Discourse on the Mindfulness of Breathing ( 06-09-29 )

Now in what way does the monk [person] develop and frequently practice mindfulness of in-and-out breathing so that it bears great fruit and great benefitsω There is the case of a monk who, having gone to a forest, to the shade of a tree or to an empty building, sits down folding his legs crosswise, holding his body erect and keeping mindfulness to the fore. Always mindful, he breathes in; mindful he breathes out. Breathing in long, he discerns that he is breathing in long; or breathing ...

Tai Chi Ruler ( 06-09-29 )

A variation on this exercise might be that when you finish going forward, don't pivot so that you are facing in the opposite direction, but instead do the exercise by moving backwards. You may also want to try it with your eyes closed - its quite a bit different! ...

Yi Jin Jing ( 06-09-29 )

In ancient China, the monk Bodhidharma went to the Shaolin Temple(少林寺), and saw that the monks there were out of shape from too much meditation. He developed the yijinjing(易筋经) form of chi kung exercises to help them get fitter. From there it spread rapidly during the Song Dynasty, and is still used today.Yijinjing is a set of limbering up exercises for the tendons, to strengthen them. They are gentle exercises, but also involve vigorous will - using one's will to direct the exertion of ...

Wrestling in Ancient China ( 06-08-14 )

Chinese wrestling dates back to very early times. It is said to have been used about five thousand years ago by the Chiyou(嗤尤) tribes for training their soldiers. When China was unified by the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty(秦朝) in 221 BC, wrestling was adopted as an important exercise in military training. After the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties (AD 220- 589), wrestling gradually developed into a competitive, recreational sport. ...

Yangge Dance ( 06-08-14 )

Yangge(秧歌) is a kind of folk dance accompanied by music with strongly accented rhythms. It is popular in many areas of north China. Nowadays, it is a keep-fit activity. It is especially popular among middle-aged and elderly women. It's Friday and the streets of downtown Beijing are full of activity. The sound of drumbeats and cymbals blare from the sidewalk while thousands of elderly people on street corners dance "Yangge," a traditional dance using brightly colored fans and costumes. ...

Top-Spinning ( 06-08-14 )

Traditional Sports ( 06-08-14 )

Tug-of-War ( 06-08-14 )

The Buda Game of the Tang and Song Dynasties ( 06-08-14 )

Swinging ( 06-08-14 )

Taiwan-style Basketball ( 06-08-14 )

Gaoqiao ( 06-08-14 )

Stilt Ball ( 06-08-14 )

Straw Ball ( 06-08-14 )

Shuttlecock Kicking ( 06-08-14 )

Skipping Ropes ( 06-08-14 )

Seesaw Jump ( 06-08-14 )

Sheep Snatching on Horseback ( 06-08-14 )

Polo ( 06-08-14 )

Qigong ( 06-08-14 )