3 Day residential retreats | Five Animals Qigong – Wu Qin Xi
The Brahma Kumaris Centre for Spiritual Learning is on the outskirts of Wilton in the Illawarra, a one-and-a-half-hour drive south west of Sydney. There is a nearby train station at Picton.
The Five Animals Qigong is a traditional series of exercises inspired by the movements, qualities, and natural characteristics of five animals. The practice is traditionally attributed to Hua Tuo, a renowned physician who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD). Hua Tuo is remembered in Chinese history for his contributions to medicine and for developing a system of exercises known as the “Five Animals Play” (Wu Qin Xi).
The movements are inspired by the Tiger, Deer, Bear, Monkey, and Bird, with each animal representing a different quality of movement and expression. Practitioners learn to observe and embody the characteristics of each animal through coordinated movements, breathing, posture, relaxation, and focused attention.
