Odie and Zola at the Park

“Moments-in-Time - Odie & Zola at the Park.
Just a Moment-in-Time to do the 8 Pieces of Brocade and 24 Tai Chi Yang form
slowly.
Teacher Zola and Teacher Odie demonstrate a form of Qigong -- The 8 Pieces of Brocade. Remember that the sequence is not fixed. It is merely a LIST of individual exercises that should be repeated 7 - 15 times. If you don’t have time to do them all, pick one or two and practice them only. Below is a definition of the health benefits for each of these Qigong movements.
1. Lifting the sky (Shuang Shou Tuo Tian): This move is said to stimulate the “Triple Warmer” meridian (Sanjiao). It consists of an upward movement of the hands, which are loosely joined and travel up the center of the body.
2. Archer pulls bow (or Vulture): While in a lower horse stance, the practitioner imitates the action of drawing a bow to either side. It is said to exercise the waist area, focusing on the kidneys and spleen.
3. Separate Heaven and Earth: This resembles a version of the first piece with the hands pressing in opposite directions, one up and one down. A smooth motion in which the hands switch positions is the main action, and it is said to especially stimulate the stomach.
4. The Wise Owl looks over shoulder: This is a stretch of the neck to the left and the right in an alternating fashion.
5. Dragon Drinks from the River: This is said to regulate the function of the heart and lungs. Its primary aim is to remove excess heat (or fire) (xin huo) from the heart. Xin huo is also associated with heart fire in traditional Chinese medicine. In performing this piece, the practitioner squats in a low horse stance, places the hands on thighs with the elbows facing out and twists to glance backwards on each side.
6. Nourishing Kidneys: This involves a stretch upwards followed by a forward bend and over the toes and up again.
7. Punching with Angry Eyes: This resembles the second piece, and is largely a punching movement either to the sides or forward while in horse stance. This, which is the most external of the pieces, is aimed at increasing general vitality and muscular strength.
8. Shaking illness from the body: This is a push upward from the toes with a small rocking motion on landing. The gentle shaking vibrations of this piece is said to “smooth out” the qi after practice of the preceding seven pieces.
This video -- Tai Chi Chuan, 24 Yang Style is demonstrated slowly by Teacher Zola and Teacher Odie. Sometimes, when the class does the form, Teacher Odie, plays on the Berimbau, an African-Brazilian instrument.
After Teacher Odie and Teacher Zola demonstrate the 24 Tai Chi Chuan - Yang Style. Teacher Zola reminds you about the Tai Chi Certification Program at SOHMA. Also, you should check out Dr. Daniel Hoover and his wife Veronika’s Tai Chi videos on UA-cam -- • Tai Chi for Beginners ...