Qigong Basics: Five Element Practices for Health and Wellbeing Warmups for Joints and Organs + Five Elements Qigong + Five Element Mudras and Finishing Forms Qigong (chi kung) is an energy and intention-based practice that works with the principles of xing ming shuang xiu, meaning ‘the body and spirt are equally cultivated and refined’. Qi means ‘life force’ and gong means ‘to cultivate or build’. Thus qigong is the cultivation of life energy. While sometimes our qi can be healthy, balanced and flowing, when we are stressed, tense, or unwell, it can become stuck, stagnant, deficient or excessive. Regular practice of the sequences in this element-based qigong series can help maintain or rebalance the flow of energy in your body, supporting its innate ability to abide in a more balanced, healthy, natural state. Qigong Flow: The Eighteen Forms and Eight Brocades for Organ and Meridian Health Eight Brocades (Ba Duan Jin 八段锦) + Eighteen Forms (Shibashi 十八式) In this qigong video, Mimi presents two well-known and accessible forms of qigong practice: the Eight Brocades (Ba Duan Jin), and the Eighteen Forms (Shibashi). Both sequences are excellent routines for beginner and advanced students of qigong. They work with qualities of meditative awareness while building strength and flexibility. They also are designed to promote health and balance in the body’s organ and meridian systems. Eight Brocades: This section includes the Eight Brocades practices that works specifically to increase health and vitality in the organs, meridians and their associated emotional qualities. Eighteen Forms: Mimi presents these eighteen Forms using fluid, unbroken movements and visualisations that help us connect more intimately to the elements of the natural world and its harmonious state of balance.
P**E
A very detailed teaching tool
I am a disabled Viet Nam combat veteran who has been doing t'ai chi and chi gong (qigong) since the 90's.A friend asked me recently to teach her, but instead, I referred her to Mimi Kuo-Deemer on YouTube.I did so because as much knowledge as I have, Mimi has more, and how she imparts her knowledge is very important as far as I am concerned, since you do chi gong with your mind directing your body's movements, and a good teacher serves as a guide, so that it is a guided meditation.Because she liked Mimi so much on YouTube, she wanted more, so I got her this boxed set as a gift, and a great gift it was, since on the DVD's, Mimi goes slower with the movements and offers more detail than is the case on YouTube.And let me say as a disabled person that there is nothing Mimi does that is going to cause harm to anyway.When I first started, I was on a walker and couldn't go ten feet without being in great pain and distress due to spinal injuries, so I would simply watch a person doing a form over and over, absorbing details in my mind, and with determination, I was able to overcome my pain and now do several different chi gongs.I didn't ask a doctor for permission, and I didn't let anyone else, starting with myself, tell me that I couldn't do a certain move or set of moves.Since I had but limited range of motion, I would simply do small movements, and as I did, my range of motion gradually increased, which is what my friend is experiencing with Mimi, who I think is one of the best teachers of Five Elements and Eight Pieces Brocade.If you want to become more than you are right now in terms of physical condition and emotional, mental and spiritual health, you can't go wrong with Mimi, and yes, her voice is gentle and pleasing, which I also consider very important when one is doing guided meditation.
B**I
Works wonders on me
These seemingly boring exercises have a profound effect on my awareness of the body, energy flow and sense of emotional tones stuck in the guts. Who would have thought?If Bruce Lee had a female counterpart, this would be it. She is a tough player, one can see immediately. So I sweat and shake and have waves of heat bursting.The pace, however, is way too slow for me to follow the breathing pattern. I just run out of air and then get heart rate crazy. So I play in 1.5x pace and that works great.Mimi never gets quiet, just keeps talking, which can be tiresome. So, I listen a few times and follow along with the video, then mute her. I try to learn the movements as fast as possible to be completely independent.I would perhaps appreciate more the nitty gritty, the explanations of why this movement you do that way, or how to do it, what to pay attention to. But I guess this is not for the DVD of one hour and 25$. This would be for full day workshop.All in all, solid product. Worth the monies.If you want more action, go to a dance class. This is energy art, internal action.Enjoy!
K**O
Heaven Sent
I've suffered from pinched nerves for the last 3 months and been on over-the-counter pain killers, anti-inflammatory pills & neurology prescribed pills. When I went to the acupuncturist, she suggested Qigong which I've never encountered before so I tried 8 Brocades (Ba Duan Jin) from youtube (and I happened to come across Mimi's video) and started doing 18 minutes of these movements (sometimes once a day and sometimes multiple times a day)in spite of my pain and stiffness. I came off of pills within 1 week of doing acupuncture treatments and Mimi's youtube video and felt hope that I don't have to live with medications. So I've searched out for her DVD & bought it from Amazon.com to ship it to Canada. Her videos that include warm-up movements, 5 elements, 8 Brocades & 18 forms are heaven-sent. They acted more like pain-killers for me in terms of pain relief and calming my nerves. My tendencies to get startled had gone away and I feel joyful and calm whenever I do any of her videos. Her DVD sets come in 2 discs. You can choose whichever feel comfortable for the condition of your body. I feel that this is how you feel when you are in heaven. Peaceful and Tranquil. Thank you Mimi for making these videos. I am very grateful.Guys, also check out Alkalosis (Dr. Eric Berg DC's youtube video), apple cider vinegar drink (Kim July's youtube video) which will help with nerve problems. Thanks.
C**.
Lovely DVD, but not for me
It was recommended that I try Tai Chi or something related for some health issues, as my previous exercise programme was making things worse.I read all the reviews, and I thought that this was just the thing for me.I am so sad to say that it wasn't. Many of the moves are ones that I am not allowed to do; so many so that most of the forms are bad for me.The DVD is gorgeous, and the instructor is wonderful- quiet, calming, instructive, helpful, and very good at demonstrating the movements. This programme is perfect for nearly everyone, from what I can see, but just not for me.I wanted to give it 5 stars, but I couldn't. It would help tremendously if there were a few demos of what she does, so that the purchaser could see if the moves and the process are what are desired.
Trustpilot
2 weeks ago
2 days ago
