Micro-massage, verbalizations, and many other features generally found only in folk medicine these days are herein stored. Many methods include and depend on neck and head movements. This DVD is more of a general health routine, with emphasis on the eyes. Included are Ma Sifu's directions for pressing on acupuncture points. DVD #11331 is concerned with serious complaints; this DVD might be considered more of a preventative approach.

This series of eye strengthening exercises demonstrates a comprehensive routine of eye protection, directed specifically at diseases such as presbyopia. Specific pressure points on the body are demonstrated. One section offers self-massage on the arms and legs, another deals with specific conditions including cataracts and macular degeneration. The information in this presentation gives massage techniques and acupuncture points indicated on the body.

DVD#11333  8 Steps in Ma Litang’s Health Method
with Ma XuZhou
Chinese/English subtitled
58 minutes $15.95

This single DVD takes as its core material actions commonly used by martial artists and Daoist students: the simple act of walking. The approach in this case is not how far or how fast you walk, but the WAY in which you walk. Imitative patterns are found in the steps of the Crane, Alligator, Tiger, Dragon, Bear and others. The concept here is that if you can learn to get major benefits out of a simple act like walking, you will more easily make changes in your life unchallenged by prior habit. This may be particularly interesting to students of Xing Yi and its related branches.

DVD#11334  Tai Chi Health Keeping Technique
with Ma XuZhou
Chinese/English subtitled
61 & 42 minutes $27.95 

This DVD is almost the equivalent of a Qigong workout. Take the word "Opening" literally, as these simple but powerful exercises are designed to be a Qigong that opens the tendons and ligaments of the body. In this case, Qigong exercise is not completely different from western calisthenics. In other words, this series is probably the most like basic stretching and opening.

In this Double DVD Teacher Ma shows some of her famous father’s kung fu. This Tai Chi is specifically for health improvement, not martial arts. Needless to say, her form is solid and clear. She adds vocal practice to the main four movements of Yang Tai Chi. The first DVD takes us up to the Single Whip of the first section.

Tai Chi is not always the best choice for some people. Sometimes memory is a problem, or the student just doesn’t have the time to learn the whole set, or has only cramped quarters, or any number of other inconveniences; this routine requires only about five movements taken from the original form. The description of these moves is well done, with detailed instruction matched by a breakdown of martial concentration and spirit running beneath the practice.

DVD#11335 Health Method of Renewing the Marrow
with Ma XuZhou
Chinese/English subtitled
54 & 60 minutes $27.95 

This two disk set from Sifu Ma XuZhou covers pressing points on the body, plus exercise-style movements to regulate the flow of Qi and to express the shape of your intent. The first disk concentrates on points and pressure. You do not have to be a martial or Qigong instructor to practice these, but it is always a good idea to look at each component of a specific practice before guessing. The second disk takes in the entire body and has a number of standing postures and movements. Many of these circular exercises bring positive pressure to pre-determined parts of the body rendering some force throughout. Verbalizations also accompany these movements. Some exercises are performed seated. A big range of approaches is demonstrated on this two-disk set.

Keep in mind that many times the teacher uses Chinese medical locations, linking areas, such as the correspondence of the arm's motions with activity aimed at torso movement. These specifics are not mandatory and can be ignored at first. If you are interested in adding the more exact patterning of the acu-points, there are many reference books that can be consulted.

DVD#11336  Eight Formed Exercises for Middle Age
with Ma XuZhou
Chinese/English subtitled
60 minutes; $15.95 

With this ten minute a day version we come to the famous Ba Duan Jin in Sifu Ma’s version. The BDJ is a good form, especially, for martial practitioners. It combines a little strength, with a lot of postural control and clear intent.

The new Qigong flood on the market simplifies things a little too much. Superficial sources may inform you that Qigong practice is divided into Stillness (Qing) or Moving (Gong) flavors. But there is a big problem with trying to force Asian concepts into Western/Christian worldview, where many things are divided from one another. Rather than split apart, every single exercise is a combination of Yin and Yang. This interaction of static and dynamic exists in each and every Qigong, whether visible or not. Here we have such a series with static and dynamic actions intermixed and mutually supported. Simple martial-based movements are entwined with static postures.