Silk Exercises Class – 2023.05.31

The Silk Exercises Qigong

• Ba Duan Jin: Raise the Heels. External and Internal movement. Also looking at the Ten Fundamental Treasures version.
• Ba Duan Jin: Lifting the Sky. Focusing on proper structure to enable awareness of the Internal movement.
• Ba Duan Jin: Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle. Co-ordination with the breath. Using the Kua for stepping. Meridians and points being used.
• Ba Duan Jin: Holding up a Single Hand. Listening to the effect that this Qigong is having on Stomach and Spleen.
• Ba Duan Jin: The Wise Owl Looks Backward. Internalising the movement.
• Ba Duan Jin: Sway the Head and Shake the Tail. Working with the Kua to benefit all of your Qigong.

The term “Silk Exercises” is translated from Ba Duan Jin and literally means “the Eight Section Brocade”. Over the millennia, the original exercises have developed with the Internal focus changing as Masters explored their potential. This has led to a number of variations of the Ba Duan Jin being taught.

In these classes we will be working with the Ba Duan Jin and the Ten Fundamental Treasures. We will also be looking at how the exercises have developed by introducing the four sets of the Silk Exercises, each of which is made up of eight movements that share the same name. The complexity of the Internal movements increases as you progress through the sets. The first three sets are performed in a standing posture and the last is performed seated.