This fine book is available now at our bookstore....

Awaken the Dragon - Qi Cultivation Techniques

by Dr. Michael Steward Sr.

374 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-2311; ISBN 1-4120-1933-8; US$35.00, C$42.00, EUR29.00, £20.00

"It does not matter how much time you have on earth; rather it is what you do with this time that matters."- Dr. Michael Steward Sr.
It is up to every person to decide for him or herself what they will be willing to do to obtain the energy that they need and deserve in life. Every moment in our lives we have the oppurtunity to receive or lose vital Qi. Cultivating your Qi is a major factor in balancing the Yin and Yang within ourselves, and the universe that surrounds us. This book will explore several different Qi cultivation exercises that will help you the reader discover how to become a master of oneself.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book Practiced by millions of people the world over, Qigong is actually an approach to life itself. It is a state of mind characterized by complete relaxation and complete acceptance, and deep meditation; it is open to the healing energy of the universe, and it offers healing for the whole world. Qigong practice not only aligns your own body, mind and spirit, but also aligns us with the universal body, mind and spirit. By regulating our minds through meditation, deep breathing and gentle movement we can facilitate a smoother and stronger flow of energy throughout our bodies, giving us greater health and freedom of movement throughout our lives. This unique book will familiarize you with the cultivation and healing concepts of Qigong. This book is beautifully illustrated with over 370 photos and more than 80 drawings. "We must practice Qigong with the intention of not only healing ourselves, but becoming a healing influence on all those around us."- Dr. Michael Steward Sr.

---

About the Author Ranks & Certifications 29 years in the martial arts PhD/ Martial Arts Sciences/ Philosophy Master Instructor- Taiji & Qigong National Certified U.S.A. Coach Inducted into The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2000 Inducted into The World Sports Medicine Hall of Fame 2000 Inducted into The World Karate Union Hall of Fame 2003 3 Time Team U.S.A. member American Athletic Trainers Association- Sports Medicine Trainer American Sports Medicine Association- Sports Medicine Trainer National Qigong Association- Professional Member Personally trained four national champions, thirty international USA team members Personally trained in the following countries; USA, Austria, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Denmark, Russia, France, and Canada Author of the book Dragonfly Qigong Trafford Publishing 2003 Creator of "Head Smart Body Safe Self Defense Program" © 1988 Creator of the Ju-Jitsu Weapon System "Raising Some Cane" © 1996 Creator of "Progressive Coaching" © 1997 Creator of Dragonfly Qigong © 1999 .

---

Sample Excerpt

<

PREFACE AND GOALS OF THE BOOK

"We must practice Qigong with the intention of not only healing ourselves, but of becoming a healing influence on all those around us."
- Dr. Michael Steward Sr.

When I first started to write this book, I had a different perspective on what I wanted the reader to gain from the material within it. Recently I changed my focus to reflect my own need for healing. One June 16th, of 2003 I was diagnosed with metastasized malignant melanoma cancer in my right groin lymph node. Now I am writing this book to help everyone else to become healthier and to help heal myself as well. Western medicine gives us such dark hope for recovery from this fatal disease called cancer. This book will represent my resolve not to give up hope. I know that the exercises found in this book will help me and many more like me, realize a bit of sunshine and bright hope towards recovery. As you can see, I am not writing words just to write them. I am writing this book because I practice these forms and I believe in them completely with my whole heart, mind and body.

According to the way our minds have been conditioned, we believe there's nothing that can be done for cancer except to kill the cancer cells and tumors.

We have been taught to see cancer as a formidable, mysterious, insidious disease- a diabolical enemy. We have been taught to accept that cancer is a force that has no face other than a tumor; that our body is ignorant and helpless; that there is nothing we as a patient can do; that our body has no wisdom of its own in guiding us back to health.

We have been given a message: "Be a gentle and compliant soul. Whatever can be done must be done for us by doctors and hospitals. Go along with every treatment that our Western medical system has to offer." Even if it kills us, and it might!

Western medicine has maintained that cancer is an invasion of the body from inside by cells that have gone wild. Cancer cells are formed throughout life, but are normally detected and routinely destroyed by the immune system. Cancer will develop when this system fails. Treatment consists of efforts to remove or destroy cancerous cells through surgery, radiation or drugs.

Western medicine has relied heavily on technology, leading to some spectacular breakthroughs in disease control, most notably in the area of infectious disease and vaccines. For the most part, we are one-dimensional in that we attempt to find a single answer to the cause of the disease. We are continually looking for the one antibiotic to cure the infection, the one agent to cure cancer. In other words, we tend to look for that "magic bullet."

In contrast, Eastern medicine commonly referred to as alternative medicine relies on a more holistic approach in which the use of multi-therapies is the rule rather than the exception. Eastern medicine holds that disease, be it cancer, infection, or inflammation, results from a breakdown in the immune forces of the body and efforts are directed at stimulating the return of this energy/Qi.

Since the entire immune system is involved, a coordinated approach is needed in order to correct the disorder and put the body back in balance. Thus, it is common for Eastern medicine to involve the use of nutrition and nutritional supplements, herbs, stress reduction in the form of Qigong exercise, meditation, acupressure, or acupuncture. This global approach is reflected in traditional Chinese medicine.

There are answers to our fears, anxieties, frustrations and suffering. Just understanding the nature of cancer, and understanding why and how it developed within the body, will lift the emotional burden from life and make the years ahead much easier to face.

I have come up with the following thought so to back up my reasoning. I think they are powerful weapons of healing.

• Cancer does not mean you have to die. It means you have to take your life in your own hands and care for it.
• It is not possible for disease and health to co-exist in a body. If your total health is restored, your disease must disappear.
• Your body knows infinitely more about healing itself than any scientist, doctor or healing professional. Only your body knows what it needs for healing. For the secret remedy, look to your body not to the ignorance of the past, not to books, not to someone else's body or to remedies that were beneficial to, and effective for, somebody else. Don't succumb to treatment which destroys tumors, but does nothing to get rid of the causes or rebuild resistance, healing and health.
• Your body has the capacity to heal itself. Believe in your body's ability to replace sick and dying cells with healthy cells. This is healing.
• Free will is integral to human nature. Nothing can interfere or override this prerogative. If we don't want to take hold of our lives, no one can make us. Of course when what is required for health and joy in life is depleted, destroyed or blocked, we may not want to live. That is the problem.

The ideas I offer come from research into my personal experience, and my understanding of the world of the living cell. I believe that conquering cancer is achieved through enhancing immunity and resistance to disease while finding and eliminating all possible causes that may have created health problems.

Qigong is a way to access the energy of the universe and make it our own. It is a way to help our own internal energy flow smoothly and strongly throughout our bodies. It's a way to open our spiritual eyes to be able to see beyond what our physical eyes can perceive. It's an exchange on a deep and basic level of our inner being. With that exchange comes balance, harmony, composure of spirit, deepening of character, relaxing of mind and muscles, of being empty and full at the same time, of being attentive to detail, clear of vision, open hearted, soft yet strong, like water, like wind, like the heat of the sun, sensitive to changes in the energetic atmosphere, and openness to change, transformation and miracles.

This book Awaken the Dragon-Qi Cultivation Techniques will direct and guide you in proper techniques to help you become a master. I am not talking about a master of martial arts as this title is so loosely used by so many today, but as a "Master" of oneself. The word master generates a vision of powerful energy and the will to command. The word "Dragon" in the title is a representation of the vital force or energy within us all. This energy called Qi (Chi) or vital life force is in our bodies and makes up the entire universe and everything that exists within it. A genuine master of oneself utilizes techniques to cultivate/awaken and balance/harmonize the Qi/energy within their own mind, body and spirit. By harmonizing ones energy you will also find that the world around you becomes more balanced and in tune. Everyone has the potential to become a master of oneself, the million dollar question is whether or not one has the discipline or the will/command of ones body, mind and spirit to earn this title. To do so will generate soothing, healing energy beyond belief. It does not matter how much time you have on earth; rather it is what you do with this time that matters. It is up to every person to decide for him or herself what they will be willing to do to obtain the energy that they need and deserve in life. Every moment in our lives we have the opportunity to receive or lose vital Qi. Cultivating your Qi is a major factor in balancing the Yin and Yang within ourselves, and the universe that surrounds us. This book will explore several different Qi cultivation exercises that will help you the reader discover how to become a master of oneself. There are over 5000 Qigong energy cultivation exercises known today. This book will only cover my favorite techniques and exercises, which have worked efficiently for my teachers, my students and my self.

I hope that this book will get you started on the right path towards your development of better health and well-being. This book can be only a beginning for your practice. It is now up to you to experience the wonders of Qigong for yourself. The information in this book will enable you to lay a good foundation in the skills of energy development. I encourage you to seek our qualified instructors from which to learn.

This book is by no means the definitive answer in this grand journey, but it serves as a beginning for those who are searching for a starting point to better energy and health. The best time to begin is always today. Good luck in your journey to become a "Master", a master of oneself.

---

Catalogue Information

---

About Trafford Publishing:
Our books are manufactured one-at-a-time to fill individual orders -- part of an innovative process we invented, called "on-demand publishing." Authors and organizations from 120 countries are using Trafford for their publishing needs.
If you (or your company) wish to list a title for sale to the public, contact the nearest office or select "publishing offices" from our bookstore pages for details.

Canada • USA • UK • Republic of Ireland Contact Us URL http://www.trafford.com © 1995-2005 Trafford Publishing, a division of Trafford Holdings Ltd. Trafford's Privacy Policy: Client information will never be provided to anyone outside of Trafford and its subsidiaries except where required by law.