"Qigong Shi Ba Shi" Exercise

The photos here show the members of the "Kampong Ubi Eunosville Qigong Group" doing the "Qigong Shi Ba Shi" (气功十八式) exercises at the Kampong Ubi Community Centre.

Accorrding to the Qigong Shi Ba Shi Association (Singapore), their main objective is to promote Qigong Shi Ba Shi exercise for the physical and mental health of Singaporeans regardless of race, language or religion and actively support other organisations in community health promotion.

The following are some of the benefits of the Qigong Shi Ba Shi exercises:

1. Improves Health
2. Increases Energy, Agility and Flexibility
3. Loosens and Strengthens Joints and Muscles
4. Controls Weight
5. Rejuvenates Body, Mind and Spirit
6. Reduces Stress
7. Improves Concentration and Intuitive Abilities
8. Controls Emotions
9. Easy to Learn

One of the participants, Che Norha Nim, a Residents Committee member of Zhenghua, told me that she travelled all the way from Bukit Panjang with two other friends for the qigong exercises at Kampong Ubi CC on every Tuesday and Friday evening for the past 5 months. They were selected by the People's Assocation to be trained as "Qigong Shi Ba Shi" trainers/demonstrators. Their training course will be completed next month.

Although the instructions were given in Mandarin, language was not a problem for Che Norha and her friends as they have been doing the "Qigong Shi Ba Shi" exercises at Zhenghua Community Centre for about 3 years now. They have learnt the Chinese phrases used during training and are able to understand the instructions without much difficulties.

When they return to Zhenghua as trainers/demonstrators, the medium of instruction would either be in Malay or Mandarin. Isn't that great?

Like music, the "Qigong Shi Ba Shi" physical exercise is universal. It does not have any language or cultural barriers, although the artform was originally from China.

The motto of the Qigong Shi Ba Shi Association (Singapore) is:

"Life is Great with Qigong Exercise".

Sent from my Treo 650