Classes Archives: The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

These recordings are of the Embroidered Brocade Qigong classes. They begin with the basic, physical, movements before working with the Internal. We then go on to explore this Qigong at a deeper level than is possible in an individual course. This makes them an invaluable asset for practitioners.

Although having similar names, the Embroidered Brocade and the Eight Pieces [Sections] Brocade, also known as the Ba Duan Jin, are two entirely different Qigong sets. The Embroidered Brocade is a set of seven exercises. Namely: Folding Over, the Circle of Light, the Billowing Sail, the Sun and the Moon, the White Crane, the Snake, and the Taiji Walk.

The numerous benefits of these exercises includes: –

  • Stimulating the Qi flow in the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs.
  • Stimulating the Qi flow in the arm Yin and Yang meridians.
  • Opening Mingmen.
  • Opening Daizui. Daizui is located at Du Mai 14 and is also known as the Big Bone. This is the first thoracic vertebra and this is where Qi can very often get stuck.
  • These exercises also bring awareness of and help to build the skills of sinking the Qi while raising the Shen.

Practice of the Embroidered Brocade set takes between twenty and thirty minutes.

Qigong Aide Memoire. The Embroidered Brocade Qigong.
Qigong Aide Memoire. The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

I am often asked “What is Qigong?” That is a question that requires a long answer, as Qigong

has many facets.  I usually begin by explaining what Qigong isn’t. It is not what you see when you watch someone practicing Qigong. The movements that you see are only one of the many tools that are used to create an Internal movement. To consciously guide the Qi.

It has to be understood that the physical movements are just one of the many tools that are employed in Qigong. This is why it is impossible to learn by merely following a practitioner’s movements. By merely using visual observation there is no way of knowing whether or not they are practicing Qigong. They may well be doing a slow motion dance.

These classes cover all of the points of focus you need to be able to practice the Embroidered Brocade properly. They cover all the subtleties and nuances that are required within each exercise so that, with practice, you can start to experience the Internal changes that occur.

Qigong is a treasure that has been hidden for too long and I constantly see watered down versions and mimicry being passed off as the real thing. I know that there are excellent teachers out there who’s students are, as I was, extremely lucky. But they are in the minority and for most it is almost impossible to find someone to teach the true, Internal work of Qigong. I believe that it should be available to everyone and that is why I have put these classes and courses online.

The Embroidered Brocade archives

2023.08.15

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Introduction to using “broad brush” methods.
  • Folding Over. Stimulating the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Stimulating the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs and arms.
  • The Billowing Sail. Stimulating the Kidney meridian.
  • The (Golden) Circle of Light. Stimulating the Yin meridians of the arms.
  • The White Crane. Focusing on the physical movement of this exercise.
Book here

2023.08.22

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Folding Over. Stimulating the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs.
  • The (Golden) Circle of Light. Stimulating the Yin meridians of the arms.
  • The Billowing Sail. Stimulating the Kidney meridian.
  • The Snake. Stimulating the Yin meridians of the arms.
  • The White Crane. Focusing on the physical movement of this exercise.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Stimulating the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs and arms.
Book here

2023.09.05

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Folding Over. Stimulating the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Stimulating the Yin and Yang meridians of the legs and arms.
  • The Billowing Sail. Stimulating the Kidney meridian.
  • The (Golden) Circle of Light. Stimulating the Yin meridians of the arms.
  • The White Crane. Focusing on the physical movement of this exercise.
  • The Snake. Stimulating the Yin meridians of the arms.
  • The Taiji Walk. Alignment, centring and meditation.
Book here

2023.09.12

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • The full set.
  • Circulating the Qi in the Arm Yin and the Arm Yang.
Book here

2023.09.19

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Folding Over. Drawing awareness, in the torso and head, to the Yin and Yan meridians of the legs.
  • Differentiating between the Arm Yin and the Arm Yang.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Working with all 12 meridians.
  • The Billowing Sail. Internalizing the movement to work with our alignment between the heavens and the earth.
  • The White Crane. Using this movement with the focus on the Minor Chakras of Kidney 1 and Heart Governor 8.
  • The Golden Circle.
Book here

2023.09.26

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Folding Over. Awareness, in the torso and head, to the Yin and Yan meridians of the legs.
  • The Circle of Light. Working the Arm Yin.
  • The Billowing Sail. Internalizing the movement to work with our alignment between the heavens and the earth.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Working with all 12 meridians. Awareness of the Leg Yin, Arm Yin, Arm Yang and Leg Yang.
  • The Snake. Working with the Arm Yang meridians.
  • The White Crane. Using this movement with the focus on the Minor Chakras of Kidney 1 and Heart Governor 8. Expansion and contraction.
  • The Taiji Walk. 
Book here

2023.10.03

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin. Getting the method correct for opening the various Kua.
  • Folding Over. Awareness, in the torso and head, of the Yin and Yan meridians of the legs.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Working with all 12 meridians. Awareness of the Leg Yin, Arm Yin, Arm Yang and Leg Yang.
  • The Billowing Sail. Internalizing the movement to work with our alignment between the heavens and the earth.
  • The Circle of Light. Working the Arm Yin.
  • The White Crane. Co-ordination of the breath and the guiding  of the Qi during the exhalation.
  • The Snake. Working with the Arm Yang meridians.
Book here

2023.10.10

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • The White Crane. Co-ordination of the breath and the separation of the foot.
  • The White Crane. Changing the Internalization in order to experience  differences.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Working with the Leg Yin, Arm Yin, Arm Yang and Leg Yang. Listening to each triad.
  • Folding Over. Working with the Leg Yang meridians. Awareness in the torso and head.
  • Folding Over. Working with the Leg Yin & Yang meridians. Awareness of the different qualities.
  • The Circle of Light. Working the Arm Yin.
  • The Billowing Sail. Internalizing the movement to Kidney meridian.
  • The Snake. Working with the Arm Yang meridians.
  • The Taiji Walk. Grounding and centring.
Book here

2023.10.17

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • The Taiji Walk. Alignment, rooting and sinking.
  • Folding Over. Working with the Leg Yang meridians. Awareness in the torso and head.
  • Hand postures.
  • The Circle of Light. Attention to the use of the Hip Kua. Working the Arm Yin.
  • The Billowing Sail. Internalizing the movement and working with Kidney meridian.
  • The Snake. Working with the Arm Yang meridians.
  • The White Crane. Attention to the use of the Hip Kua. Co-ordination of the breath and the separation of the foot.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Working with the Leg Yin, Arm Yin, Arm Yang and Leg Yang. Listening to the Qi movement.
  • Folding Over.
Book here

2023.10.24

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Q&A: Direction of Qi flow in the meridians.
  • The White Crane. Attention to the use of the Hip Kua to “empty” the front foot. Co-ordination of the breath and movement.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Focusing on the Leg Yin, Arm Yin, Arm Yang and Leg Yang. Listening to and enhancing the movement of the Qi.
  • The Billowing Sail. Internalizing the movement and working with Kidney meridian.
  • The Circle of Light. Relaxing down into posture. “Heavy elbows” and keeping the shoulders relaxed.
  • Folding Over. Working with the Leg Yang meridians. Awareness of the Qi flowing in the torso and the head.
  • The Snake. Working with the Arm Yang meridians. Weight distribution.
  • The Taiji Walk. Alignment, rooting and sinking. Your connection to the heavens and the earth. 
Book here

2023.10.31

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Q&A: Use of the Hip Kua during The Billowing Sail.
  • Folding Over. Awareness of the Qi in the torso (Yin and Yang) and the head (Yang).
  • The Circle of Light. Relaxing down into posture and using “heavy elbows”. Awareness of the Arm Yin.
  • The Billowing Sail. Working with the Kua & alignment. Internalizing the flow to Kd 27, or Mingmen.
  • The Snake. Using “heavy elbows”. Awareness of the Qi moving around the face and head.
  • The Sun and the Moon. Increasing the focus. Guiding & listening. Building awareness.
  • The White Crane. Using the movement at the Hip Kua to “empty” the front foot. Awareness of HG8 and the expansion of the Qi.
Book here

2023.11.07

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Q&A: Why do the Yin meridians sometimes feel warmer than the Yang?
  • Q&A: I am unstable during the Taiji Walk. Is there a way of dealing with this?
  • Q&A: Why am I not feeling anything at the Heart Chakra during The Sun and the Moon?
  • The Sun and the Moon: Enhancing the connection between the three Chakras and why we do this. Increasing the focus and awareness in all the meridians.
  • The Taiji Walk: Settling the body and the Yi. Connecting the heavens and the earth, creating that quiet space so that the Qi becomes more apparent.
  • The Billowing Sail: Alignment, connecting the heavens and the earth, once again creating that quiet space.
  • The Snake: Getting into proper stance. Creating quiet and listening to the Qi moving around the face and head.
  • Focus and awareness: Switching between the Arm Yin and the Arm Yang meridians.
  • Folding Over: Awareness of the Qi in the torso (Yin and Yang) and the head (Yang). 
Book here

2023.11.14

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Folding Over. Awareness of the Qi in the legs (Yin and Yang) and the head (Yang).
  • The Sun and the Moon: Increasing the focus and awareness in the Leg meridians.
  • The Billowing Sail: Sinking and rooting, not pushing.
  • The Taiji Walk: Settling the body and the Yi. Connecting the heavens, the Dantien and the earth, discovering Wuji. Working with the full length of Kidney meridian.
  • The Circle of Light: Working with the Arm Yin. Awareness of the difference in the Qi in the fingers, hands and forearms.
Book here

2023.11.21

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • The Circle of Light: Working with the Arm Yin.
  • The Snake: Working with the Arm Yang.
  • Listening to the difference between the Arm Yin and the Arm Yang.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Working with the Leg Yin, the Arm Yin, the Arm Yang and the Leg Yang.
  • Folding Over. Awareness of the Qi in the legs, torso and head (Yin and Yang).
  • The Billowing Sail: Getting into proper posture. Sinking and rooting, not pushing.
  • The Taiji Walk: Settling the body and the Yi. Connecting the heavens, the Dantien and the earth, refining Wuji.
Book here

2023.11.28

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Qs&As: Direction of the Qi flow in these exercises.
  • The Billowing Sail: Working with the full length of Kidney meridian.
  • The Billowing Sail: Working with Kidney meridian from Kd 1 to Mingmen and the Kidney Shu points.
  • The Circle of Light: Working with two different directions of flow.
  • The White Crane: Co-ordination of the breath and movement. Qi flow along Chong Mai.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Working with the Leg Yin, the Arm Yin, the Arm Yang and the Leg Yang.
Book here

2023.12.05

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Awareness of the Qi flow.
  • Folding Over: Overall awareness of the Leg Yin and the Leg Yang in the torso as well as the legs.
  • Folding Over: Listening to and following the Qi in a particular meridian.
  • The Circle of Light: Overall awareness of the Arm Yin meridians.
  • The Circle of Light: Listening to and following the Qi in a particular meridian.
  • The Billowing Sail: The experience of connecting, through the Bubbling Spring, to the earth.
  • Wuji (the Taiji Walk): The experience of connecting, through the Bubbling Spring, to the earth and through the Hundred Meetings, to the heavens.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Listening to the Qi in all of the meridians.
Book here

2023.12.12

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • The Circle of Light: As an Active Qigong, using a broad brush, working with all of the Arm Yin meridians.
  • The Circle of Light: As a Passive Qigong, circulating the Qi in all of the Arm Yin meridians.
  • The Circle of Light: As a Passive Qigong, circulating the Qi in individual Arm Yin meridians.
  • The Snake: As an Active Qigong, using a broad brush, working with all of the Arm Yang meridians.
  • The Snake: As a Passive Qigong, circulating the Qi in all of the Arm Yang meridians.
  • The Snake: As a Passive Qigong, circulating the Qi in individual Arm Yang meridians.
  • Folding Over: Increasing the awareness of the Leg Yin and Leg Yang meridians in the torso and head.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Increasing the awareness of the Leg Yin and Leg Yang meridians in the torso and head.
Book here

2023.12.19

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Folding Over: Increasing the awareness of the Leg Yin and Leg Yang meridians in the torso and head.
  • The Circle of Light: As an Active Qigong, using a broad brush, working with all of the Arm Yin meridians. Then building awareness of the individual meridians.
  • The Billowing Sail: Using the full length of Kidney meridian.
  • The Snake: As an Active Qigong, using a broad brush, working with all of the Arm Yang meridians. Then building awareness of the individual meridians.
  • The White Crane: Awareness and refinement of structure. Awareness of the Qi above and below.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Increasing the awareness of the Leg Yin and Leg Yang meridians in the torso and head.
  • The Taiji Walk: Actually just staying in Wuji and listening.
  • Folding Over: Listening for a second time and appreciating the changes.
Book here

2024.01.09

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Folding Over: Projecting and guiding. Awareness of the Yin meridians from the torso to the feet. Awareness of the Yang meridians from the head to the feet.
  • The Circle of Light: Awareness of the three Arm Yin, in the fingers. Awareness of direction of flow. Comparing them.
  • The Billowing Sail: Sinking, proper alignment achieved by using the Hip Kua. Using the Qigong  to refresh Kidney Qi.
  • Awareness of KD 1 & KD 27, comparing them and toting the underlying patterns.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Honing the focus and increasing the awareness of the Leg Yin and Leg Yang meridians throughout the body.
  • Awareness of how one quality of your (overall) Qi changes from below the feet to above the head.
  • The White Crane: Awareness and refinement of structure. Awareness of the Qi in Chong Mai and up through the Hundred Meetings.
Book here

2024.01.16

The Embroidered Brocade Qigong

  • Daoyin.
  • Folding Over: Projecting and guiding. Awareness of the Leg Yin and Leg Yang meridians.
  • The Snake: working with the Arm Yang.
  • The Billowing Sail: Proper posture and alignment. Connecting to the heavens and to the earth.
  • The Sun and the Moon: Increasing the awareness of  all 12 meridians throughout the body.
  • The White Crane: Awareness and refinement of structure. Extending above and below.
  • The Taiji Walk: Walking Internally. Attention to the changes throughout the body.
  • The Circle of Light: Awareness of the three Arm Yin, in the fingers. Awareness the connection to the heavens and the earth. Awareness of the origins (in the torso) of these meridians.
  • The Taiji Walk: Once again, walking Internally. Attention to the changes throughout the body.
  • Folding Over:
Book here