmei Mountain in the Szechuan province of China. The ancient techniques contained in this video instruction have been impeccably preserved by six generations of a Taoist martial and healing arts lineage.

The Flying Phoenix Qigong exercises are presented in this video series exactly as they have been taught and practiced through the ages. By simply following the instructions presented in this program, you will experience the energy cultivation process known as chi-kung. Moreover, you will experience the unique healing effects of the Flying Phoenix Celestial Energy that is rapidly induced by these exercises. The energizing and rejuvenating effects brought about by this practice have been described by students as profound and ineffable. Each individual practitioner has his or her own unique experience of this alchemic process. All who have properly practiced these exercises on a regular basis discover that the energizing effects and health benefits of this Chi Kung practice are repeatable and verifiable.

For best results in practicing the Flying Phoenix Meditations, follow these important guidelines:

1. Do not eat within 30 minutes before training.
2. Practice in a quiet and secluded environment with good ventilation that is free from disturbances and interruptions. It is absolutely essential that you practice in a private space where you will not be bumped or physically disturbed in any way.
3. Beginners should practice indoors. If you must practice outdoors, do so only in fair weather. Do not practice if exposed to strong wind, dampness, or excessive heat.
4. Do not practice near telephones, machinery or household appliances that can emit unexpected noise.
5. Follow the instructions for each meditation precisely as they are presented.
6. Practice to the videotape until you have memorized the posture and movements of each exercise. Once you have an exercise memorized, practice it with the eyes closed. Except for the standing meditation, "Monk Gazes At Moon," all the Flying Phoenix exercises are done with the eyes closed.
7. Eventually, also memorize the breath-control sequence at the start of each exercise. Then practice the entire exercise--breathing sequence coupled with posture and movements--with your eyes closed.
8. Remember that you do the breath-control sequence only once at the beginning of each exercise. Once this initial breathing sequence is completed, breath naturally and evenly as you do the rest of the exercise. Do not hold your breath or strain your breathing!
9. All breathing is done through the nose with the mouth closed and tongue touching the roof of the mouth.
10. For each Flying Phoenix exercise that involves movements, do the movements as slowly as possible. If you are familiar with the art of t'ai chi ch'uan, visualize the speed at which slow form practice is done-and then practice your Flying Phoenix exercise at one-third of this t'ai chi rate of movement.
11. Each standing Flying Phoenix meditation should be practiced for a minimum of five (5) minutes. If you can manage, each exercise can be practiced for fifteen minutes or more for greater benefits
12. Each of the seated Flying Phoenix meditations collectively called "Monk Serves Wine" series are done in sets of seven repetitions.
13. There is no danger in practicing any of the Flying Phoenix meditations for long durations. It is totally up to you as to how long you can practice any of these exercises. Typically, students in Terry Dunn's classes and workshops spend three to four weeks of daily practice on one exercise before progressing to a new exercise. If you want an intensive introduction, follow the training schedule that follows.
14. Practice one exercise at a time in the order in which they are presented on the videos. They are presented in increasing order of complexity and energizing effect.
15. Do not alter the breath-control sequences or the movements of any of these exercises.
16. Do not alter or re-arrange the pairing of breathe-control sequence to the physical movements of any of the exercises--lest you reduce the effect of the exercise, or worse.
17. Do not proceed with the posture and movements of a meditation if you know you have performed the breath-control sequence improperly.  If you make a mistake in doing the initial breathing sequence of an exercise, stop immediately and take three deep breathes. Then begin again. Do not do the movements and postures of an exercise without the preliminary breathe-control sequence, as this will dampen the effect of future practice.
18. If you feel a pleasant light-headedness, "rushes" and "flows' of energy in the back, neck, and particularly the head area, do not be alarmed. This is a normal energy effect/relaxation response commonly felt by practitioners. If however, you experience loss of equilibrium, stop immediately. Consult your physician before continuing.
19. Begin and end each of the exercises with three deep breathes. The brilliant alchemy contained in these Taoist exercises effects mind-body integration very rapidly and very tangibly and viscerally. With every exercise, you have the potential--or rather the likelihood--of entering into a very deep, altered state of mind. The three full breathes before the initial breath control sequence provides a comfortable transition from waking state-of-mind to the meditative state of mind, and the three full breathes at the end of each meditation provides a safe and comfortable transition from a meditative state of mind to the normal waking state.
20. Remember: relax, do not rush your practice. Go slowly and enjoy the exercises. Qigong training is a gentle, long-term process. Energy (ch'i) cultivation cannot be forced; it is induced. Do not make Qigong an object of obsession. For best results, maintain a healthy and balanced daily routine of work, diet, recreation and sleep. After a few months of practicing just one or two exercises, many practitioners notice higher energy levels and deeper and more restful sleep. Some think that they can get by with less sleep. Be careful not allow the energizing effects of the meditations to compromise your normal quantity of sleep. Do more work with your new energy, but get enough rest.