How to Perform Basic Qigong Techniques

These following qigong methods (known collectively as the 8 Brocades of Qigong) will all start from a standing position. Each drill should be redone 7-15 times as you go through the series of exercises.

Steps

From a standing position, keep both of your arms straight as you raise them above your head. Make sure your arms are at maximum extensions (as if you are reaching for something high above you). Lower your arms back down to your sides, keeping them straight all the way through and then repeat.This exercise intends to increase organ vitality, and especially stretch the abdominals before harder work.
From a standing position, lower into a squat until your knees bend to around 90 degrees. Reach your left arm in from of you at maximum extension meanwhile use your right arm (bent as much as possible) and pull backwards, similar to the action of drawing a bow. Switch arms and repeat. This focuses on stretching the back muscles and shoulders, as well as the chest.
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From a standing position, raise your left arm at full extension sideways up towards the air (again as if you are reaching something). With your right arm, reach as far down as you can at full extensions. After a few seconds of holding this positions. Raise the right arms and lower the left arm into opposite directions (imagine a cork bottle opener with the two arms that go in different directions rather than the same). After holding this for a few seconds, repeat. Similarly, this is to improve back muscle endurance and slightly stretch the abdominals.
From a standing position, look to your left with your head so your chin and shoulder are in line. Then slowly look over to your right and repeat. This is a neck exercise aim at making the neck flexible (pulling heavy weights can result in injury to the neck area).
Move into a squatting position with knees far apart. With hands on your knee caps, look over your left and right shoulders alternately and repeat. This intends to be almost a whole body work out, with most of the abdomen moving, as well as the neck and the lower leg muscles contracting.
With legs a fair distance apart, punch straight forward with the right and left arms alternately and repeat. The most physically demanding, this intends to increase strength and endurance in the arms, as well as hone punching technique in conjunction with the hips.
With legs straight, bend down and clasp your ankles with your two hands. Slowly return to standing position and repeat. This straightens out lower back muscles and as contracting the abdominals.
Raise your body onto tip toes slowly and lower the body. Repeat. This mostly affects lower legs muscles but also improves stability.
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Tips

Breathe in when moving a body part away, and out when moving it towards you.
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Alternate your breathing. Breathe once as you do a motion and again as you recover from it.
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These methods can be coupled with kung fu Iron Rings, or, less traditionally, dumbbells.
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