Wudang Five Animals Qigong

Wudang Five Animals Qigong is an ancient Taoist exercise designed to improve one’s health and longevity.As the name implies, the movements of this exercise are based on the movements of five animals; the dragon, the tiger, the leopard, the snake, and the crane.Each animal movement improves the function of a specific internal organ.The dragon improves the kidneys, the tiger improves the lungs, the leopard improves the liver, the snake improves the spleen, and the crane improves the heart.Through dedicated practice, Wudang Five Animals Qigong has the capacity to bring balance back to one’s internal organ system.When the internal organs are in balance, the body is able to work at its optimum efficiency, thus improving the overall health and longevity of the practitioner.
In addition to bringing harmony back to the internal organs, Wudang Five Animals Qigong also opens up the joints, lengthens the tendons, and strengthens the muscles.Furthermore, this ancient exercise improves the functions of the respiratory and circulatory systems as well; this not only allows the body to deliver fresh, oxygen-rich blood to all the extremities of the body but it is also assists with the elimination of deadly toxins.The overall function of Wudang Five Animals Qigong is to the body soft and supple, like that of a child.If practiced regularly, this exercise can literally reverse the aging process so that one can enjoy the benefits of strong and healthy body well into their years.
The overall objective of this article is to introduce the practitioner to the many benefits of Wudang Five Animals Qigong, and to compliment the video to provide the practitioner with a solid base for practice.This article will cover eight key elements necessary for practice: opening movements, dragon movements, tiger movements, leopard movements, snake movements, crane movements, closing movements, and standing meditation.In addition, basic principles for practice will be included as well.
Please note, this article is in no way intended to replace real direction from a certified instructor.Furthermore, Wudang Five Animals Qigong is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or ailment.Like any other physical activity, one is advised to consult their primary health care provider before undertaking these exercises.
OPENING MOVEMENTS
Start by standing strait and tall with your feet together, knees slightly bent, and your hands down by your side. Take a slow breath in and open your feet to about shoulder’s width.As you exhale, plant your feet firmly into the ground and sink your weight.On the following inhale, allow the hands to raise slowly in front of you until they reach shoulder height; as you exhale, let them drop slowly back down to your waist.On the next inhale, let the arms rise up again, but this time along your sides; once at shoulder level, exhale and slightly drop the elbows so that they point to the ground.Now, turn the hands so that the palms face outwards and the fingers point down.On the next inhale, bring your hands up over your head and join them at the wrists, all while slowly tilting your head back and turning your gaze up towards the sky.In this position, both palms should be facing the sky as if holding up a large bowl.Hold your breath in this posture for as long as you are comfortable, then exhale and bring the hands down the center line of your body with the palms together in a prayer position.
While keeping the hands in a prayer position, let them go all the way down below the naval and press the palms together to stretch the hands and the fingers; then, relax the hands as you inhale and bring the hands up to chest level.Exhale, and lower your hands down once again while pressing the fingers together just as you did before.Then, inhale as you relax and bring the palms back up to chest level.This motion is repeated for a total of three times.End this motion on the exhale with your palms pressed together just below the naval, then slowly turn your hands so that your fingers now point to the ground and drop your hands to about waist level.
This time, with your hands now in an inverted prayer position, bring the hands up to chest level with an inhale while pressing the palms together.Then, with the exhale, relax your hands and drop them down to the waist.Again, with the inhale, bring the hands back up to chest level while pressing the palms together; then relax with the exhale and let the hands fall back to the waist. This motion is also repeated for a total of three times.End this sequence on the exhale with hands still together in an inverted prayer position at waist level.To close, open the hands out and up above the head with an inhale as if to gather a large ball of air.Then exhale and bring the palms down the center line of the body as if to push the ball of air deep into your belly.This concludes the opening movements.Now stand in meditation for approximately three minutes.