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Early
History of The Chi Machine
The motion which is created by a
sideways oscillation of the pelvis has been known to be beneficial in
Japan for almost 100 years, if not longer. This exercise form is popularly
known in Japan as kingyo undo - or goldfish exercise– and our
research has identified a man named Seigo Nishi as the originator of this
practice as early as 1927.
Mr Nishi created a series
of exercises as part of an overall approach to healthcare that emphasized
self-help. Mr Nishi saw that maintaining good health was something that
individuals should practice for themselves, rather than depending upon
others, and he set about providing a framework for achieving this that was
called Nishi-shiki.
One of the key principles he taught was
goldfish exercise and it
seems that his background as a Civil Engineer helped form his ideas (he
was in charge of building the Tokyo Subway or underground rail system). He
observed that humans are alone in the animal kingdom in being erect, and
that this has placed a lot of unique strains on our spine, having lost the
benefit of having four legs.
Many other Japanese healthcare practitioners realised that
various health benefits are stimulated by creating a pulsing motion in the
pelvic region. This can be achieved by a therapist swinging the legs of
the patient manually (as they do, for example, in Shiatsu), as well as
self-applied techniques such as the Nishi-shiki method.
Birth of the First Chi Machine
One of Seigo Nishi’s followers was Dr Shizuo Inoue, who acted
as his secretary from 1948, and then took over his health clinic in 1959.
He had a particular interest in efficient utilization of oxygen in the
human body, and became Chairman of Japan's Oxygen Health Association.
In the late 1980s Dr
Inoue communicated the idea of goldfish exercise to a Japanese company
called Skylite Ind. Co. Ltd, and one of their engineers, Keiichi Ohashi,
worked on a series of inventions, starting in 1988, that led to the launch
of the first Chi Machine in 1990.
The machine was then registered
in Japan as a remedial medical device. Patents were granted in Japan and
USA – for more details see patents & designs.
The machine was marketed in Japan by Skylite Ind. Co. Ltd
(under another name), but they sold the marketing rights outside of Japan
to Hsin Ten Enterprise Co. Ltd. of Taiwan. This company marketed it in
many countries under the brand name Sun Ancon or “Sun Harmony”, and later
(around 1999) started to use the Trade Mark “The Chi Machine®”
in the West.
Since 1990, over one million original
Chi Machines have been sold worldwide. The Chi Machine gained a tremendous
reputation for its solid construction and outstanding benefits. It also
proved very easy to use, providing results without stress or injury to the
body.
There is growing recognition in
Western medicine of Eastern traditions that speak of life force energy
flowing in channels through all living beings. Acupuncture and similar
therapies are often adopted by western practitioners to invigorate the Chi
with a view to enhancing health.
Since the invention of the Chi
Machine, there have been other manufacturers who have decided to make
similar devices at a much lower cost. The goal was the same: to provide
oscillating motion and enhance the Chi in the body. The difference of
these later versions of Chi devices was that many allow control of the
speed of the lateral movement while the original Chi Machine was designed
only to have one speed.
When the human body is
lying flat on a bed, the neck and waist are at a higher elevation than the
rest of the body. We can observe from the human anatomy that only the
concave parts, like the neck and waist, can rotate. The thicker parts
cannot. It is comparable to the thinness of an axle relative to a wheel.
Anyone who has used a Chi device understands that when your feet are
slightly elevated on the device, the swinging is from left to right, from
foot to waist, from chest to cervical vertebra—your head, even the spinal
cord and muscles. Chi devices induce motion in the two major pivot points
similar to the motion of a fish swimming in water. Dr. Inoue called the
action of his machine the "goldfish method" inspired by goldfish swimming
in water. Why? When you see a goldfish swimming, you notice that the
gentle undulation of its tail brings movement to the spinal cord and
muscles. Thus, Chi health devices bring into full play the movement orbits
of human anatomy.
Chi health devices' ability,
through this motion, to enhance oxygenation, toning and strength of the
body increases the feeling of aliveness and well-being—that is, raises the
chi of life force—in the bodies of those who use a machine on a daily
basis.
"My research has convinced me" said
Dr. Inoue, "that lack of oxygen is the root of most or perhaps even all
disease."
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