8 Pieces Of Brocade

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8 Pieces Of Brocade

Postby SoulX » Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:46 pm

Hey everyone..I'm new to Qigong and have purchased the eight simple qigong excercises for health by dr. yang, ywing-ming...Qigong has really caught my attention since I want a balance of mind, body and spirit. My question is...due to time restraints I do not have alot of time in the mornings to do qigong but I still want to reap the benefits...if I were to do 1 set of the 8 pieces of the brocade and do it everyday do you think I will get some benefits?...thing is I rather do some then none at all...and I also do weight training 3 times a week...I have chronic prostatitis...anxiety..and some premature aging that I want to heal...


Thanks
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Postby sysop » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:35 am

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Last edited by sysop on Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby yeniseri » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:04 am

soulX,

Sitting baduanjin along with vajrasana and malasana would be a great routine to help with chronic prostatitis.
More blood flow to lower jiao and pelvic circulation!
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Postby SoulX » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:32 am

Hey guys..I purchased the Dvd...I also forgot to mention that I do the standing version..and do one set...and thanks for the recommendation to do the sitting version as well..I know when Dr. Yang does the demonstration for the standing version of the 8 pieces he does around 3 reps each per piece...and he also recommends adding on as you progress so that's why I was questioning whether 1 set would be enough....

Thanks
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8: How long to practice and before results are seen?

Postby lionhearted38 » Sun May 04, 2008 4:10 pm

Hello,

I purchased Dr. Yang's book and the DVD as I wasn't sure I was doing the exercises right. I did about 5 repetitions of all the postures about 3-4 times a week for nearly 2 months, but did not see any health benefits. I like the postures, as they make me more flexible, and I also have Dr. Yang's book "The Root of Chinese Qigong," and have been doing the kidney stretch (twisting to the sides to stretch the muscles around the kidneys) about 10 repetitions 3-4 times a week.

I know that results vary from person to person, but how long before any results are seen? Not seeing anything after a month was discouraging. Thanks.
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Postby lilman » Sun May 04, 2008 4:22 pm

lionhearted38, Do not get discouraged by the fact you have not seen progress yet. I used to practice whenever I had time, and progress was really slow. If you want to see progress faster, you should pick a time of day. for example, say you get up to get ready for work, school, etc at 7 am, get up at 6 am instead, and do your practices EVERY DAY at or around the same time. Then you will see progress. I guess from my experience, I relate qigong to a subscription medicine. If you have hypertension for example, and they subscribe you a pill to take twice a day with water just before a meal, and cut down on your daily intake of salt. If you follow those instructions daily, your hypertension will be in check. If you skip days or eat a lot of salty foods, your medication will have little or no effect. For Qigong to be effective, you have to live the lifestyle. You have to protect your essence and energy, which means limiting sex and qigong "miracle" demonstrations and focus on your DAILY practice or it will be harder to progress... Just my thoughts on the matter.
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Postby Dvivid » Tue May 06, 2008 2:43 pm

Hi, welcome Lionheart, and thank you for posting.

This is a very good question: how do you measure progress with Qigong practice and results?

First, a note: remember, the Sitting brocades set will maintain your current health. The Standing set will improve your health.

For the purpose of the DVD which is still 145 minutes long (!) Dr. Yang limits the demonstration of each "piece" of the set a few times, so that you can see and learn the correct movements. He suggests that you should practice each of the 8 movements 6 or 8 times, then 12, and eventually even more. He mentions that in ancient times it was common to do 24 repetitions.

The 8 Brocades are "layperson" qigong. Anyone may practice them, with no knowledge of qigong theory, and enjoy improved health. But, of course the more you study, the more you can understand the theory, which can help your practice to become more efficient. Qigong is more than just physical movement and stretching.

Everyone is different. In order for qigong to be most effective, a person needs to be VERY relaxed, centered, focused, and meditative. You need to breathe very slowly and deeply, and keep the mind from wandering, while staying alert and aware. Your sensitivity must gradually become heightened. Your attention needs to focus inward during your practice, so that you can join your breathing with your Spirit in each movement. Without the above, it will take longer to feel results.

It takes regular practice, repetition, and gradual development for your body to respond - some people have an innate body awareness, and others take a bit longer to "get it". I am a slow learner. It takes me longer to really "feel" each qigong movement.

And after many years of practice, I now recognize this same process with some of my students: some get it quickly and report amazing benefits to me after a month or two, and others take longer, and then one day they have some great improvement...

The simple answer is, keep practicing the standing set regularly. Dr. Yang is one of the best sources of information, and that DVD is very clear. I recommend watching it several times, including the Lecture section in which Dr Yang explains each movement in more detail.

Qigong is really about a gradual improvement in your daily quality of life.

SoulX (welcome) - you brought up a very important key point. Anxiety.

Stress. If you can relax for an hour during your qigong practice, but you experience stress the other 23 hours a day, you will likely not feel very much progress with your qigong practice. As lilman said, you have to LIVE the practice. It becomes a way of life.

We all face stress every day - how you CHOOSE to react to it is up to you. If you internalize it, and allow it to influence you, it WILL make you weaker, depressed, more tired, and more likely to get sick. Choose instead to observe stressful things without internalizing them. Remember that even low-level stress changes your blood chemistry, affects your Qi circulation, and turns off your immune response and healing mechanisms.

All this blithering to answer several questions as best as I can - I hope it is helpful. Enjoy your practice!
"Avoid Prejudice, Be Objective in Your Judgement, Be Scientific, Be Logical and Make Sense, Do Not Ignore Prior Experience." - Dr. Yang

http://www.ymaa.com/publishing
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Postby iceman7 » Wed May 07, 2008 6:10 am

hello! instead of the cross legged pos. on sitting baduajin, can i do it by sitting on a chair with your sole touching to the ground?. i find this pos. more comfortable tan the latter...tnx:)
Peace!!!:)
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Postby Dvivid » Wed May 07, 2008 10:36 am

Yes, of course.

All qigong exercises can be adapted to this typical sitting position if necessary, until you approach more advanced forms, such as small circulation.
"Avoid Prejudice, Be Objective in Your Judgement, Be Scientific, Be Logical and Make Sense, Do Not Ignore Prior Experience." - Dr. Yang

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Postby fit155 » Thu May 08, 2008 8:17 am

Hi Iceman,

I have trouble sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position as well, due to a knee injury and tight hips.

I do the sitting practice sitting on an ottoman. You might try that as well if you have one.

When I sit on the ottoman I do cross my legs. It's easier to do for me when I am higher off the ground. And I have even noticed that as time goes by that is getting easier for me and I am getting more flexibility. I've been increasing my range of motion by sitting closer to the edge on the ottoman, thus allowing me to get a deeper stretch in my hips and legs, without hurting my knee.

Enjoy your practice.

By the way, I think in Kundalini yoga they call sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position "easy pose," which makes me laugh, since it's not at all easy for me!!
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Postby Dave C. » Thu May 08, 2008 9:14 am

Doing one single rep of each of the eight brocades is not going to do anything for you. In order for qigong or any martial program to affect you, you will have to practice it diligently.

I would start with 8 reps of each at a minimum. The reason is that you have to allow the qigong to re-pattern your body. That will never happen if you only do them a few times.

Qigong is great, but it isn't a magic pill you can just take once. It's a practice. You have to put time and effort into it.
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Postby Dvivid » Thu May 08, 2008 12:58 pm

Hence, the Gong.

Gong is short for Gong Fu (or Kung Fu), which means Time/Effort.
"Avoid Prejudice, Be Objective in Your Judgement, Be Scientific, Be Logical and Make Sense, Do Not Ignore Prior Experience." - Dr. Yang

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8 pieces of brocade

Postby lionhearted38 » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:09 am

I liked doing the 8 pieces once I was stretched out. This took a good week before I stopped being sore. The exercises were said to have been done in repetitions of 16 to 24 (24 mostly), and they were done daily. The basic rule of thumb I've found is that you should do them daily for 100 days to see if you've had improvements in your health. On the DVD, Dr. Yang is encouraging that the 8 pieces will improve your health if you keep doing it. I did them for a while, but 3-4 times a week (lack of time), and if I missed a week (too tired, scheduling problems) I'd be back to square one. But I did enjoy doing them -- they're very relaxing.
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Question on Eight Piece Brocade and Celebacy

Postby donaloc » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:24 pm

I realise that this is something which has been discussed elsewhere. I am just questioning one thing I couldn't find an answer to: as someone who is married, I find it difficult to engage in sustained abstinence. Even the 24 hours before and after I've seen discussed elsewhere would mean huge disruption to daily practice. I realise that this prevents achievement in higher levels of qigong - I can live with that - I'm not looking to live forever - I just want to improve my energy levels as I've overdid it a little in the earlier part of my life!!

So can I practice Eight Piece Brocade effectively alongside having a normal married sex life. If not, where is the best and safest approach to gaining the benefit. I am particularly worried that doing any qigong alongside sex would result in me reducing my energy levels further.

Finally, I get acupuncture regularly. Every Chinese doctor tells me that my core problem is that I have very low qi levels. In fact, one told me that I have levels like a woman although I'm a man. I also have pulses which don't show at the usual point on the wrist and they reckon that this is reflective of my mother not being strong when I was born (something my father always told me when I was young).

Anyhow, please can anyone help me. And thanks so much for your time and care for an anonymous fellow being!!
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Postby GustOfWindDance » Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:04 pm

I also have huge doubts about the sexual regimen in the pratice of qigong.

As said by donaloc above, if you do the qigong set (i.e. eight pieces) and in the same day have a sexual relation, it will be prejudicial, or just the benefit won't be so good?

If any senior could help with information omn creating a schedule It would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

GoWDance
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More on Sexual Abstinence

Postby donaloc » Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:58 pm

Just reading Secret of Qigong now and it says that having sex 24 hours before or after qigong is bad. However, it specifically mentioned martial and religious Qigong - but 8 Piece Brocade is health qigong as it is categorised elsewhere in the book. So it's not so important - or is it??
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Postby Dvivid » Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:22 am

So can I practice Eight Piece Brocade effectively alongside having a normal married sex life?


Yes. The 8 Brocades is a simple qigong regimen to very gradually build and support your Qi circulation. It shouldn't interfere with your sex life.

Only when you are practicing advanced qigong for longevity, martial arts, or enlightenment should you consider altering your sex life.

On the other topic: You are, for the most part, 'stuck' with what you're born with. Your genetics / 'original jing' inherited from your parents will largely determine your health/longevity/etc.

BUT, don't let anyone tell you that you cannot improve your Qi and daily quality of life.

Air + Food/Fat = metabolic energy/Qi. Improve your breathing and food quality and you'll improve your Qi.
"Avoid Prejudice, Be Objective in Your Judgement, Be Scientific, Be Logical and Make Sense, Do Not Ignore Prior Experience." - Dr. Yang

http://www.ymaa.com/publishing
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Thanks to Dvivid

Postby donaloc » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:53 am

Thanks for answering my question so clearly.

Where might I find out more about good lifestyle information - is there a book on it or is there a forum group?

Again, thanks very much.
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Postby Dvivid » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:39 pm

Aside from the healthy lifestyle promoted by YMAA, these other sites have some good information:


http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/


http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/
"Avoid Prejudice, Be Objective in Your Judgement, Be Scientific, Be Logical and Make Sense, Do Not Ignore Prior Experience." - Dr. Yang

http://www.ymaa.com/publishing
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Postby darth_freak » Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:41 am

Hey there,

I wanna ask about piece number 5. Master Yang say that having the thumbs outward is supposed to relax the armpit area. But when I do it I don't really feel the difference between having the tumbs inward or outward.
I'm in the UK now and I haven't got the DVD with me so I can't check in there.

Anyone?
"Turn your butt!"
Master Yang.

Xavier
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