Taiji Shibashi Class Archives from 2022 & 2023

These archived recordings of the Taiji Shibashi classes taken from our live (streamed) classes and can also be used as a follow up to the on-demand Taiji Shibashi course.

These classes are suitable for beginners and intermediate practitioners of Qigong.

The content that is listed for each lesson only overs the exercises practiced during the lesson. It does not include all of the advice and guidance that is given.

All too often these wonderful Qigong are taught as physical exercises with know real mention of the Internal workings. What does that mean? It means the movement of the Qi, your life energy. That is what Qigong is all about! Qigong is the art, the skill, of working with Qi and without the Qi there is no Qigong. So, if your only experience of these exercises has been a physical one be prepared for a few surprises.

The benefits of the Shibashi Qigong are numerous, sometimes too numerous as claims are sometimes made that don’t hold water. Those benefits may well be found after a very long period of practice, or over a shorter period if the appropriate exercise is practiced. However, that practice must be accurate.

In these lessons, Des Lawton guides you through every aspect of these Qigong: –

• The basic physical movements and postures.
• The Dantien (abdominal) respiration.
• Where you should be focusing the Qi (What points and what meridians).
• How to become aware of the movement of the Qi throughout the entire body (energy body).
• What the health benefits are for individual exercises.
• How to get the most from your Qigong

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.04.19

• Qigong preparation.
• Pushing to the Diagonals (Horse Riding Stance) as a Fire Qigong.
• Listening to Heart Governor 8 while sinking the Qi.
• Pushing to the Diagonals (Wuji Stance) as a Fire Qigong and having awareness of the changes in the Qi.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders: Awareness of the increase in Qi (Heart Governor 8) as the sinking increases.
• The diagonal dynamic.
• Playing with Waves: Listening to the diagonal substantiality.
• Spinning Wheels: Listening to the diagonal substantiality.
• The Flying Dove: Metal. Using Large Intestine as well as Lung.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.04.26

• Qigong preparation.
• Reprise of Wuji.
• The mechanics of Folding and sinking in Wuji stance.
• Folding and sinking – Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders.
• The mechanics of Folding and sinking in Horse Riding stance.
• Folding and sinking – Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• The methods of Folding and sinking in Front stance.
• Heel/toe method – Playing With Waves.
• Feet flat method – The Flying Dove.
• A Kua exercise – The Flying Goose.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.05.03

• Qigong preparation.
• Horse Riding Stance.
• Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• Twisting the Waist and Pushing the Palms.
• The Commencement.
• Broaden the Chest.
• Painting Rainbows.
• Circle the hands to Part the Clouds.
• Pushing to the Diagonals (as a Secondary Fire Qigong)
• Rowing a Boat in the Middle of a Lake.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders.
• Turn to Gaze at the Moon (as a Primary Fire Qigong).
• Playing with Waves.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.05.10

• Qigong preparation.
• Q&A regarding seated Qigong.
• Wuji: Folding, sinking (Qi) & rooting (weight).
• Pushing to the Diagonals (as a Metal Qigong).
• Pushing to the Diagonals (as a Secondary Fire Qigong).
• Comparing the qualities of the Qi you have been working with.
• The Flying Dove (working with Lung meridian).
• The Flying Dove (working with Lung & Large Intestine meridian).
• The Commencement.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.05.17

• Qigong preparation.
• Focus on the meridians and points.
• Commencement – Water.
• Broaden the Chest – Lu, then Lu & LI.
• Painting Rainbows – importance of proper posture.
• Circle the Hands – Ht 1 to 9, then Ht & SI 1 to 19.
• Pushing to the Diagonal – Metal, then Secondary Fire.
• Rowing a Boat – Water, then Metal (LI Shu points).
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder – Secondary Fire.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.05.31

• Qigong preparation.
• Using particular Qigong to balance the Five Elements.
• Using the Nurturing Cycle.
• Primary Fire: Turn to Gaze at the Moon.
• Secondary Fire: Turn to Gaze at the Moon.
• Earth: Twisting the Waist and Pushing the Palms.
• Metal: The Flying Dove.
• Raising the Shen and sinking the Qi.
• Water: The Commencement.
• Wood: Painting Rainbows.
• Using the breath as part of any Qigong.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.06.07

Using the Controlling Cycle to balance the Five Elements.

• Qigong preparation.
• Primary Fire: Circle the Arms to Part the Clouds.
• Secondary Fire: Turn to Gaze at the Moon.
• Metal: Broadening the Chest.
• Wood: Painting Rainbows.
• Earth: Waving Hands Like Clouds.
• Water: Scooping From the Sea to View the Sky.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.06.21

Focusing on where the focus should be in each exercise

• Qigong preparation.
• Commencement – Water.
• Broadening the Chest – Metal.
• Painting Rainbows – Wood.
• Circle the Hands – Primary Fire.
• Pushing to the Diagonal – Metal.
• Rowing a Boat – Water.
• Holding a Ball – Secondary Fire.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.06.28

• Qigong preparation.
• Folding at the Kua.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon.
• Twisting the Waist and Pushing the Palms.
• Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• Playing with Waves.
• The Flying Dove.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.07.05

• Qigong preparation.
• Q&A – Rowing a Boat.
• Using Rowing a Boat as a Water Qigong.
• Using Rowing a Boat as an Earth Qigong.
• Pushing the Palms and Twisting the Waist.
• Waving Hands Like Clouds.
• Q&A – Weight transition in front stance.
• Playing with Waves – weight transition.
• The Flying Dove – weight transition.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.07.12

Dealing with an overactive brain

• Qigong preparation.
• Abdominal breathing.

Pressing Palms in Calmness for:

• The Shen – consciousness.
• Yi – the brain

Five Elements use:

• Water to control Fire.
• Wood to control Earth.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.07.19

• Qigong preparation.
• Working with the structure of Wuji.
• Working with the structure and method of Folding and opening the Hip Kua.
• Painting Rainbows.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder.
• Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• Pushing to the Diagonals.

Water Qigong – alternate focus.

• Playing with Waves.
• Scooping from the Sea to View the Sky.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.07.26

Working with Fire

• Qigong preparation.
• Circle the Hands to Part the Clouds – Ht, then Ht & SI.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders – HG, then HG & TW.
• Listening to the difference between HG & TW.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – HG, then HG & TW.
• Listening to the difference between HG & TW.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Ht, then Ht & SI.
• Listening to the difference between Ht & SI.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.08.02

Dealing with excessive Fire

• Qigong preparation.
• Circle the Hands to Part the Clouds – adding Water to control Fire.
• The Commencement – using Water to Control Fire.

Exercises beneficial for the Kua

• Flying Goose.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder.
• Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• Rowing a Boat – variations.
• Scooping From the Sea to View the Sky.
• Playing With Waves.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.08.09

By request of students:

• Qigong preparation.
• The entire set (except Pressing Palms as we ran out of time).

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.08.16

Qigong for anxiety, troubled mind, worry.

• Qigong preparation.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness – Shen.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness – Yi.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder – Stress/hypertension.
• Pushing Palms and Twisting the Waist – Spleen feeding.
• Wave Hands Like Clouds – Restless, not feeing “at home”.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.08.23

Question asked about Qigong for perimenopause and menopause

• Qigong preparation.
• The Commencement.
• Playing with Waves.
• Scooping from the Sea to View the Sky.
• Circle the Hands to Part the Clouds.
• Off piste: Qigong for cleansing the aura.

Working with Secondary Fire

• Pushing to the Diagonals.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.08.30

Qigong preparation.

The entire set (by popular request).

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.09.06

Seasonal Qigong – transition from Late Summer to Autumn.

• Qigong preparation.
• Earth – Pushing Palms and Twisting the Waist.
• Earth – Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• Metal – Broadening the Chest.
• Metal – The Flying Dove.

Other Shibashi

• Scooping From the Sea to View the Sky – Three different direction of guidance.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder – Secondary Fire.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Secondary Fire.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Primary Fire.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.09.13

Autumn Qigong using a three Element regime

• Qigong preparation.
• Water – The Commencement.
• Earth – Pushing Palms and Twisting the Waist.
• Metal – The Flying Dove.

Other Shibashi

• The Flying Goose – working with the Kua.
• Spinning Wheels – working with the substantial & insubstantial.
• Awareness of the substantial & insubstantial.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.09.20

Dealing with poor sleep patterns

• Qigong preparation.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Secondary Fire.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Primary Fire.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness – Shen.
• Circle the Arms to Part the Clouds.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness – Yi.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.09.27

• Qigong preparation.
• Method of opening and folding the Hip Kua in the Shibashi.
• Pushing the Palms and Twisting the Waist.
• Waving Hands Like Clouds.
• Playing With Waves.
• The Flying Dove.
• Scooping From the Sea to View the Sky.
• Punching with Outstretched Arms.
• The Flying Goose.
• Spinning Wheels.
• Bouncing a Ball with Steps.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness (Yi).

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.10.04

Metal

• Qigong preparation.
• Broaden the Chest.
• The Flying Dove.
• Punching with Outstretched Arms  (Metal & Wood)

Water

• Playing with Waves.
• Scooping from the Sea to View the Sky.

The Kua

• The Flying Goose.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.10.11

Transition in Shibashi stances – using the Hip Kua.

Painting Rainbows

• Qigong preparation.
• Broken down into upper and lower body movement.
• Broken down into the focus on particular points during the exercise.

The Flying Goose

• Lightness in movement.
• Removal of tension.
• Awareness of the Shoulder Nest Kua.

Pushing to the Diagonals

• Focus on the Kua.
• Practiced as a Secondary Fire Qigong.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.10.18

Working with the Five Elements – The Nurturing Cycle.

• Qigong preparation.
• Primary Fire – Circle the Hands to Part the Clouds
• Secondary Fire – Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulders.
• Earth – Pushing the Palms and Twisting the Waist.
• Metal – The Flying Dove.
• Water – Playing with Waves.
• Wood – Painting Rainbows.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.10.25

Shibashi – Working with the Five Elements
The Controlling  Cycle.

• Qigong preparation.
• Primary Fire – Turn to Gaze at the Moon
• Secondary Fire – Turn to Gaze at the Moon.
• Metal – Broaden the Chest.
• Wood – Punching with Outstretched Arms.
• Earth – Waving Hands Like Clouds.
• Water – Commencement.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.11.01

Qigong for Autumn

• Qigong preparation.
• The Flying Dove.
• Punching with Outstretched Arms (as a Metal Qigong).
• Broaden the Chest (using the Metal hand posture).

Various Shibashi

• Circle the Hands to Part the Clouds (Primary Fire).
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon (Secondary Fire).
• Bouncing a Ball with Steps (alignment and co-ordination).
• The Flying Goose (extending through the fingers).
• Spinning Wheels (diagonal dynamic).

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.11.08

• Qigong preparation.
• Synchronous Folding and Sinking.
• Substantial and Insubstantial.
• Spiral Qi flow in the legs.
• Passive spiralling of the Qi.
• Pressing through the feet without lifting the body.

• Pushing to the Diagonals.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness – Yi.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness – Shen.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.11.15

Changing the Element being worked with

• Qigong preparation.
• Pushing to the Diagonals – Metal.
• Pushing to the Diagonals – Secondary Fire.
• The Flying Dove – Metal.
• The Flying Dove – Wood.
• Changing awareness from Yin to Yang.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.11.22

Wuji vs Horse stance – no contest

• Qigong preparation.
• Using Pushing to the Diagonals.

Winter Qigong – Water KD & BL

• Scooping from the Sea to View the Sky: KD 1 to KD 27.
• Scooping from the Sea to View the Sky: KD 1 to the Gates of Vitality.
• The Commencement: KD 1 to KD27, then BL1 to BL67.
• Bouncing a Ball with Steps.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.11.29

Nurturing Cycle – Shibashi for Winter

• Qigong preparation.
• Wood – Painting Rainbows.
• Primary Fire – Circle the Arms to Part the Clouds.
• Secondary Fire – Pushing to the Diagonals.
• Earth – Twisting the Waist and Pushing the Palms.
• Metal –  The Flying Dove.
• Water – The Commencement.
• Water – Playing with Waves.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.12.06

Understanding the Shibashi

• Qigong preparation.
• Sinking the Qi and raising the Shen.
• Lowering and raising of the body.
• The start and end of each Qigong.

Examples

• The Commencement.
• Broadening the Chest.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder.
• The Flying Dove (the three levels of understanding).

Taiji Shibashi Class
2022.12.20

Q&A

• Qigong preparation.
• Hand/arm position in Wave Hands Like Clouds.

The Shibashi as a mixture of Active and Passive Qigong

• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder.
• The Commencement.
• Playing With Waves.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Secondary Fire.
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon – Primary Fire.

Taiji Shibashi Class
2023.01.10

• Qigong preparation.
• The Commencement.
• Broaden the Chest (LU & LI).
• Painting Rainbows.
• Circle the Arms to Part the Clouds.
• Pushing to the Diagonals (Metal).
• Rowing a Boat.
• Holding a Ball in Front of the Shoulder (Secondary Fire).
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon (Secondary Fire).
• Turning to Gaze at the Moon (Primary Fire).
• Twisting the Waist and Pushing the Palms.
• Wave Hands Like Clouds.
• Scooping from the Sea to View the Sky.
• Playing with Waves.
• The Flying Dove (LU & LI).
• Punching with Outstretched Arms.
• The Flying Goose.
• Spinning Wheels.
• Bouncing a Ball with Steps.
• Pressing Palms in Calmness (Shen).

Taiji Shibashi Class
2023.01.17

• Qigong preparation.
• Correcting the stance in Painting Rainbows.
• Accurate focus in Pushing to the Diagonals (Metal).
• Accurate focus in Pushing to the Diagonals (Secondary Fire).
• Awareness of the Qi beyond the physical body.
• The Flying Dove as a Wood Qigong. Where the awareness should be.
• Sinking the Qi and raising the Shen. Head suspended, not lifted. Cervical and Spinal Kua opening.
• The Commencement – Active Qigong.
• The Commencement – Passive Qigong.