Gregory Pergament - Chi Kung in Recovery: Finding Your Way to a Balanced and Centered Recovery

Praise for Chi Kung in Recovery

Gregs dynamic presentation of Chi Kung has become an integral aspect of our recovery model at Central Recovery Treatment in Las Vegas. I am very excited to have the material available in such a user friendly format as his book. Chi Kung in Recovery will be an important resource for anyone wishing to learn about Chi Kung and practice this ancient art. Greg is a master teacher!

Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM

Medical Director, Las Vegas Recovery Center

Many people dont realize that the treasure of Chi Kung was almost lost due to political cleansing and past masters keeping methods secret. Kudos and much thanks to Greg Pergament for keeping a tradition that has been around for hundreds of years alive and captured in print. Chi Kung in Recovery is a practical and easy to understand book for anyone who is looking for alternative methods to help them through the crazy struggles of life.

Dashi Steven Baugh

Founder, Director, Master Instructor, and Pastoral Spiritual Counselor Lohan School of Shaolin

As an insight meditation teacher and ardent Chi Kung practitioner, I am particularly pleased that Greg has masterfully woven the arts of recovery, Chi Kung, and mindfulness into one inspiring book. I hope many people will take the opportunity to benefit from its healing practices.

Heather Sundberg

Certified Insight Meditation Teacher and Dharma Leader

This book brilliantly outlines the basics of Chi Kung for anyone who wants to help themselves. The pictures are hugely helpful and make the exercises easy to follow. Even if you are not able to stand up or move around yet, you can read this guide and study the pictures, imagining yourself doing the exercises and following the principles it outlines. These exercises helped me walk again against all odds and doctors prognoses. Whether you are struggling with injury, illness, pain, or addiction, or just looking to be healthier and more connected to your body, mind, and spirit, this is a great guide to have. Give yourself the gift of self-healing. You will love the results and how you feel!

Arapata McKay

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Lakota Sundancer

Chi Kung in Recovery offers powerful tools for both spiritual and physical healing. Greg Pergament is a talented writer, a gifted teacher, and an inspiring guide on the recovery journey. His book is a vital addition to contemporary recovery literature.

Kevin Griffin

Author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps and A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery

CHI KUNG IN RECOVERY

Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics, including original and quality books, audio/visual communications, and web-based new media. Through a diverse selection of titles, we seek to contribute a broad range of unique resources for professionals, recovering individuals and their families, and the general public.

For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.

2013 by Gregory S. Pergament

All rights reserved. Published 2013.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

18 17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5

ISBN: 978-1-937612-42-9 (e-book)

Cover and interior design by Sara Streifel, Think Creative Design

Illustrations by Gabby Gamboa

I dedicate this book

to the elimination of suffering

in all beings

without exception

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I am a recovering addict, and I am a Tai Chi and Chi Kung practitioner and teachertwo paths that did not cross easily or simultaneously. Addiction, in all its blinding ferocity, brought me to my knees numerous times and finally to recovery some twenty-five years ago. Chi Kung didnt enter my life until another seven years later, through the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. I believe that twelve-step programs are marvelously effective at nurturing shattered lives into spiritual wholeness. The steps carefully lead the mind and the spirit into the process of recovery. However, twelve-step recovery rarely, if ever, mentions and does not address physical recovery from our disease, outside of the initial detoxification process. After all, the disease of addiction affects us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Our energy or chi is primarily a physical attribute. There are few lifestyles I can think of that do more to deplete and dissipate our chi than active addiction. It is my hope that this book and the regular practice of Chi Kung will help restore your body to a harmonious state and expedite the healing process so that you can get on with the business of living, not dying.

I do have one caveat. Chi Kung is meant to be an enhancement to your recovery, not a substitute for it. There are no shortcuts. To recover from the disease of addiction we must work the steps, attend meetings, get and use a sponsor and, above all, stay clean from all mind-or mood-altering substances. This is my belief and the belief of thousands of my predecessors in twelve-step programs for whom recovery from active addiction became a reality.

First and foremost I would like to thank Dashi Steven Baugh, founder and master of the Lohan School of Shaolin in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dashi Steve has been my Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung teacher and spiritual advisor since 1997. His dedication and determination inspired me to become the practitioner and teacher I am today.

I would also like to thank Tom and Darna Frank, my close friends and spiritual advisors. They have constantly encouraged me to see through the smoke and mirrors of everyday life and to focus on my vision.

I would like to send a great big spiritual hug to Pujari and Abhilasha for providing a safe and beautiful haven for me to recharge my spirit. Their gentle, yet resolute teachings have shown me what is important to value in life.

A great big hug to Kevin Griffin and Heather Sundberg, two of my teachers who have been the inspiration for my work in the very rich territory of Buddhism and the Twelve Steps.