Health benefits of Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi (First Set)
The First Set of 18 movements is designed to stimulate the harmonious flow of Chi (energy) around the network of energy channels in the human body which are called meridians (See Benefits for meridian chart). Whist the First Set has a very beneficial effect on all the meridians in the body it is slightly more focused on opening up the channels in the arms. Each of the 18 movements work on different parts of the body and organs, see below.
1. Raising the Arms
Improves conditions related to the heart and liver. Lowers high blood pressure. Eases muscular tension and also alleviates pain in the knees.
2. Opening the Chest
Improves conditions related to the heart, lungs and nervous system. Helps to reduce both insomnia and depression.
3. Painting a Rainbow
Relieves back pain and decreases fat around waist. Strengthens the stomach, digestion and heart. Can also alleviate shoulder pain.
4. Separating the Clouds
Relieves shoulder pain. Strengthens the heart and lungs. Boosts stamina. Also relieves dizziness, anxiety and shortness of breath.
5. Twisting Waist and Rolling Arms
Relieves shoulder, elbow and wrist pain. Improves conditions related to the lungs. Eases headaches. Harmonises energy flow in liver and gall bladder.
6. Rowing a Boat
Helps digestive system and increases mental clarity. Improves overall energy circulation and enhances mental clarity.
7. Holding a Ball
Improves conditions related to the kidney and will increase energy. Strengthens the spleen and helps to reduce insomnia.
8. Gazing at the Moon
Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the stomach and spleen. Increases weight loss by reducing fat around the waist. Strengthens the liver and gall bladder.
9. Turning Waist and Pushing Palms
Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the stomach and spleen, strengthens waist and boosts stamina. Improves action of bowels, bladder and the large intestine. Increases circulation in the hands.
10. Cloud Hands
Helps digestion and improves conditions related to the nervous system. Also improves overall blood and energy circulation. Relaxes the eyes.
11. Scooping from the Sea
Improves conditions related to the kidney, heart, lungs and stomach. Increases weight loss and relieves waist and leg pain. Improves flexibility. Relieves depression.
12. Playing with Waves
Improves conditions related to spleen, liver and lungs. Decreases instances/severity of insomnia. Strengthens kidneys and bladder. Alleviates anxiety and insomnia.
13. Dove spreads it's Wings
Improves conditions related to the heart, liver, lungs and nervous system. Relieves tightness of the chest and eases depresson.
14. Charging the fist
Increases lung capacity, improves conditions related to lungs and nervous system. Decreases the severity and instances of insomnia. Strengthen digestion and regulates the action of the bowels.
15. Flying Wild Goose
Relieves headaches. Strengthens heart and lungs. Regulates high blood pressure. Reduces anxiety.
16. Rotating Flywheel
Promotes blood circulation, boosts stamina, increases weight loss and relieves waist and leg pain. Reduces fatigue. Regulates low blood pressure. Improves bowel, liver and kidney function. Circular/stretching movement helps to flush toxins out of the internal organs.
17. Bouncing a Ball
Improves body coordination. Balances left/right hemispheres of brain. Decreases instances and severity of insomnia/fatigue. Improves circulation.
18. Balancing the Chi
Improves conditions related to the heart and stomach. Lowers high blood pressure. Balances the Chi.
Improves conditions related to the heart and liver. Lowers high blood pressure. Eases muscular tension and also alleviates pain in the knees.
2. Opening the Chest
Improves conditions related to the heart, lungs and nervous system. Helps to reduce both insomnia and depression.
3. Painting a Rainbow
Relieves back pain and decreases fat around waist. Strengthens the stomach, digestion and heart. Can also alleviate shoulder pain.
4. Separating the Clouds
Relieves shoulder pain. Strengthens the heart and lungs. Boosts stamina. Also relieves dizziness, anxiety and shortness of breath.
5. Twisting Waist and Rolling Arms
Relieves shoulder, elbow and wrist pain. Improves conditions related to the lungs. Eases headaches. Harmonises energy flow in liver and gall bladder.
6. Rowing a Boat
Helps digestive system and increases mental clarity. Improves overall energy circulation and enhances mental clarity.
7. Holding a Ball
Improves conditions related to the kidney and will increase energy. Strengthens the spleen and helps to reduce insomnia.
8. Gazing at the Moon
Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the stomach and spleen. Increases weight loss by reducing fat around the waist. Strengthens the liver and gall bladder.
9. Turning Waist and Pushing Palms
Helps digestion, improves conditions related to the stomach and spleen, strengthens waist and boosts stamina. Improves action of bowels, bladder and the large intestine. Increases circulation in the hands.
10. Cloud Hands
Helps digestion and improves conditions related to the nervous system. Also improves overall blood and energy circulation. Relaxes the eyes.
11. Scooping from the Sea
Improves conditions related to the kidney, heart, lungs and stomach. Increases weight loss and relieves waist and leg pain. Improves flexibility. Relieves depression.
12. Playing with Waves
Improves conditions related to spleen, liver and lungs. Decreases instances/severity of insomnia. Strengthens kidneys and bladder. Alleviates anxiety and insomnia.
13. Dove spreads it's Wings
Improves conditions related to the heart, liver, lungs and nervous system. Relieves tightness of the chest and eases depresson.
14. Charging the fist
Increases lung capacity, improves conditions related to lungs and nervous system. Decreases the severity and instances of insomnia. Strengthen digestion and regulates the action of the bowels.
15. Flying Wild Goose
Relieves headaches. Strengthens heart and lungs. Regulates high blood pressure. Reduces anxiety.
16. Rotating Flywheel
Promotes blood circulation, boosts stamina, increases weight loss and relieves waist and leg pain. Reduces fatigue. Regulates low blood pressure. Improves bowel, liver and kidney function. Circular/stretching movement helps to flush toxins out of the internal organs.
17. Bouncing a Ball
Improves body coordination. Balances left/right hemispheres of brain. Decreases instances and severity of insomnia/fatigue. Improves circulation.
18. Balancing the Chi
Improves conditions related to the heart and stomach. Lowers high blood pressure. Balances the Chi.