Jingjin Movement Training

09/07/2023

I just posted an assisted donyu video. This is a qigong exercise which uses a squat to mobilize the spine and engage the core. The use of the stick is just a way to find the movement. Many times, people use a dance bar (or kitchen counter) which is ok, but I prefer this vertical bar for reasons that are highlighted in the video. Check it out!

The don yu (dūn yāo) is a fantastic qigong exercise to increase spinal mobility, but many practitioners lack the strength and flexibility to keep the proper ...

08/29/2023

These images are from my presentation at the 2023 Florida State Oriental Medical Association conference. In the photos, we are building the thoraculumbar fascia from the abdominals (represented my my friend and colleague in the white, long sleeve shirt, David Miller) , though the layers of the TLF, and to their connections to the spine (represented by the orange stick mobility). This was the first time I did this demo and I thought it worked out well enough to do it again and I think I would like to do a video on it.
Thanks to my friend and colleague, Lynn Mcphearson for taking the photos in the heat of action! And thanks to FSOMA for having me!

08/16/2023

Here is a video that somewhat focuses on a joint preparation exercise I do on gymnastics rings, but really I am discussing posture and balance of the channels in Chinese medicine. Specifically, I highlight the influence of the Lung and Large Intestine channel sinews on scapular and ribcage balance.

00:00 - Intro00:41 - Setup02:47 - Posture03:52 - Channel Sinews06:18 - Ring DipsMany channels (meridians) act on the scapula and influence its position and m...

08/13/2023

This is a qigong exercise I teach in classes and also I show to patients. The goal is to stretch the Lung channel which effectively means that we are creating space and increasing volume in the upper ribcage for the lungs and other visceral structures in the thoracic cavity.

This is a simple qigong exercise to open the chest. It stretches the Lung sinew channel (jingjin) which is a myofascial plane that runs from the thumb, up th...

08/02/2023

Here is a qigong exercise which engages the core and mobilizes the spine. The movement is generated in the center (the core) and expands out into the arms. I am demonstrating a way of practicing this with a bar to help find and improve the movement in the shoulder joint. The idea is that the expansion and compression that occurs in the spine manifests in the arms, improving circulation and mobility in the entire body.

The don yu (dūn yāo) is a qigong exercise which involves an alternating expansion and compression of the spine. In the system of Chinese physiology, it invol...

07/24/2023

Over the past decade (really more), I have been developing a model of the channel sinews (jingjin) which are the muscles and the fascia of the channels of Chinese medicine. I have been determining which anatomical structures are part of each of these myofascial planes of tissue. This has evolved out of the clinic and into fitness trails, gyms, and other exercise areas. In this video I discuss some of the theory with examples of bodyweight calisthenic exercises, taiji and walking. The video is mostly an informal discussion with a few featured movement examples to help illustrate what I am describing.

The channel (meridian) system of Chinese medicine provides a complex pathway which highlights how regions of the body are connected, but there is not much sp...

07/02/2023

This is a reference video for the part of liuhebada that we are working on in class. I love part 2 of this form!

This is moves 50-59 of Part 2 of liuhebafa (Cantonese pronunciation: lok hup ba fa). This is a reference for those I teach and for anyone doing this version ...

06/29/2023

Here is a summary of how the liver and pericardium sinew channels are active in rotational movements with some examples of qigong exercises that activate and engage these channels.

The Pericardium and Liver sinew channels (jingjin) control rotation in the body, specifically rotation of the shoulder girdle, ribcage and pelvis. This video...

06/12/2023

I am working on an online class for incorporating weighted clubs into training for your own shoulder and ribcage health, but also for working with patients. This will be a short class for acupuncturists and CEUs will be available. I have a question. If you were to take the class, would you want the entire thing to be recorded (with ongoing access to the videos), or would you prefer some of it to be live streamed? I definitely plan on pre-recording most of it since the quality is better (you can use a good camera, lighting, sound editing, etc.). But, some livestreaming is nice since you can discuss, respond to questions and lecture. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks!

06/09/2023

Here is a weighted club drill to strengthen the back and shoulder blade region, while opening the chest. For those that study Chinese medicine, this would highlight the engagement of the small intestine jingjin and the urinary bladder jingjin.

This club exercise, similar to a weighted club exercise called mills, is derived from a qigong exercise I teach and practice. The goal is to engage the small...

06/03/2023

I am working on an online class that will feature some shoulder mobilization and stabilization exercises. The class will be for individual development and also for patient exercises and rehab. This particular exercise might be phased in depending on the stage of shoulder injury. It is a great exercise for mobilizing the shoulder girdle, strengthening and controlling the scapular movement, and mobilizing the ribcage.

Weighted Clubs are a fantastic tool to improve shoulder and ribcage mobility. I use this tool when working with patients with shoulder problems and when teac...