Des Lawton – The Silk Exercises – Fours sets of Qigong

Des taught these sets of, very early, Qigong in as an online course between April 2023 and May 2024. The course was hugely successful and he has been inundated with requests to to repeat it. As all of the were recorded, he decided that an on-demand course should be created.

All of the lessons are available on the Archive Videos page but Des thought that they should be brought together as a course at a significantly lower cost than paying for each lesson individually.

Over the millennia, the original “Silk Exercises” were developed and the Internal focus changed as Masters explored their full potential. They are the forerunners of many Qigong including the Ba Duan Jin (the Eight Section Brocade) and also the Ten Fundamental Treasures. This development continued and an example of this is that it has also led to a number of variations of the Ba Duan Jin being taught. Some of these variations progressed with the Internal while others reverted to being more physical in nature.

It is the Internal that we are working with as it is this that raises physical exercise to the level where it is truly Qigong. Qigong did not appear overnight! The Internal understanding developed from the external as practitioners (those early Masters) became more and more aware of movement that was not physical. Of sensations that were not physical. Of beyond body experiences that could not be explained adequately using physical descriptions.

The first set of the Silk Exercises is focused on the physical. The second set started the journey of Internal exploration and experimentation for the ancient Masters. They then, over the generations, continued the development to sets three and then four. As with all arts the branches grew and this led to changes that were, externally, subtle. But these created completely different focus Internally… Creating completely different benefits and uses.

The ancient Masters were working with different qualities of Qi and discovering the energy flows that we now recognise as Meridians and Vessels. Des will be guide you through how the Silk Exercises developed and became more focused as the Internal movements and flows were discovered. You will have the opportunity to experience how the complexity of the Internal movements increases as the sets developed.

Des will also draw your attention to Qigong that use very similar movements (sharing the same roots) yet have completely different Internal effects and outcomes. There is more than enough information and guidance in these Silk Exercises lessons for you to learn and explore these Qigong. All it takes is dedication and time. The first three Silk Exercises sets are performed in a standing posture and the last is performed seated.

What You’ll Learn In The Silk Exercises – Fours sets of Qigong

Sets 1 to 3

• Hands Holding up the Sky.
• Archery.
• Single Arm Lift.
• Looking Backward.
• Head Shaking and Buttock Swaying.
• Holding the Toes.
• Fist Play with Eyes Glaring.
• Heel Lifting.

Set 4

• Hugging the Head.
• Rolling the Head.
• Holding up the Sky.
• Reaching for the Toes.
• Wheeling the Arms.
• Drawing a Bow.
• Fist Play (criss-cross).
• Tapping the Body.

The Ba Duan Jin

• Lifting the Sky.
• Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle.
• Holding up a Single Hand.
• The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
• Sway the Head and Shake the Tail.
• Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys.
• Punching with Intent.
• Raise the Heels.

The Ten Fundamental Treasures

• Uphold the Heavens.
• Harmonizing Earth.
• Looking Backward.
• Pulling the Bow to Shoot the Hawk.
• Shaking the Head and Waving the Tail.
• Holding the Fists Tightly and Staring with Glaring Eyes.
• Abdominal Lift.
• Spring with the Toes.
• Hold the Toes and Strengthen the Kidneys.
• Change the Sinews.

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