This book addresses a focused type of interest directed at the health and longevity of the apparently fit and healthy as well as those who need to increase their health and vitality.
     This system of Taoist exercises will create an inner fitness in addition to the Western ideal of physical and muscular fitness.
     The blood, bones and organs are also important elements in the overall fitness of the body and these exercises will enable the body to rejuvenate its blood, bones and nervous system.
     Mantak Chia is founder of the Universal Healing Tao System. He has studied under Taoist masters and is a prolific writer of books on health through the Tao.
     In the initial pages he warns beginners that this book contains exercises that need supervised training with a qualified teacher and the reader should not try them without proper supervision.
     He also recommends that those wishing to undertake these very powerful exercises should not use them as a substitute for their existing health care, but consult their health practitioner before starting.
     He admits that there are many tools to health, longevity and spiritual enlightenment and that Bone Marrow Nei Kung is but “a finger pointing the way.” Practitioners will ultimately be taking responsibility for their own health and well-being.
     Bone Marrow Nei Kung is an extension of Mantak Chia’sIron Shirt Chi Kung.
He organises the material in a very straightforward way that allows the reader to proceed through the history, philosophy and elements of this practice easily. The focus is on the regeneration of the blood-producing red marrow of the bones, which enhances the sources of Chi – or universal energy – within the body.
     In the introduction the five elements of Bone Marrow Nei Kung are explained, and then a chapter is devoted to each of these five elements and the exercises that serve the elements, with drawings to illustrate them.
     The elements include breathing from external sources; drawing in and circulating sexual energy through the body; compressing the combined energies into the bones to eliminate fat; vibrating the bones to open their pores for energy absorption, and enhancing the nervous and lymphatic systems while detoxifying the skin. (The reader will by now realise this system definitely requires the supervision of a qualified teacher.)
     The exercises follow and serve the five elements. Those five elements are: Bone Breathing, Bone Compression, Sexual Energy Massage, Hitting Bones Number One, Hitting Bones Number Two, and Chi Weight Lifting. It becomes apparent that the student already needs to have mastered four related practices. These are the Inner Smile & Cosmic Orbit Meditations, Healing Love Practice; Iron Shirt Chi Kung, and the Six Healing Sounds. Instructions for these are found as appendices.
     This work clearly is a more advanced practice in the system of Universal Tao.
     An understanding of the basic system would be a decided advantage if the reader is contemplating trying this practice.
     It is a fascinating concept of increasing longevity and vitality by generating Chi and compressing it into the bones and organs to rejuvenate the blood and nervous system.
     The use of exercises for the sexual organs is somewhat jarring for the uninitiated but fits in with the holistic nature of Taoist systems where no part of the being is neglected be it body, mind or spirit. The style is didactic, but accessible.
     I would recommend this book to someone who is already practising Chi Kung. For students of health and fitness systems, there will be a high level of interest.
     Even if you are just interested in
living longer and living healthier (and who isn’t?), this system will fascinate you.
     A word to the wise – find a teacher…