The eight pieces of brocade: ba duan jin also known as the eight treasures

This name is given to the health exercises
created by general Yue Fei (12th century AD)
to improve the health of his soldiers.
This general was also at the origin of the internal martial school :
xing yi quan (ancestor of Yi Quan).
The original 12 exercises were reduced to 8.
The long brocade coats worn by the empire's dignitaries at the time suggest good health.

1. Both hands raised to the sky to regulate sanjiao (triple heater)

a/ Stand with feet shoulder-width apart
Hands together, palms up
Raise hands,
Palms level with face
Stretch by pushing upwards
Lower arms to sides
Regulating the sanjio (triple warmer): the triple warmer meridian is linked to three regions (or foci): above the diaphragm, between the diaphragm and the navel, and between the navel and the pubis. The respective roles of these three regions are: breathing, digestion and elimination. The Sanjiao runs from the ring finger to the head, joining the gall-bladder meridian. Stretching and lowering the arms activates and regulates the Qi in the sanjiao.
b/ This first movement of Ba Duan Jin (两手托天理三焦) refers to the bear in the Taoist Qi Gong tradition. Try to practice it by embodying the solidity and strength of this animal!
this exercise harmonizes the Triple Warmer and Heart Master meridians
stretching the thorax also stimulates the heart and lungs
looking up to the sky and climbing onto the half spikes reinforces balance and stimulates the cerebellum
stimulates elimination functions & purges the body of excessive heat (Yin phase of lowering the arms)
during the summer season, it's particularly beneficial to practice this exercise (up to 36 repetitions)

2. Left and right appear to be bending a bow as if to shoot an arrow

a/ Move left foot into rider's position
Bend knees
Bring arms in a circle in front of you
Stretch the imaginary arc by following the hand with the eyes
Draw the bow alternately to the left and right.
The bow shooter's sitting position activates the lower part of the body (coxo- femoral region) and strengthens kidney Qi. The opening gesture, by lowering the body, facilitates circulation from bottom to top.
b/ Zuoyou kai gong si she diao (左右开弓似射雕)
Opens and softens the ribcage
Releases tension from the diaphragm
Regulates energy in the lungs, heart and liver
Tones blood and Qi
Strengthens hand and forearm muscles
Stimulates arm meridians (3 Yin & 3 Yang)
Softens shoulders and neck

3. Raised arm treats spleen and stomach

a/ Return with feet parallel
Gently raise hands to stomach level, palms up
Separate hands, left arm up, right arm down.
Stretch the body
Repeat the movement, changing arms
Raising the arm treats the spleen and stomach: The stomach meridian (yang) is linked to the spleen meridian (yin). The stomach meridian starts at the nose wing and ends at the second toe. The spleen meridian starts at the big toe and ends under the tongue. The upward movement of the arms while pushing on the legs activates circulation in the spleen, stomach and liver.
b/ Tiaoli piwei xu dan ju (调理脾胃须单举)
Regulates digestive functions (assimilation and digestion)
Stretches the abdominal cavity and massages the digestive organs (stomach, spleen, pancreas, liver and gallbladder)
Acts on the ribcage, helping to regulate the functions of the Liver and Gallbladder

4. We look back as if to detect the "five fatigues" and "seven discomforts".

a / Feet parallel, arms at sides
Look behind slowly to right and left
Waist pivot looking back, head, shoulder, hand aligned (moving together)
Relax the muscular torsion around the spine (top and bottom)
The "five fatigues" refer to diseases of the five internal yin organs:
heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys.
The "seven discomforts" are linked to the seven emotions: anger, joy, sadness, fear, obsession, worry and fear. According to Chinese medicine, the exaggeration or inhibition of emotions is harmful to the five organs and leads to disease.
Anger harms the liver, joy the heart, sadness the lung, fear the kidney, obsession the spleen.
Emotions cause energy to stagnate at the top. Moving from the bottom to the top regulates the Qi that stagnates at the top. Turning the head backwards relaxes the cervical region.
b/ Wulaoqishang xianghou qiao (五劳七伤向后瞧)
This Ba Duan Jin exercise refers to a concept in Chinese medicine "Wu Lao" the 5 diseases: looking too much hurts the blood (heart), sitting too much hurts the muscles (Spleen), standing too long hurts the bones (Kidneys), walking too much hurts the tendons (Liver) and lying too much hurts the Qi (Lung).
"Qi Shang" refers to cold and heat-related injuries and bad lifestyle habits: anger injures the liver, joy (excessive) injures the heart, reflection (endless) injures the spleen, sadness injures the lung and fear injures the kidney.
Stretches muscles in the scapular area, preventing shoulder, neck and back disorders
Stimulates the optic nerve and reduces eye fatigue
Strengthens Yang meridians by twisting the spinal column
Stimulates blood circulation in the head and brain
"wrings out the spine and spinal cord, regulating the nervous system

5. Plug in your head and "wag your tail", i.e. arch your back to drive the fire out of your heart

a/ Moving the left foot
Get into rider's position
Place hands on thighs Fingers on inside Thumb on outside
Lean forward
Swing to the left
Stretch right side
Pass to right side
Stretch left side
Fire (excess of the heart) in the median focus and plexus can be caused by poor diet, breathing foul air or lack of sleep. Fire is linked to the heart. Metal is linked to the lungs. In the 5-element theory, metal absorbs the heat of fire. By moving and opening the ribcage with the arms (lung meridians), we activate the lungs and extinguish the fire in the heart.
b/ This Ba Duan Jin exercise refers to the Chinese medical concept of "Xin Huo" or Heart Fire: when the Kidney is weak, it cannot calm the internal fire (because the water in the Kidney is not abundant enough or does not circulate properly), which can then "attack" the Heart (the ascending nature of the fire element). The aim of this exercise is to strengthen the Kidney's functions.
Yao tou bai wei qu xinhuo (摇头摆尾去心火)
Calms the emotions
Strengthens lower body and waist
Stimulates belt meridian (Dai Mai), Kidney and Bladder meridian

6. Bend your back 7 times and the 100 diseases will disappear

a/ Return with feet parallel
Raise arms above head In front of you
Bend forward
Touch these feet Do not necessarily extend the legs on the way down
Feel the lengthening of the back with the legs
The kidneys are home to the original essence (yuan jing), which is the source of the original breath (yuan qi)
original breath (yuan qi). When the kidneys are healthy and strong, jing (vital essence) is retained and strengthened. Bend your back towards the floor and massage the kidneys by stretching your back. Grip the feet and touch the toes or the yongquan (bubbling spring) point of the kidney meridian on the sole of the foot.
b/Liangshou pan zu gu shen yao (两手攀足固肾腰)
Develops spinal flexibility
Stimulates the two main regulatory vessels: Du mai (back) and Ren mai (front), to balance Yin and Yang
Strengthens the urogenital system, makes the back and waist more supple and prevents lower-back pain
Stimulates the Kidney and Bladder meridians

7. Clench fists with eyes of fire to increase breath and strength

a/ Moving the left foot
Move into rider's position
Raise hands to chest level
Close fist loosely
Extend right arm forward
Place left fist next to ear Slowly repeat simultaneously
left and right
The elastic fist gesture is similar in its internal functions to the second piece. "Eyes of fire" refers to concentration of the mind.
Vigilance coordinated with muscular strength and vital breath creates jing (internal power).
b/ Zan quan numu zeng qili (攒拳怒目增气力)
Stimulates liver and eyes (vision)
Releases stagnation
Strengthens tendons
Promotes blood circulation
Develops muscular strength

8. Lift the heels (7 times) to treat the disease

a/ Stand on tiptoes
Stay for a moment
Body grows upwards
Slowly descend
Finish with small amplitudes
Lightly shake body up and down.
Finish by remaining in position for a moment
b/ Beihou cidian baibing xiao (背后七颠百病消)
Stimulates the bone system through vibration, prevents osteoporosis
Creates a vibration that regulates the nervous system (via Du Mai)
Stimulates blood and Qi circulation
Develops balance skills