Qi Gong For Beginners

I'm new to i Gong and this video has very good slow explanation of the different movements of 8 Brocade. He also will give an advanced version of the movements. I love the running water and the setting. I hope soon that these movements will become part of me. I have done these movements a few days in a row and feel really good. My neck and back feel great. Dont forget to watch the whole video first or a few times then u can start your journey. i am glad that I choose this video .

I decided to give this DVD a try due to my longtime muskuloskeletal disorders, as well as my determination to stay away from the pharma industry and their drugs, which to me, have been useless if not dangerous. I have a history of lumbago, bursitis and neck problems. Several years ago, I had sciatica that lasted for almost 7 years. It was then that I knew without a doubt there was absolutely nothing conventional allopathic medicine (therapy and dangerous drugs included) could do for me. Though a series of sessions with a good chiropractor provided relief, it was thanks to meditation and mind control that I finally completely got over my sciatica. Now I have been sciatica free for 15 years, but I would often have neck and back pain problems due to bad posture or tension, and two or three years ago I also started having pain on my upper left arm. Depending how high and in which direction I raised my left arm, a sharp pain would remind me something was seriously wrong with it. My low back pain was also there. Whenever I had to stand in the kitchen for more than 20 minutes chopping veggies or preparing a meal, I had to take a rest and sit down for a while due to discomfort or pain on my lower back. Only a few months ago, I came on Amazon and saw this DVD and ordered it right away. I started by watching the tape very carefully two or three times, trying not to miss any detail in order to follow Master Chris Pei's instructions as faithfully as I could. The results are next to miraculous. I could feel energized right after my very first session. Five of six sessions later, I realized that my left arm was not aching any more. The next day, when I got on my Pilates machine to do some strength training, I realized I could raise my left arm as high as I wanted without any pain whatsoever. I was free of my lower back pain in about only 8 or 10 sessions. Thanks to QiGong, I can now stand at the kitchen countertop for as long as I want, with no pain. I can move my left arm, back and forth, high and low, with no pain. I have read two or three books on QiGong and there is one concept that I found very interesting. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is only ONE illness: Qi stagnation. This means that if the Qi flows freely, we are also free from disease. QiGong has worked so fantastically well for me, that I have every reason to support that belief. Thanks to QiGong, I am 100% pain free.*{Master Chris Pei's instructions are crystal clear and to the point. Bravo!}Note: In relation with other reviews, I must say that QiGong is not only about movement. It also requires strong involvement of the subconscious mind or, in other words, it involves meditation, or getting the mind to reach, at least, the Alpha level. It is for that reason that I think these exercises should better be practiced AFTER watching the DVD, not at the same time. Master Chris Pei, is obviously not in the Beta level (conscious mind level) at the time he performs the movements.UPDATE. September 6, 2012Later I found Dr Yang Ywing Ming' s DVDs here on Amazon which, in my opinion (together with Master Chris Pei's DVDs) are also among the BEST DVDs one can get to practice and learn about QiGong. I have ALL of Dr Yang's DVDs on QiGong and will continue to buy every DVD Both Chris Pei and Dr Yang may come up with in the future. I have the whole DVD series "Understanding Qigong" by Dr Yang. Each DVD is about 3 hours long and is a wonderful tool for those of us who not only want to practice Qigong but also understand the reasons why we should practice it and the best ways to do so.Another Update: June 2013I have continued practicing Qigong, mainly Chris Pei's and Dr Yang's DVDs and I have no words to express all the benefits that I am getting through its practice.

I was truthfully a bit dubious about this - but the doctor keeps saying "low impact", and I was noticing that my range of motion was becoming less, as my years become more. So, I did some research, and kept reading about "Eight Pieces of Brocade". Chose this DVD because a) I'd heard of Chris Pei as an instructor b) it was the best priced for a guy on a fixed income.This is deceptively simple; the very first exercise I tried said to do something very simple - raise my arms straight over my head, fingers interlaced, palms up. Standard stretching move; been doing it for years. No problem, right?Sometime in the past, I had stopped doing that, and never noticed. And couldn't do it.I can now.THis is not for strength training, there's not a lot of hopping around on one leg or anything. The movements are broad, simple, and oddly satisfying. If you do them one after another, you can do the whole set in less than thirty minutes... and if you can't complete a motion, you do what you can.Level: easyFrequency: Daily or every other dayAge level: 2 years and upBalance required: low to average.Recommendation: yes!

I've practiced Tae-Kwon-Do for 20+ years, and the hard style is challenging to a body as it gets older. I wanted a stretch & health program, so I could continue to be active as I get older. I came across Qigong, and this video motivated me to get involved. It is excellent. Unlike Tai Chi, this is not a martial art. I think of Qigong as simply the Chinese version of (Indian) yoga. Simplified for sure, but coming from a martial arts background, both Qigong and yoga can help with circulation and flexibility. I tried yoga over the years & didn't stick with it, as it focused tremendously on stretching (not comfortable for me). Chinese Qigong has the practitioner standing for virtually all exercises. No leg above head attempts & no ribbons or blocks to extend a stretch. As for the video, here's the good. The person doing the movements (Chris) is also narrating. This is not always so with these types of videos. Chris is a real martial artist - it's very evident from his delivery that he's not just some random actor (he's very knowledgeable & good at motivating). There's lots out there to learn, and many good teachers. But, Chris Pei is a top teacher, and Qigong is an excellent form of exercise to maintain health in your body. If you've been considering Qigong, give the video a chance. Most videos don't have such an experienced narrator actually doing the forms as well.

after having sampled and practiced several beginners qigong DVDs, this one resonate much less with me and felt less satisfying as a practice. I would have liked to see the entire sequence of moves as one continuous flow of practice at the end of the DVD, as an option.I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the 8 routines advertised on the cover is in fact the 8 Brocade, one set of practice, not 8 different sets. And sometimes the angle of the camera or the distance to the performer made parts of the posture/move unclear.I do like the alternative modifications he offers for each move.

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Christopher Pei shows the 8 pieces of brocade for beginners in their simplest forms. These well known Qi Gong movement are even deconstructed in different levels. There is a section where he explains what is Qi, what is Qi Gong (helps cultivating the Qi to improve energy flow), what are the meridians (Qi Gong helps to open our meridians to improve energy flow), the importance of the breath (one of the 3 essentials in Qi Gong, which are movement, posture, and breath), and 4 bonus videos (including a morning routine). Superbly done for beginners who want to know what is Qi Gong and understand how it works!

Excellent exercises, can be viewed one at a time or consecutavely. Be sure to addapt the movement to your physical confort level.

A very well done beginner's program.I liked the instructor very much, his voice and mannerisms are soothing and encouraging. The outdoor setting is beautiful and adds a lot. The mirror imaging is most helpful too.One star off as I would have appreciated a segment showing all the exercises together, at a slightly faster tempo .And do keep in mind, this is definitely at the beginner's level throughout.Helpful votes are always appreciated!😊Geraldine Helen Hartman author of,Laughing at the Grim Reaper! Gems of Wisdom for Aging Well🌷🌷🌷🌷

Years ago I took Qi Gong lessons from a Chinese lady & thoroughly enjoyed it. I was looking forward to returning to it but was different than shown on this DVD. I am somewhat disappointed but will do the program anyway as any form of movement is good,