Practice Questions --> Eight Pieces of Brocade

[fit155]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have a few questions about the Eight Pieces of Brocade. I purchased Dr. Yang's DVD and book and have been practicing the sitting exercises for about about a month now. (I have to say that I purchased the DVD first, then purchased the book. I am very happy that I purchased both. They really do reinforce each other.)

First, I read on another website that it can take up to 100 days of practicing the Eight Pieces before you really get all the benefits of the practice. Would you agree?

I was thinking about starting to learn and practice the standing exercises, but I am wondering if I should stick with doing only the sitting exercises for the next few months. then move onto the standing exercises for 100 + days. Or, is it okay to some days practice the sitting exercises and other days the standing exercises?

Also, would it cause any harm to practice, say, the sitting exercises in the morning and then he standing exercises later in the day?

Lastly, the book says that it's ideal to practice the sitting pieces between midnight and noon, but I haven't seen any recommendations for the standing exercises. Is there a preferred time? I saw on another post that in general it's best to practice qigong at midnight, dawn, noon and dusk, but it's okay to practice at other times. I take it that this holds true for the Eight Pieces of Brocade?

Thanks everyone.

So happy to have discovered this board. I look foward to reading and learning from everyone's posts.

[joeblast]

They're both great sets, very good every day practices...no reason not to do the standing as well. Personally I like doing the standing ones in the morning to help loosen up dem bones.

[Dvivid]

Also, would it cause any harm to practice, say, the sitting exercises in the morning and then he standing exercises later in the day?

Hi

No harm at all - that is the best way to practice the two sets, in fact.

Sitting set in the AM, while you're still sleepy-brained...and standing set in the mid or late afternoon.

Practicing qigong at any time of day is fine. Midnight is best for spiritual cultivation, sitting meditation. Dawn is good for any standing or sitting qigong. Noon is good - the energy peaks for the day - but it can be too much in Summertime. The mid or late afternoon is a good time to raise up your energy with something like the standing brocades. At dusk, the energy is cooling down, and you can practice qigong to cool yourself down along with the natural energy...

[Dave C.]

First, I read on another website that it can take up to 100 days of practicing the Eight Pieces before you really get all the benefits of the practice. Would you agree?

I was thinking about starting to learn and practice the standing exercises, but I am wondering if I should stick with doing only the sitting exercises for the next few months. then move onto the standing exercises for 100 + days. Or, is it okay to some days practice the sitting exercises and other days the standing exercises?

Also, would it cause any harm to practice, say, the sitting exercises in the morning and then he standing exercises later in the day?

Is there a preferred time?

The 8 brocades can be a fairly deep practice, depending on whether or not you have a teacher that can show you have to move on to deeper material within the set itself. For example, there are many variations on the 8 movements that can greatly expand the benefits you get from the movements. There are also different ways to do each of those individual movements that will work different details -- both muscularly and in terms of qi. But you will need a teacher to show you this unless you are advanced in another qigong practice.

So 100 days doesn't even begin to cover the amount of time you can spend on this practice. I know of people that have been doing it for years.

BTW, i do the 8 brocades, but not through Dr. Yang.

The standing and sitting methods are both good, with the sitting being a little more subtle IMO. As a beginner, I would recommend doing one practice and concentrate on it, unless you have lots of time.

I definitely don't recommend the standing at night. It might keep you awake. The morning is better for standing and the evening is better for sitting IMO.

[fit155]

Thanks everyone for your responses and comments!

I think I may have to build up my qi and general strength before I am able to even think about practicing both sets simultaneously. Today I watched the lecture section for the standing routine and did a few repititions of several of the exercises and they are challenging!!! I don't think that I could complete the entire standing routine at my current level.

Also, in his lecture on the standing routine Dr. Yang does discuss that there are many variations and add ons for the individual pieces and that what he presents on the DVD are the basics. So I think at some point it would be helpful to find a teacher for additional instruction and guidance.

Again, thanks one and all for your responses.

[Dvivid]

One note, it is recommended to NOT skip any of the exercises...if its too challenging, only do a couple repetitions, but do all 8 exercises.

Also, Dr Yang has said that the Sitting Brocades are for general health maintenance, and the Standing are for IMPROVING health.