Bagua, Baguazhang, Bagwa, Pakua, Walking Meditation or “walking of the circle” are all names for this style of Kung Fu training. Translated to English is “8 trigram palm”. Bagua is an internal developing style similar to Tai chi and Hsing Yi. Tai chi is often considered to be the softest, Bagua somewhat harder and Hsing Yi the hardest style of the three main internal styles. Hard and soft refer to the control applied to the various movements practiced. Bagua develops stability in motion amongst many other things. Cheng, Chung, Emei, Sun are all styles of Baguazhang.
Benefits include:
- Calming of the mind
- Focuses thought
- Strengthens and relaxes muscles
- Can be practices as “Moving Meditation”
- Attention to body alignments
- Cultivates internal energy (qi)
- Develops the physical body from the inside out
- Slow, medium & fast body motions
- Static (isometric) as well as continuous (isotonic) movements
Deep mindful breathing, specific muscle stretching and deliberate walking techniques are the basis of BagauZhang exercises. Practicing BaguaZhang or Bagua, stepping positions, body postures and changes (transitional stretching movements) enables one to move your body like a spring, being flexible and light but having a lot of strength and power behind the movement. This would be similar to moving as light and smooth as a feather but having the strength and speed of a bear.
Attaining certain body alignments within postures, holding that position and moving from one to another is essential to develop overall strength, coordination, balance and increase of energy flow throughout the body. Proper breathing is important in the development of internal strength and has to be in tune with each movement. These postures can be practiced as static exercises for any length of time (typically 20 seconds to 5 minutes or more), or dynamically while performing the different stepping methods.
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Often we look to point the finger how others should be better. Another perspective would be to make ourselves better. Be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Set the example because this action alone can be contagious in a positive way.
Wisdom is a recipe of knowledge and experience obtained over time (age) allowing one to differentiate when is the correct timing to react or not to react. When to do, when not to do. Coming up to a stop sign, you really don’t care to stop your vehicle (your true feeling) but you do because it is the right action (the law) to stop. If a blaring fire engine were to suddenly appear in your rear view mirror, you might choose to move through the intersection and to a space clear of the oncoming 370,000 pounds of moving metal and water (correct action for this situation).
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