Sometimes things are exactly as they say on the tin! That’s what you might expect as you watch one of the Monday evening classes demonstrate Form 4 from Shibashi Set 1, which we call Circling Hands.
As you can see, you stand with your feet planted on the ground, cross your hands in front of your body, raise your arms, turn your palms outward, then lower your arms. In other words, you circle your hands just as it implies in the name.
However, there’s a bit more to it than that, as it’s important to cross your hands and arms at a very particular place.
We have an acupressure point called the Inner Gate that lies between the two thick tendons that run down the middle of our inner forearm, about a three finger width up from the crease on the inside of our wrist. And there’s a corresponding point on the opposite side of our forearm called the Outer Gate. So when we cross our hands in Form 4, the Inner Gate should be facing the Outer Gate, making a ‘passing connection’ without our arms actually touching each other.
Why is this important? Well the very short answer is that guiding Qi (energy) over the Inner Gate is said to be good for our heart, for preventing heart disease and for regulating blood pressure. Look out for us saying a bit more about energy gates and the flow of energy around our body in future posts.
Barnard Castle Tai Chi Qigong
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Weekly classes for beginners, advancing and advanced in Barnard Castle. Monday evening, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Plus Intensive courses and pop-up sessions. Book at The Witham or contact Andrew Yeadon 07967 531905 or [email protected]
06/06/2026
Today saw the first of our three Saturday morning sessions at Raby Castle Park and Gardens.
At first we were disappointed that the wet weather meant we couldn’t practise outside in the lovely Amphitheatre and garden. However, the alternative option gave us a wonderful and rare opportunity to experience Qigong in a circular space - The Yurt! It had such a special feel compared with the straight and angular rooms and halls that we typically practise in.
Interesting fact: circular rooms were widely favoured and used in Roman architecture because they created a majestic feeling of the cosmos and because a circle has no start and no end, they were seen as a symbol of eternity and wholeness.
We took a different approach to usual in this morning’s session and rather than trying out lots of different movements, we concentrated on just two, and took time to consider the many aspects we can focus on within a single form (movement).
We had a great morning and look forward to our next Raby session on Saturday 4th July. For more details and to book a spot follow the link in the comments below.
05/06/2026
The Ba Duan Jin goes by many other names including the Eight Brocades, the Eight Fine Exercises and the Eight Silken Movements. It’s an ancient Chinese Qigong routine made up of eight (no surprise there!) gentle flowing exercises.
Practised together daily, they’re designed to tone up the internal organs and systems, and to cultivate the flow of Qi (energy), which helps to prevent, reduce, or remove blockages, resulting in a more balanced mind and body.
A few terms back we spent time in our weekly classes learning the eight exercises and they remain a firm favourite with some students, including Chris who practised the routine on her recent holiday in Minorca. Here she is doing Form 3, Separating Heaven And Earth.
Chris says “I’ve been coming to Qigong classes for just under 2 years. I love the relaxed gentle movements. The sessions leave me feeling full of energy. My favourite movement is Form 4 from the Ba Duan Jin, Wise Owl Gazes Backwards. I find it very calming and great for reducing stress.”
Thanks for sharing that with us Chris.
02/06/2026
Join Andrew Yeadon, Tai Chi Qigong Instructor, this Saturday, 10.30am-12.30pm, at Raby Castle and Gardens, for an introductory session to the incredible art of Tai Chi Shibashi.
Learn how this ancient Chinese art integrates posture, breathing, relaxation, attention and gentle coordinated movement to boost your mind, body, emotions and general wellbeing.
Andy says “My life would be very different without a Tai Chi Qigong practice and I get a huge amount out of sharing it with people and seeing the many benefits they also get from it.”
Follow the link in comments below for further information and to book a place.
This is what ‘Dancing With Rainbows’ looks like! That’s just one of the names given to Form 3 of Shibashi Set 1.
With smooth continuous movements, we can visualise scooping up positive energy and moving it from the palm of our hand (specifically the Lao Gong meridian point) to the crown of our head (the Bai Hui point), allowing that positive energy to travel downwards to fill our whole body.
Be assured, you don’t need to stand on a rock in the River Tees to Dance With Rainbows, though it does look wonderful doesn’t it?
30/05/2026
It’s true! You’re never too old to start tai chi qigong! Such inspiring feedback this week from Wilf who attended one of Andy’s Intensive Practice weeks…
“My week with you 3 years ago has really changed my life. I have been doing Qigong Shibashi Set 1 every day since then and this discipline has encouraged me to add on a dumbbell weights routine and a Pilates routine so that I have about 40 minutes exercise every day (almost).
I have encouraged family and friends to take it up as well.
I’m 84 and stiffening up a bit so I’ll be happily staying with Shibashi Set 1 and again thank you for starting me off on this lovely path that I’ll be following for the rest of my life. Thanks to you my quality of fitness and life is wonderful.”
If you’d like to get started on your own Tai Chi Qigong journey, you can join Andy for a taster session in the beautiful grounds of Raby Castle on the first Saturday of June, July and August. Details via the link in comments below.
27/05/2026
Join Andy Yeadon for a Qigong taster morning in the stunning Raby Castle Gardens on the first Saturday of the month for the next three months.
The first being on Saturday 6th of June.
This will be a perfect opportunity for those new to the art so please share the link (in the comments below) with anyone you think might be interested and also we'll be doing plenty of movement and practice for those of you who are more experienced and want to enjoy our great practice in a beautiful setting.
This week we want to show you Form 2 from Shibashi Set 1, also called Broadening One’s Chest. The movement opens the chest and heart centre, and expands the lungs, which encourages deeper breathing. It also helps to release tension and improve posture by opening up the shoulders, which are often rounded and slouched over a computer or phone screen in our everyday modern lives.
After we recorded this Form, several class members shared how the movement felt for them:
“Like I was opening myself up to the world”
“An act of surrender”
“A gesture of giving and receiving”
“A sense of safe vulnerability”
“Like I didn’t need to protect myself “
Comments like these demonstrate beautifully that the slow, meditative and flowing movements in a gigong practice affect us at both a physiological and a psychological level.
20/05/2026
After a very successful taster the other Saturday Raby Estates and I have scheduled three Qigong taster mornings to be held in the stunning newly upgraded Raby Castle Park and Gardens on the first Saturday of the month for the next three months.
If you’ve never done Qigong before and want to experience it this is an ideal opportunity. Or if you’ve done it before but want to experience it in stunning surroundings here’s your chance.
https://www.raby.co.uk/events/tai-chi-qigong-with-andrew-yeadon/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAR6u2BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEelr1HmYMYFFs6lCGoDTTk7rPTo5XNbu23l7lMzmCfTBvc8oDMa2uUSE1fRzs_aem_TYgAJ0TVUbobzH3hJ3qcww
20/05/2026
After a very successful taster the other Saturday Raby Estates and I have scheduled three Qigong taster mornings to be held in the stunning newly upgraded Raby Castle Park and Gardens on the first Saturday of the month for the next three months.
If you’ve never done Qigong before and want to experience it this is an ideal opportunity. Or if you’ve done it before but want to experience it in stunning surroundings here’s your chance.
https://rabyestate.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/77895?catID=73050&
T'ai Chi Qigong with Andrew Yeadon - Raby Estates Join Andrew Yeadon in a morning introduction to the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi Qigong with refreshments and traybakes also provided. Learn about how
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The Witham, 3 Horse Market
Barnard Castle
DL128LY