Silk Exercises Qigong Class – 2023.08.16

In this Silk Exercises Qigong class – Set 1

The full set – exploring what changes are being made to the Qi during these movements.

• • Hands Holding up the Sky. Awareness of the increase in the Internal as you move away from the external.

• • Archery. Coordination of breath and movement. Correct hand postures. Awareness of the increase in the Internal as you move away from the external.

• • Single Arm Lift. Moving from the external to the Internal. An example of development away from the branch that became the Ba Duan Jin and the Ten Fundamental Treasures.

• • Looking Backward.  Awareness of the increase in the Internal as you move away from the external. Noticing where this exercise is impacting on your Qi.

• • Head Shaking and Buttock Swaying. Physically working with the hips. Paying attention to the Internal.

• • Holding the Toes, moving from the external to the Internal. Where is the Qi most noticeable.

• • Heel Lifting, moving from the external to the Internal. The effect on the Hundred Meetings (Du Mai 20) and the Bubbling Spring (Kd 1).

The term “Silk Exercises Qigong” 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.

These recordings are of the Silk Exercises Qigong classes. These are Intermediate level classes and you will need to be familiar with the various stances used (Wuji stance and Horse Riding stance. Even so, we begin with the basic, physical, movements before working with the Internal. If you are unsure of the basics I recommend that you do the Qigong for Beginners course.