Ba Duan Jin - The Ancient Exercise

The name translates as 'the eight brocades'. One source showed a depiction of one of these eight exercises drawn 5,000 years ago. Another stated that the eight exercises were used by zen monks to limber up after hours of sitting meditation. There are variations of each of the eight exercises. The Shaolin monks do a very vigorous, athletic version. On his YouTube channel Daniel Lee demonstrates a 'beginner' version which is slow and gentle. Lam Kam Chuen's book "The Way Of Energy" presents instructions for a version close to what Daniel Lee does.

Myself, I started doing the ba duan jin as prescribed by Chuen's book in April of 2018, first thing every morning to limber up. I have watched several YouTube videos (try a search on Ba Duan Jin) and modified my routine now and then. After two years of daily practice I began to develop my own way. Like Daniel Lee's beginner version I do slow and gentle movements.

If you are interested I recommend watching a few YouTube videos, especially Daniel Lee's and Mimi Kuo Deemer's. If you have or can borrow Chuen's book, that would help in getting started. The movements are very simple, easy to learn and not physically challenging. It takes about 10-15 minutes to go through the eight exercises. I use them to focus my mind as well as stretch. That part is optional but recommended. I focus on how my body feels in each movement. I get a sense of my mental state, of how well or poorly I slept, if there is any congestion due to allergies, or achiness for whatever reason. On a good day the checklist is 100% - well rested, mentally clear, and physically graceful.

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