Five Animal Frolics Classical Qigong
The Wisdom of Animal Movement
The Five Animal Frolics (Wu Qin Xi) is one of the oldest recorded forms of Medical Qigong, traditionally attributed to the Han Dynasty physician Hua Tuo.
Drawing inspiration from the movements and qualities of the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird, the practice invites us to explore different ways of moving, breathing and inhabiting the body. Each animal brings its own qualities to the practice, creating a rich and varied approach to developing strength, mobility, vitality and balance.
The form is physically engaging and can be quite demanding, working to strengthen and energise the body while developing coordination, responsiveness and embodied awareness.
What this develops
A deeper understanding of the qualities and movements of the five animals
Greater familiarity with different ways of moving, breathing and inhabiting the body
Improved coordination, mobility and physical responsiveness through Qigong practice
A stronger connection between movement, breath and embodied awareness
An understanding of how animal qualities can inform and enrich Qigong practice
Entering the Nature of the Animals
This expression of the Five Animal Frolics is a precise and physically demanding Qigong form. The movements are structured and deliberate, with each animal offering a distinct quality of movement, posture, expression and energetic intent.
Learning the form asks you to develop strength, coordination and precision while becoming increasingly familiar with the particular nature of each animal. This version of the form contains ten individual animal sequences, working with the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird. The movements range from powerful and grounded to agile and expansive, asking the body to adapt to very different physical qualities while maintaining connection, breath and awareness.
This is a practice with a living lineage. You will learn this expression of the Five Animal Frolics as transmitted to Nicole Lee by Master Wang of the Wang Zhi Peng Tai Chi School in Yangshuo, China, bringing a specific lineage and expression of this classical practice into your own study.
If you're looking for a Qigong practice that is physically engaging, challenging and rooted in classical tradition, Five Animal Frolics offers something quite different from slower, gentler forms of Qigong. It asks more of the body while offering a rich exploration of movement, animal qualities and embodied awareness.
Study Five Animal Frolics Qigong
Five Animal Frolics Qigong is available as a self-study module for $99.
Study the practice at your own pace, return over time, allowing your understanding and experience of the form to deepen.
A place to begin
If you're newer to Qigong, I recommend beginning with Establish Your Practice. It gives you time and support to establish the foundations and develop a regular relationship with Qigong.
