You’ve probably seen people in parks throughout the world practicing slow, fluid movements. You may wonder if they are doing Tai Chi or Qigong (Are Tai Chi and Qigong the Same Thing) movements. It could also be a unique combination of both called Shibashi.
Shibashi, also called “Taiji Qigong in 18 Movements”, is a set of individual Qigong exercises, that are practiced in a fluid, continuous manner. Shibashi combines elements from Yang style Tai Chi and breathing and movement exercises from Qigong and has been described as a gentle, beautiful and flowing Qigong exercise that is very relaxing. It is suitable for all ages and has been shown to increase energetic vitality, rejuvenate the mind, body and soul, and gain more agility and flexibility.
Shibashi introduces the basic elements of weight shifting, coordination of leg and arm movements, along with controlled breathing. This makes it a perfect prelude to learning Tai Chi, or as warm-up for Tai Chi and other types of physical exercise. Unlike many exercises which stretch and stimulate the large muscle groups, Shibashi focuses on the smaller muscles, tendons and ligaments in order to promote the strong elastic forces of Tai Chi. The gentle stretching and releasing, combined with deep relaxed breathing, encourages tension deep in the body tissues to soften and release.
All Shibashi movements are centered around a face-forward position. If you move to the side or to the diagonal, you will return to the starting position. Therefore, Shibashi takes very little space. If you can stretch your arms out to the side and turn full circle, you have enough room to practice. A Shibashi set takes about 15 to 20 minutes to practice depending on your mood and speed. You can start to feel the benefits by just doing a few moves each day.
Shibashi was created in 1982 in Shanghai, China. The exercises are always credited to Hou Shen (Lin Hou Sheng, Lin Housheng). Some say he was a Chinese doctor and others a “healer” and Qigong Master. Interestingly, today in China, all students of Traditional Chinese Medicine are required by the Government to study the Shibashi of Lin Housheng. It is believed that the exercises can be considered medicinal and used to complement treatment of a number of common ailments. Shibashi can have both a sedating and tonifying effect on the meridians, which allows Qi to flow freely and brings harmony throughout the body and mind.
Although Shibashi is practiced in most countries in the world and the movements are simple to learn, to get the full benefit, Shibashi should be taught by an instructor familiar with the Tai Chi Chuan principles. There are a few schools and/or instructors who specialize in Shibashi but one may not be near where you live. Therefore, if you would like to try Shibashi, it would probably be best to find an instructor certified in Tai Chi and/or Qigong and inquire about their experience with teaching Shibashi.
The 18 movement Shibashi set needs to be seen to be appreciated and is too difficult to explain in this blog. Check out Master Wing Cheung on YouTube performing the set. He is an exceptional practitioner and instructor in Shibashi.
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