QIGONG IN A PARK: BA DUAN JIN, THE 8 BROCADES

The Ba Duan Jin, or Baduan Jin, or the 8 Brocades, or Eight Pieces of Brocade, is one of the most popular sets of Qigong forms. Ba means eight. Duan refers to the benefits of the exercise, but literally means holding or carrying. And Jin means silk.

While each form of the set affects different organs and meridians, the overall intention is to express with silken movements. Imagine the fascia, or connective tissue, or the Huang as it's referred to in Traditional Chinese Medicine; smooth silken material that can become crumbled, or thickened, or inflamed. We are smoothing this fine sheet of silk.

The 8 Brocades can be traced back to a culturally brilliant era in Chinese history, the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE).

What are the actual forms of the 8 Brocades?

1. TWO HANDS SUPPORT THE HEAVENS

Here, we nurture the Triple Heater Meridian, the body's thermostat. The shoulders and the circulatory system benefit from this form. It also balances our interactions. We may be stand-offish or aloof, we may be too friendly or enthusiastic, we may be needy. The key word is balance.

We encourage balance by reaching upwards and drawing down to our Dan Tian, our elixir field of Qi.

2. RAISING HANDS TO CONDITION STOMACH AND SPLEEN,

or SEPARATING HEAVEN AND EARTH

Stability and groundedness. The Stomach and Spleen are both organs associated with the Earth Element. When we are grounded on the earth we feel more stable, we don't feel the need to overthink, anxiety is relieved.

3. DRAWING THE BOW AND LETTING THE ARROW FLY

The liver, heart, and lungs benefit from this form. The sense organ associated with liver is the eye. Think about the art of archery. One sets their intention on the target by looking and aiming. Intention, or YI (pronounced "eee") comes from the heart or the "heart mind."

4. LOOKING BACK TO ELIMINATE 5 FATIGUES AND 7 ILLNESSES

or THE WISE OWL TURNS ITS HEAD TO ELIMINATE FATIGUE

This form relieves tension of the neck and shoulders. Early Taoists considered the head to be "the abode of the inner gods." Focusing on the head while looking back unlocks intuition, or "just knowing."

What are the 5 fatigues and the 7 illnesses? As of yet, I haven't found the definitive answer. I'll leave it up to your intuition to come up with the answer.

5. BENDING OVER, WAGGING THE TAIL TO CALM HEART-FIRE

or SWING THE HEAD AND TAIL TO ELIMINATE HEART-FIRE

The element associated with the heart is fire. If left unattended fire will become too active, too passionate, out of control. We may feel burnt out, we've got no more to give. In balance, we offer kindness and seek harmony.

On the physical level, if these hot summer days are too much, calming the fire will cool us down.

6. TWO HANDS CLIMB THE LEGS TO STRENGTHEN THE KIDNEYS

The Kidney and Urinary Bladder Meridians run along the legs. These are both water meridians. Kidneys house or Jing, our essence. We are born with our Jing, given to us by our parents. We carry it throughout our lives.

By connecting with our essence we are connecting with our origin, our sense of belonging. This provides us with inner strength and also inner peace. We feel comfortably at home.

7. PUNCHING WITH AN ANGRY GAZE TO INCREASE STRENGTH

Once again we use our eyes. Associated organ? The Liver. The Liver is the organ that controls anger. Anger can be healthy by providing drive to make positive change. Anger can be unhealthy, we act out because we want to cause pain. Why do we want to cause pain? Possibly because of our own pain that has not been expressed.

By concentrating our attention we can balance anger, thereby reducing stress.

8. SHAKE THE BACK 7 TIMES TO ELIMINATE THE ONE HUNDRED ILLNESSES

Think of a jar of flour. As you tap in on the counter, you settle the flour. As you lift onto your toes and then let your heels drop, you settle your Qi.

I also use this form to soften the soft tissues of the body, the Huang, by creating vibration. This vibration is also beneficial to the bones. Qi not only runs through the soft tissues but also through the skeletal system. The movement of Qi in the bones contributes to development of bone mass.

Many subtle interpretations of the 8 Brocades are practiced today. I will include a very informative video by Mimi Kuo Deemer, another two videos by Shi Heng Yi of the Shaolin Temple Europe, and yet another by Vivian Chao. AND, I've just found another video by Shi Yan Ming. I love these variations of the forms.

Each video is inspiring in different ways.

Enjoy.