A piece of elastic stretched lengthways simultaneously becomes narrower across its width. When the stretch is released, both the length and width return to their original state. This is the principle behind the stretching exercise with which the Ba Duan Jin series begins. The entire length of the body’s elastic band between the two ends – in this case, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet – is stretched. The waist, exactly halfway along the elastic band, consequently becomes narrower.
So the waist gets narrower? That doesn’t seem like an unnecessary luxury in the case of the model pictured above. Or is his round belly actually a sign of being able to let go of the area that many of us are constantly holding in?
The first sequence of the Ba Duan Jin is known as Two Hands Supporting the Heaven and Regulating the San Jiao (雙手托天理三焦, shuāng shǒu tuó tiān lǐ sān jiāo). Huh? That calls for an explanation, which will certainly be provided in one of the following posts. For now: an exercise that looks so simple deserves a short, straightforward name. Support the Heavens.
