Emma's Chinese Medicine Tips - April
Qi Gong - Eight Strands of the Brocade
This is a dynamic set of exercises that are often said to benefit the Lungs, Spleen and Stomach, Energy and Strength, Kidneys, Heart, Muscles, Joints and Liver. They are therefore a wonderful overall exercise. Qi Gong is particularly good for theSpring trimester as this is a time when you can begin to get your Qi moving again and prevent Stagnation. It is balancing and gently energizing.
There are eight stances and each is repeated eight times. As you do the exercises try to always feel centred. As you explore upwards don’t lose a sense of down, for example. Stand with feet about a shoulder width apart and with feet parallel. Allow your body to be comfortable and don’t lose balance.
- 1. Pressing palms to heaven
Start with the hands in front at mid-chest height, palms facing the chest and fingertips almost touching.
As you breathe in let the let the hands rise in front of and past the face and twist the palms until your hands are above your head and palms face the ceiling.
As you breathe out press the hands upwards and rise up onto your toes. Continue the movement so that the hands (with straight arms) descend past the face (palms facing away) continuing down until the turn naturally at the bottom and rise to the start point. At the same time come back from tiptoe.
Repeat 8 times.
- 2. Drawing the bow
In this stance the feet are about two shoulder widths apart but feet are still parallel and the hips always face the front, try not to twist them. Cross your arms at the wrist, in front of the face with loose fists, palms towards you.
As you breathe in, look to the left side. The left had straightens to the left and the right arm draws back the imaginary string of a bow. Try to keep the right hand forward of face level (don’t over open the chest). Move your weight onto the right leg.
As you breathe out gently return to the start position.
Repeat to the right and then alternate for 6 more.
- 3. Separating earth and heaven
Return to natural (shoulder width) stance. Start with the hands in the same position as stance 1.
As you breath in raise one hand to the ceiling (palm to ceiling) and press the other to the ground (palm to floor).
As you breathe out return to the start position.
- 4. Yielding and opening to the side
Start with the arms resting by your sides. As you breathe in raise the left arm to vertical. As you breathe out the arm continues its journey over the head and the right side of the waist yields allowing the left to open and the body bends.
On the next in-breath the arm moves back to the vertical but the body remains bent. As you breathe out the body returns to upright as the arm comes down to the side.
Alternate on each side 4 times and try to sense when the body is ready to bend and return to upright.
- 5. Turning to gaze at the moon
The main focus of this exercise is to turn the spine. The hips stay facing forward and the knees do not really move at all.
Start in the same position as stance 1. On the in breath begin to turn the spine from the base, gently moving your focus up the spine as the limit of turn is reached in each stage. This is a smooth movement and as the neck is part of the spine your head turns too at the end of the in breath.
On the out breath gently un-wind the spine back to the starting position. Repeat 4 times on each side.
- 6. Bending knees
Start with legs hip width apart and arms by your side. As you breathe in gently lift the hands (bending at the elbow) palms facing up and then turning over to face down.
As you breathe out press your palms towards the ground and bend the knees keeping the back straight – don’t bend too far.
On the next breath push through the soles of your feet and feel the energy lifting you, knees straightening and lower arms repeating their cycle, palms up and then turning over ready for the next out breath.
Repeat 8 times.
- 7. Punching
Stand feet hip width apart with loose fists at your waist palms up.
On the in breath punch straight out with your left fist and as you do so tighten your muscles starting from the feet, up the legs and buttocks into the back and shoulders (shoulders tensing downwards not up). The fist turns over as you punch.
As you breathe out and the fist returns to the waist let all the tension go and feel completely relaxed.
Repeat 4 times on alternate sides.
- 8. Warming the kidneys
Stand in normal stance. Place you hands on your lower back (kidney) area and gently massage. Relaxing the shoulders completely begin to bounce on the balls of your feet so that the hands on your lower back move up and down giving the kidneys a gentle massage.
As you bounce try and be aware of breathing in and out and let the breath be a bit broken from the bouncing.
Emma Cannon
Acupuncturist
Author of The Baby-Making Bible
Tel: 07973148986
