The Stress Relief Qigong and Stress Prevention Qigong are two Daoyin exercise routines that form a Yin/Yang balanced approach to managing stress. The exercise is composed of eight linked movements which form an elegant sequence which is guided by the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine such as the concept of wholism, the theory of diagnosis and treatment based on differential analysis of symptoms and signs, the theory of Yin and Yang and Five Elements and the Qi circulation through the channels. The Stress Relief routine is the Yang side of the pair and is designed specifically to deal with relieving the stress someone is suffering from as opposed to its partner, the Yin side, which is designed to prevent more stress from accumulating.

Daoyin Baojian Gong (Daoyin Exercise for Keeping Fit) is part of the health system of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong created by Professor Zhang Guangde at the Beijing Sports University and now centred at the Daoyin Yangsheng Centre at that university.
It consists of eight elegant exercises crafted in such a way as to begin with easy movements, build to more challenging postures, and then calm the mind and body down to finish. Each one of the eight exercises is complete in itself and has its own health benefit, while combined they create a graceful, flowing health exercise.
The characteristic features and main points of Daoyin Baojian Gong are:
• combining thought with physical postures, stressing thought;
• co-ordinating movements with breathing, stressing breathing;
• guiding movements along the channels, paying special attention to rotation of arms;
• keeping relaxed throughout the exercise though combined with some stretched movements;
• keeping the whole body in motion with slow and soft actions.
Daoyin Baojian Gong is normally one of the first routines to be studied in the Daoyin Yangsheng Gong system.

Masseurs, while needing to be aware of the energetics in the abdomen, require knowledge of the physical structures of the abdomen and the implications, if any, of blockages, knots and tangles, adhesions, and distortions.
The abdominal information is first offered to the therapist visually by the placement of the navel, its shape, size, twists and turns. This navel information is then put into context by reading the abdomen as a whole – its, shape, size, twists and turns as well.
The second level of information comes from feeling the qi flows throughout the abdomen. Are the individual organs’ energies good, stagnant, blocked or sick?
The third level of information comes from the actual palpation of the abdomen starting with assessing the skin and then gradually working to deeper and deeper structures.
Quantum physics tells us that the act of observing an object changes the state of that object, so too with assessing a person’s abdomen the therapist causes a change of state within that abdomen. This means that the assessment is, quite literally, the first stage of the actual treatment.

Physical and energetic diagnosis of the navel and the abdomen
Masseurs, while needing to be aware of the energetics in the abdomen, require knowledge of the physical structures of the abdomen and the implications, if any, of blockages, knots and tangles, adhesions, and distortions.
The abdominal information is first offered to the therapist visually by the placement of the navel, its shape, size, twists and turns. This navel information is then put into context by reading the abdomen as a whole – its, shape, size, twists and turns as well.
The second level of information comes from feeling the qi flows throughout the abdomen. Are the individual organs’ energies good, stagnant, blocked or sick?

Taijiquan, Great Ultimate Boxing, is very popular throughout the whole world. But despite its popularity it is still very much a misunderstood art.
The Great Ultimate, of course, relates to Yin and Yang, the great opposites that should always be dynamically balanced. Within Taijiquan itself the Yin is solo practice while the Yang is practising with a partner. By far the most common Taijiquan activity is the solo form. And while this is very beneficial for lots of people, it is only half the story (pedantically it could be argued that it is not true Taijiquan because it only represents the Yin aspect - this is always a great topic for debate).
Normally the solo training consists of the barehand forms and weapon forms while the partner work is primarily pushing hands (tuishou). However, there are a lot more aspects to Taijiquan training that are not as commonly seen. In solo work, there is lower abdomen (dantian) training and explosive power (fajing) training. In partner work, there is pulling hands (dalü), scattering hands (sanshou) and seizing and controlling (qinna).
Earlier it was stated that “within Taijiquan itself the Yin is solo practice while the Yang is practising with a partner.” In the same context, within Taijiquan itself there is ‘form and function.’ Every movement in a Taijiquan form has a function (in reality, several functions). When we perform our solo Taijiquan routines we try to follow the theoretical principles of the form (Yin) but without a partner to work with we have no idea whether the function (Yang) will work.
Without working with a partner we are only guessing that we are performing correctly. Partners provide feedback which informs us of correct/incorrect action. Everyone likes to think that they moving correctly but most people have a great capacity for self delusion.
Theory exists in the hypothetical perfect world (pre-heaven) while practice exists in the real world (post-heaven). In Taijiquan, as in Chinese internal alchemy, we can only reach the pre-heaven state by working with the post-heaven forces. Partner work is the key.
One aspect of partner work, not seen very often, is Qinna, the seizing and controlling part of Taijiquan. Similar in nature to, but distinct from, the Japanese Aikido, Qinna gives direct experience of some of the functions of the movements.
In the seminar we will introduce some of the basic principles of Taiji Qinna centred around the most common movements and then go on to link them all together in a short two-person Taiji Qinna routine.
The emphasis will be on light, relaxed motion where appropriate (Yin part of movements) and their dynamic opposite elastic, expanding motions (Yang part of the movements).
While the subject is serious the seminar will not be sombre. A sense of humour is vital.

It is widely recognised that qigong is effective in combatting the effects of stress (weiji). But until now there has not been any qigong routines designed to deal with present day stress disorders.
Now, however, we have two new routines, Weiji Yufang Gong – Stress Prevention Exercise, and Weiji Xiaochu Gong – Stress Relief Exercise. Each of the two routines contains eight individual repetative exercises that flow seamlessly together to create a pleasant therapeutic experience.
As their names imply the first exercise is designed as a preventative exercise to stop the build up of stress. While the second exercise was compiled with the aim of relieving the effects for people already suffering from stress.
Together they provide a paired (yin-yang), balanced approach to dealing with stress.