Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9703 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-12-05
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Synopsis
A detailed but simple demonstration of the vigorous movements that make up the Shaolin form of Qi Gong. Helps to improve health and vitality.

Customer Reviews

Time Tested Techniques For Mind And Body Health
Possibly the most popular Qi Gong exercise in the world, the Eight Treasures (or Ba Duan Jin as it is known in China) has an ancient tradition which stretches back to the founder of Zen Buddhism; Bodhidharma. Seeing that his monks were tired from extensive meditation, Bodhidharma composed a set of exercises to give them energy and strengthen their bodies.

Hundreds of years later, a Shaolin monk took the eight most effective moves, and these are the exercises demonstrated on this DVD.

Shifu Yan Lei, a 34th generation fighting disciple, takes you step by step through this dynamic Qi Gong form, explaining each movement in detail. Once you have understood the moves, you can practice in real time with Shifu Yan Lei. The whole form is simple, easy to learn, and takes about twenty minutes.

By practicing this form on a daily basis, you can expect to see significant changes in health and vitality. Suitable for adults of all ages.

Disappointing
After reading the other reviews, I was really looking forward to getting this DVD and improving my fitness and stress levels.
I was quite shocked to find that the warm up stretching included advanced type press ups that I would have strugggled to do when I was a fit tewnty year old! The DVD says suitable for all ages - I disagree. There are no tips or suggestions for those who are not flexible or strong enough to be able to complete the moves shown. It really put me off using the DVD.

Sober, good "follow me" course
I really like the no-nonsense approach of this DVD. The shifu shows the exercises and tells you how to synchronize breathing and movement. It's the 'follow me' approach to qi gong and martial arts. Try to follow the shifu's moves as closely as you can and you'll discover the rest for yourself.

It's excellent for people like me who are looking for a dynamic stretching exercise that calms the mind as well.

Some parts of the warm-up routine should be labelled: 'these stretches are done by an advanced martial artist, don't try this at home'. This is why I only give four stars. All in all the routine is short, so it would have been easy to add a beginner's routine or tips on how to substitute some stretches.