Pa Tuan Chin (8 Section Brocade)

This is the earliest recorded Chinese fitness exercise in China.

Practicing this set of exercises will benefit:

• all internal organs (the five internal organs, lung, liver, heart, spleen, pericardium - the protective layer of the heart),
• circulatory and respiratory systems,
• concentration,
• physical and mental strength,
• strengthen the joints, sinew, muscle and the whole body,
• increase metabolism and
• regulate the digestive system.

• Regulates all internal organs, especially the five yin organs (deeper or more interior organs) considered very important in Chinese medicine; the lungs, heart, spleen, liver and pericardium.
• Our body consists of three jiaos (sections):
  • chest (lung and heart)
  • below diaphragm and above navel (stomach and spleen)
  • below navel and above pubic bone (urinary bladder and kidneys)

• Increates rate of metabolism
• Strengthens the arms, chest, back and legs
• Exercises eyesight and builds concentration

• Regulates digestive system (spleen and stomach)
• Increases flexibility around the waist, stretches the arms, hands and wrists
• As the spleen and stomach are difficult to exercise, it is necessary to move the hands up and down in simultaneous vigorous opposite movements in order to enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis and to prevent disease

• Alleviates mental fatigue and calms the central nervous system
• Increases the extraocular movement (eyeballs) and exercises the backbone of the neck

• Strengthens and stretches the lower back and legs
• Exercises the neck
• Removes abnormal nervous tension and regulates the excretory functions' (process by which the waste products of the metabolism or undigested food residues are eliminated from the body by relaxing the body

• Removes disease
• Helps both loosening and tightening of the joints
• Relaxes shoulder blades and shoulder
• When done properly, it has the effect of arousing and refreshing the mind

• Increases strength
• Promotes development of muscles and increases physical strength and endurance
• The concentrated focusing of the eyes will increase both mental and physical strength
• Good for the fingers, hands, wrists and arthritis

• Strengthen kidneys and waist
• Extends and makes more elastic the area around the waist involving the movements of the abdomen and every tissue and organ included in it
• Good for physical fatigue, lack of energy and weak backs