Tai Chi Chi Gong Shibashi

Tai chi & chi gong shibashi places emphasis on synchronizing its 18 gentle rolling movements with proper breathing and visualisation techniques. There is no sitting or standing still. Deep (belly) breathing, using the full extent of the lungs is learned. The simple movements, derived from Yang style Tai Chi, are easy to learn and very beneficial to our health and well-being. While improving circulation, digestion, lung conditions like asthma, it also relieves stress and physical tension. Every joint, tendon and ligament is lightly stretched giving maximum health benefits. Activate Chi or Rock the Spine before doing the moves.

1.Commencing Form - Exhale, lowering arms, grounding thru Yongquan/Kidney-1. Inhaling, raise hands and arms. Chi descends from dantien to meet & absorb earth Chi, opening Huijin/Ren-1. (Calms the mind)

2.Open The Chest Wide – Raise hands as above, but also spread arms horizontally, inhaling. Exhaleing, return in front and lower. (Strengthens heart & lungs)

3.Bend Arm Overhead Like Rainbow – Extend Chi thru fingertips, swaying them high across the sky. Extend Chi thru back leg, connecting with earth Chi. (triple heater or heart)

4.Swing Arms To Disperse Clouds – Inhale, sink feet into ground gathering fresh Chi. This earthing nrg transforms or absorbs depression or feelings of being unsupported. Exhaling, Heavenly Chi is attracted thru Baihui/Governing Vessel Meridian-20 & flows down the body. (Lung, heart & pericardium channels, clearing the head)

5.Whirl Arms On Both Sides On Fixed Stance – Visualise extending Chi beyond hands, creating arcs of light through the universe. (unblocks/stimulates Qi in Liver & Gall Bladder channel)

6.Rowing On A Lake – Inhaling, raising arms, suck up the power of the ocean through Yongquan, into the kidneys, (keep feeling Chi descend into the ground.) Lowering arms, the ocean’s nrg transforms fear, apprehension or timidity as water drains out. (increases the functioning of kidney & bladder)

7.Hold Up A Ball In Front Of Shoulder – Raising right hand, inhaling, Chi washes up the right side of your body. Lowering, exhale, the wave cleans & heals down the right. (Activates spleen channel)

8.Turn Body And Look Up At The Moon– Feel a connection of plasma light between both palms and right big toe. Root the toe and stretch this elastic nrg as you twist left. Extend Chi into ground through left foot. Then vice versa for the other side. (spleen)

9.Turn Body And Push Palms – Extended hand connects Hegu/LI-4 with lower or middle Dantien, inhaling. Focus on Laogong/Pericardium-8/P-8, exhaling. Downward hand presses on a springy ball of Chi that reaches the floor. (aids digestion & resistance to weather, defensive Chi)

10.Wave Hands On Horse-Ride Stance – Gaze through your fingers, letting go of focus. Eventually seeing a shadowy outline around them. (Cleanses eyes, calms mind)

11.Scoop Water From The Sea And Look Up At The Sky – Raising hands, imagine clear water (if hot) or warm fine sand (if not), being sucked up through Yongquan/Kidney-1 into legs, filling entire body. This absorbs and transforms tensions, pain, anger etc. Water or sand floods out through soles deep into earth, exhaling, being replaced with fresh stuff on next inhalation. (Strengthens heart & lungs, reduces depression)

12.Move Back And Forth Like Waves – Stand your ground firmly as you pull the sea towards you, loosening, cooling and transforming tensions and anxieties. Pushing, the wave returns through your back, continuing the process. Eventually, change intent on absorbing the power of the sea as you draw it in and out. (increases kidney & bladder function)

13.The Pigeon Spreads Its Wings – Opening, pull Chi from Danzong/Ren-17, spiralling out into a large bubble of Chi whilst extending Chi through back foot, deeply connecting with Earth Chi. Let Chi bubble disperse and radiate to all beings. Then gather in your Chi ball fully imbued with fresh Chi when closing arms (also on finishing.) (heart & lungs)

14.Extend Arms And Thrust Fists – Plasma light Chi connection between Hegu/LI-4 and lower Dantien, stretching and compacting whilst thrusting fist. (same as for Ex. 9)

15.The Wild Goose Flies In The Air-Moving arms, feel they are much larger, like wings of Chi, that absorb Heaven Chi and Earth Chi as they flap up and down.(strengthens lungs, reduces depression)

16.Circle Arms Like Flywheels – Elongate Chi through hands. As they swirl up, connect them to Heaven Chi, down, Earth Chi. Connect & join with positive nrg around you. (Improves energy by helping to eliminate waste from bowels, liver & kidney)

17.Mark Time And Bounce A Ball – Raising hand, feel a cord of light nrg connecting Laogong/Pericardium-8/P-8 with Yongquan/Kidney-1. Ground deeply with standing foot, connecting with Earth Chi.(increases coordination, stimulates right brain left brain harmonisation)

18.Press Palms To Calm Down – Inhale, raising hands whilst connecting with Heaven Chi (rooting firmly!), letting it flow through Bahui/GV-20 into Dantien. Exhaling, continue the flow of Chi down legs, interacting with the upward flow of Chi coming from Rooting. (Calms the mind and consolidates the benefits of the previous exercises)