What is the 8 Brocades Qigong Exercise

What is the 8 Brocades (Ba Duan Jin) Qigong?

The Ba Duan Jin Qigong, translates The 8 Brocades Qigong, is one of the most popular Qigong practices dating back nearly 1000 years ago in the Song Dynasty in China. Qigong, pronounced “Chee Gong”, is an ancient form of exercise that incorporates mindful movement, meditation, and breathing practices.

The 8 brocades Qigong gets its name because the movements look smooth and silky, and is made with 8 pieces of exercises, each focusing on a different physical area and Qi meridians. It is a form of medical Qigong that belongs to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment, easy to learn and suitable for all age groups. Regular practice is believed to have but not limited to the following benefits:

Improved energy, vitality, bone density, strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, longevity, also a great practice for reducing blood pressure, cancer support, thyroid issues, back pain, arthritis, and more. Many people seek out this practice when they are dealing with Hashimoto’s disease, hyper, and hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, headaches, migraines, depression, and anxiety.

Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes prevention more than treatment in people’s health. A regular practice of Qigong will have gradual but sure positive effects on our health. There are many versions of Baduanjin out there. The version Erica leads you to practice is the traditional one that the Chinese government encouraged its people do to in Covid Lockdown.

8 Brocades Qigong movements

The movements of the 8 Brocades Qigong and functions

1. Two Hands support the Heaven, and balance the ‘Triple Burner’

This move is said to balance the "Triple Burner" or "Triple Heater’, regulate the Qi and Blood in the body, also reduce disorders in the shoulder and neck area.

2. Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Eagle

This move can stimulate the Du meridian and back points, regulate Qi in the Heart and Lung meridians, strengthen muscles and joints in the leg and arms, and correct bad up body posters.

3. Separate Heaven and Earth, and regulate the Spleen and Stomach

The stretch of the two arms in different directions massages the middle Jiao area, stimulates all the meridians in the front of body, as well as some meridians on the back, benefit the back and neck.

4. Wise Owl Gazes Backwards, and cure the ‘Five Labours and Seven Injuries’

Five Labours mean the damages from prolonged looking, lying, sitting, standing, running, which are related to Liver, Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Kidney. Seven Injuries mean damages caused by strong emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, worry, fear, shock, and pensiveness. The looking back movement stimulates the Dazhui acupoint and the series of back Shu points related to those vital organs hence treat the diseases.

5. Sway the Head and Shake the Tail, to reduce Heart Fire

This move stimulates the whole spine and nearby muscles from coccyx to neck, especially the Du meridian and Dazhui acupoint, hence can clear excess Heat from Heart Fire, and improve the function of the heart and lungs.

6. Two Hands reach the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys and Waist

This movement strengthens the spine, stimulates Du meridian and acupoints like Yangguan and Weizhong, benefiting reproductive and urinary system, strengthens Kidney and the waist.

7. Clench the Fists and Glare Fiercely (or Angrily)

This exercise is beneficial to Liver and eye health, also stimulates the three Yin and three Yang meridians on the arms and legs, improve the strength of the whole body.

8. Pounding on the heels to get rid of hundred illnesses

This move stimulates the 3 yin and 3 yang points on the lower part of body, the spine, exercises body balance, releases stress.

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Lotus Clinics of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

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