A group of medical workers practice Baduanjin at the first Baduanjin Games held in Nantong, Jan 12. [Photo/IC]
The first Baduanjin Games was held by the Nantong Chinese Medical Alliance in the city of Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Jan 12.
More than 10 teams from local Chinese medical institutes took part in the game, with the aim of promoting traditional Chinese methods for treating ill health.
Baduanjin, which literally means "eight-section brocade", is one of the most common forms of Chinese qigong exercise, and is increasingly popular. The name refers to how the eight individual movements of the exercise characterize and impart delicate movements to the body and its energy.
Baduanjin is one of the oldest health and fitness regimens in China, with its origins dating back over 800 years to the Song Dynasty (960-1276).
The modern form of Baduanjin, however, has been simplified to make it easier to master. No equipment is necessary and it requires very little space and time.
In fact, it's good for office workers, as they often suffer from lower back and cervical pain caused by hours spent sitting in front of the computer. Numerous easy-to-follow instructional videos demonstrating the exercise are available online.
（source：chinadaily.com.cn）
