Shake the back 7 times to eliminate the 100 illnesses. The 8 Brocades / Taoist Yoga Part 8 of 8

This 800-year old exercise, which the ancients likened to beautiful brocade, consists of eight sections, is very popular among the Chinese people. Each section can be practiced on its own and each targets a specific organ or health need. The whole set of movements are fine and delicate with moderate intensity. It is like yoga, but is performed in a standing position and does not require much space or a yoga mat. The 8 brocades are also known as the silk brocades because of the very slow and flowing movements. I have been practicing the 8 brocades regularly for several years, and have found it to be one of my great pillars that keep me physically, mentally and emotionally in balance.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION

You exhale and fold down just curling the chin, rolling down just as far as feels comfortable. You don't have to go as far as I've gone down.

Then inhale and roll up, tail-bone down, belly strong, open back in to a little back-bend.

Exhale come up, lift the heels up and down and shake the body.

Again repeat, curl forwards and down, rolling towards the ground. Bend the knees here as much as feels comfortable.

Then inhale, roll your way back up. Keep rolling up and back. tail-bone moves forwards and down. Be careful not to compress anywhere in the lower back.

And then exhale come up, and a little on the heels, just to shake and settle the chi. If you think about when you pour flour into a jar, you kind of shake it around to let it settle. This is the idea that were working with here, having done some practices that regulate and balance the chi, you also want that chi to settle and find just a streamlined presence in the body.

Exhale back up, then a little jolt, a little shake of the heels.

A little shake at the end as you exhale is great for conditioning the chi, smoothing it out. This practice is overall, great for circulation, helps recover from fatigue, makes your body feel refreshed, your spirit feel refreshed. It's particularly active in the back bend aspect. So sometimes believed to help the kidneys, the urinary bladder, it conditions the liver and lungs.

We'll finish here again with a clearing, allowing the 100 illnesses, the Bai Bing, to be eliminated through our practice of Chi Gong. Sometimes also called the Dao Yin or Taoist Yoga.

We'll end with a standing meditation, women left hand over right, men right over left. The hands are placed over the dantien which is the energy center, a place where chi is planted, cultivated and harvested.

This ends the 8 brocades practice.

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It's called Sentosa By Alessandro Boschi

Credits:
With deep gratitude to Grand Master Chen Yong Fa (陳永發) for his teachings and dedication to Qi Gong. With great thanks to Mimi Kuo-Deemer for her inspiration for this video and her kind permission to use her words.

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WATCH PART 1

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