| "Eight Simple Qigong Exercises For Health: The | | | | exercises, daily practice is recommended, and as |
| Eight Pieces of Brocade" with Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming | | | | Dr. Yang suggests, you will get to a point where |
| is an exceptional basic qigong program. This | | | | you perform the exercises for more repetitions |
| program, known as Ba Duan Jin in China, has been | | | | that he illustrates, making your routine longer. |
| practiced for over 1,000 years. | | | | I liked that this DVD program provides both a |
| There are many different forms of qigong and | | | | sitting and standing set of Qigong exercises. This |
| quite a variety of different qigong exercises. | | | | not only give variety, but provides an easier way |
| Those provided in this program are different from | | | | for some people to begin and benefit from such |
| those I learned while living and training in Korea, | | | | exercises. Dr. Yang explains that the sitting set is |
| but there are similarities and they all have similar | | | | good for early morning when waking up, or for |
| goals of improving a person's health through | | | | people that cannot stand and do the more popular |
| breathing, stretching, and strengthening | | | | standing set. If you are new to this kind of |
| movements that activate Qi energy and blood | | | | training, you may want to learn and practice the |
| circulation in your body, helping to stimulate your | | | | sitting form first, and then graduate to the |
| immune system, strengthen your internal organs, | | | | standing form. |
| and give you abundant energy. | | | | The next chapter I found very interesting. It is a |
| The simple program taught on this DVD can easily | | | | 50 minute lecture by Dr. Yang on different |
| be incorporated into a person's existing routine, or | | | | aspects of the sitting set. This lecture provides |
| for a person unaccustomed to any form of | | | | much information regarding health and the ancient |
| exercise, it can be a simple program to start | | | | qigong exercises combined with modern medical |
| toward better health. | | | | science. Dr. Yang then provides additional |
| The first chapter is a short, 4 minute 30 second, | | | | information on the standing set with a 36 minute |
| history of the eight pieces of Brocade, or the Ba | | | | lecture expanding on principles and technique for |
| Duan Jin, presented by Dr. Yang. After this brief | | | | health and longevity contained in this standing set |
| history, there is an analysis of the sitting eight | | | | of eight pieces of brocade. You need to watch |
| pieces of brocade. This section starts with Dr. | | | | these lectures more than once to ensure you get |
| Yang doing the exercises from both front and | | | | the maximum benefit from the two sets of |
| side views, but with no instruction on what he is | | | | exercises in this program. These additional |
| doing. The audio in this chapter is done by a voice | | | | explanations and purposes provided by Dr. Yang in |
| over, not Dr. Yang talking. There is a general | | | | these lectures make this DVD much more than |
| description of the benefits of the exercises and | | | | just an illustration of movements that you find in |
| generalities on them. There is a translation of the | | | | some programs. |
| Chinese that goes along with these exercises and | | | | Additionally, besides the program and |
| a general description of the purpose behind the | | | | accompanying lectures, the DVD contains a |
| exercises. As the voice over provides narration | | | | glossary of Chinese terms and a bibliography |
| and explanation, Dr. Yang illustrates the | | | | relating to the Eight Pieces of Brocade. Also |
| movements. This chapter is 17 minutes and 30 | | | | included on the DVD is a YMAA catalog and short |
| seconds long. | | | | video previews of around 40 YMAA videos. |
| The next chapter shows Dr. Yang demonstrating | | | | Obviously, learning in person from a qualified |
| the entire set of sitting exercises of the eight | | | | instructor is the best way to learn. An instructor |
| pieces of brocade. There is no vocal instruction | | | | can assist you with performing the movements |
| during this segment, just the soothing sounds of | | | | correctly and provide more detailed instruction |
| Chinese music to accompany the movements. | | | | and explanation. However, if that is not practical |
| You must have practiced and learned the | | | | for your situation, the DVDs and books by Dr. |
| movements to be able to follow along with Dr. | | | | Yang do an excellent job of teaching, and I |
| Yang as he performs this 15 1/2 minute routine. | | | | believe a person can learn from them and |
| Next, the program repeats with the analysis and | | | | increase their health and vitality by practicing the |
| instruction on the more popular standing set. Again | | | | qigong exercises Dr. Yang teaches. Even if a |
| you have a voice over with Dr. Yang illustrating | | | | person regularly attends qigong classes with an |
| the movements in this nearly 24 minute section. | | | | instructor, I believe Dr. Yang's books and DVDs |
| Like the previous chapters, Dr. Yang then goes | | | | provide a wealth of information that would |
| through the 18 minute routine so you can follow | | | | compliment any training. I recommend them highly |
| along with him. Once learned, this is the chapter | | | | to anyone who wants to further their knowledge |
| you will follow along with daily, or however often | | | | of the Chinese internal arts, or the person who is |
| you decide to incorporate this set into your daily | | | | looking for a qigong exercise program. |
| routine. For the most benefit from qigong | | | | |