This essay is drawn from published discussion. It cites classical Chinese books, the words of others, or academic argument, and is meant as cultural reading on the traditional cultivation of life. What it says about the body, and about what practice may do, belongs to the sources quoted or to the original speaker. It is not a medical promise or clinical advice from the people who operate this website.
After Russia and France, Hu Xiaofei went to Brussels, Belgium, to teach for six days—the third stop of that European journey. About seventy people from nearly ten countries—Belgium, France, Germany, Macedonia, Italy, and others—took part; among their professions were lawyers, computer engineers, and civil servants. The report also writes that the king’s personal physician and a Polish prince came.
What Was Practiced Day by Day
1 November: Warm-Up Before Practice for sport and cultivating life, Yangsheng Zhuji Gong (Foundation Practice), and basic work for the lower limbs. The original text says these two sets belong to basic work, helping beginners loosen and straighten the body’s form, and train breathing to be natural, even, fine, and slow, laying a foundation for later Daoyin and Taiji.
2 to 3 November: Shu Gan Li Dan Gong, He Wei Jian Pi Gong, Yu Zhen Bu Yuan Gong, and Shu Jin Zhuang Gu Gong created by Zhang Guangde, with discussion of the theory of the practices.
4 November: Daoyin Yangsheng Gong Twelve Methods. Hu Xiaofei spoke of the movements, key points, and effects, emphasizing “place the life-intention at the waist,” “practice travels on round paths,” “practice merges with poetry and painting,” and “whenever there is movement there must be rotation, whenever there is action there must be circling,” “move the tip joints, travel through fingers and toes.”
5 November: Forty-Nine Meridian Moving Exercises. The original text says it supports the upright and cultivates the root, strengthens constitution, and emphasizes “quiet the spirit and hold intention,” “intention leads qi,” “be skilled at gathering and swallowing,” “cut off the uttering of sounds”: the spirit concentrated, intention guiding inner qi, movements light and slow. The trainees also heard talk of opening the meridians and strengthening the body to meet conditions such as tumors. This is the original’s discussion.
6 November: first set of Yangsheng Taiji Palm (fortifying the heart and benefiting the lungs) and second set (nourishing the kidneys and replenishing the spleen). The original uses “when the form labors the heart is at ease, illness does not arise, the body is well and the years increase, heaven’s span is enjoyed forever” to describe this system.
Calling on the Cultural Counsellor
Brussels is where the headquarters of the European Union sit. The report writes that this teaching received the support and appreciation of China’s Mission to the EU. After the training, accompanied by Pierre, vice president of the International Health Qigong Federation, Hu Xiaofei called on the cultural counsellor of China’s Mission to the EU, and spoke of the spread of traditional culture of cultivating life and fitness in Europe.