Saturday, July 16, 2011

Zhan Zhuang Instructional Video: Day 7

"Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of over 2000 years. The essence is the harmony of the body and nature. Modern life is too busy, so we need to find our own way for health." In Day 7, we travel to the middle of China and visit the beautiful Songshan Mountains. This is an ideal location to practice Qigong - fresh air, trees, nature. "The mountain, stillness, is yin. The water goes in motion, is yang." We warm-up by reaching one arm over the head to open the side of the body. As we breathe out, we return to the center. Then breathe in and bend to the other side. Lam Kam then introduces us to the Fourth Position, standing still with the arms out to the sides, not too forward, not too backwards, every stable. Let the hands float naturally, as if resting on balloons. "Flowing water is a central image in Taoism. Nothing in the world is softer than water, but we know it can wear away the hardest of things. Water teaches us we can flow around any obstacle. The Tao is the Way of Water." Professor Yu: "Wang Xiangzhai taught that each person should be taught according to their nature. Some people are sick and begin with a simple posture. If you are healthy, you can begin with the Universal Post, straight and erect." We end our practice with the same cool-down exercise, gently, naturally, slowly swinging the arms from side to side. "Don't just watch. The only way to find out is to join us. Join us and you will be fit very soon!"

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