Qigong

Also known as: Chi Kung, Chi gung, Qi gong

documented Qigong

The broad Chinese family of gentle coordinated movement, breath and attention practices.

What this practice covers

Everything from standing practice to the classical sets — Ba Duan Jin, Wu Qin Xi, Yi Jin Jing, Liu Zi Jue — plus the Daoyin warm-up tradition beneath them.

Yarra’s note. The field with the most usable research behind it, largely because Ba Duan Jin has been studied so often.

What you can practise today

9 movements documented in the compendium, each with steps, seated variations, body map and sources.

Two Hands Hold Up the HeavensThe opening brocade: the hands travel from the lower abdomen to a comfortable overhead reach and return as the knees softly straighten and bend—an unh…adapted 2/10 · traditional 6/10
Drawing the Bow to Shoot the HawkThe second brocade: from a wider stance, the arms open like an archer drawing a bow — one hand pressing away, the other drawing back — alternating sid…adapted 3/10 · traditional 7/10
Holding One Arm AloftThe third brocade: one palm presses gently toward the sky while the other presses toward the ground, creating an easy opposition through the torso — t…adapted 2/10 · traditional 6/10
Wise Owl Gazes BackwardsThe fourth brocade: a slow, easy turn of the head and a slight outward roll of the arms to glance behind — one side, then the other — like an owl surv…adapted 2/10 · traditional 5/10
Sway the Head and Shake the TailThe fifth brocade: from a supported wide stance with hands on the thighs, the trunk circles slowly to one side and back — a rounded, unhurried sway ra…adapted 4/10 · traditional 7/10
Two Hands Hold the FeetThe sixth brocade: a slow, supported journey down the back of the body — hands tracing the back and legs toward the feet as far as comfortable — and a…adapted 4/10 · traditional 7/10
Clench the Fists and GlareThe seventh brocade: from a supported stance, one fist extends slowly forward with a focused gaze, then softens and returns — deliberate intensity hel…adapted 3/10 · traditional 7/10
Seven Gentle BouncesThe closing brocade: rising softly onto the balls of the feet and letting the heels settle back down with a light, springy drop — traditionally seven …adapted 2/10 · traditional 5/10
Wuji StandingThe simplest standing practice: feet grounded, knees soft, arms at rest — standing still on purpose, letting the structure carry itself while attentio…adapted 3/10 · traditional 9/10

Connected practices

What this sits beside, grows out of, or leads toward.

Ba Duan Jin Zhan Zhuang Daoyin Wu Qin Xi Yi Jin Jing Liu Zi Jue Tai Chi

Outlined names are practices not yet given their own page.

Where to look next

The difficulty ladderHow hard this is on day one versus at the depth its tradition teaches.
The full compendiumEvery documented movement, filterable by field, difficulty and seated availability.
Sources & imagesHow claims are labelled here, and why every image is original.