The Complete System of Self-Healing: Internal Exercises

"He likes it!

This is essentially a book on traditional Taoist Yoga for health. The well-known exercises are all included: Five Animal Play, Eight Brocades, etc. Also included are the Chi/Energy theory and the Chakra/Hormonal theory.
There are specific exercises for various health conditions, like losing excess abdominal fat (belly rubbing) or eye exercises (which I appreciate, being a pretty avid reader). There are also some breathing exercises and meditations for those who have advanced past the health exercises.
One additional comment I can make is that the traditional exercises (Five Animal Play & Eight Brocades) seemed simpler and made more use of
imagination than the forms of these exercises you commonly see today (1986 vs 2008). Overall, a good book, which I'm glad I bought."
~ Written on 2008-07-03

"I got this at a library discard sale for $[...], and was sooo pleased that I'd found it at such a discount, and practiced the exercises for several months -- and they were no help. The exercises are tedious to learn (solar plexus exercise, 12 directional exercises), and were not helpful, even after doing them religiously for about 2 months. One exercise, clacking the teeth, my dentist (who is Asian) said it cracks/"crazes" the teeth, and does not make them stronger as the author claims. The author does not say how long a typical exercise routine should be, nor does he say how long it takes before results are seen. Chinese exercises are foreign to Americans, and it's tedious to learn them and disappointing not to see results within two months. I could not find several of the exercises online, even under different descriptions (such as the 12 directional exercises), which made me question whether the author invented them or several others. Even worse, the publisher, Tao Publishing [...], claims that a section of the book was cut (it dealt with rubbing the stomach for better digestion), and said they'd send the complete cut section if I filled out a form that required my workplace phone number, job title, and other details that seemed intrusive. I didn't trust them, and I don't trust this book -- or the author. Sorry."
~ Written on 2008-05-04

"I purchased this book recently. I have found the information in it simply amazing. Within a few days I have noticed an overall sense of well being and improvement to my health. And no I am not connected to the author in any way. It is just a very good book."
~ Written on 2003-02-28

"I've had this wonderful book for over 10 years, but only really began to apply the Internal Exercises after a trip to China. I saw a Qi Gong demonstration there and was very impressed, especially by the fact that the Qi Gong master looked all of 25 years old (I'm sure he was in his 40's at least). I began to practice Dr Chang's set of exercises faithfully on returning from the trip and have experienced increased energy, suppleness, better sleep, and clarity of mind. I was able to abandon my use of prescription antihistamines for allergies and now have no symptoms whatever. My nightly headaches, which were requiring nightly Tylenol, have also resolved. My endurance in sports, particularly alpine skiing, has increased without requiring increased preparatory workouts; and if I am diligent at doing the exercises after a workout, I experience no stiffness or soreness (something I'm starting to appreciate as an aging Baby Boomer!).
Dr Chang is clearly familiar with both Asian and Western medicine, science and culture. Although his book is very clearly written, practical and accessible, the depth of knowledge concealed in its deceptively simple language is profound. The exercises themselves are for the most part quite easy to perform (some of them do require much effort and perseverance to master, but are not physically taxing). What is quite reinforcing about them is that they produce an almost immediate sensation of energy flow in the body. They feel GOOD to perform. They struck me as being almost like a cross between yoga and tai chi, but they are certainly neither (as Dr Chang points out) and they are much less complex.
Dr Chang's other books are excellent as well!"
~ Written on 2002-01-26

"My son bought me this book about 6 months ago and since then I have been in exellent health through doing the exersises. In my present job I do not have much time to exersise so I use this book to help me maintain a healthy mind and body. I would recommend this book to anyone."
~ Written on 2000-09-22