You are going to love this fusion of Chi Gong and belly dance. I feature Danceable Rituals like this in each episode of my belly dance podcast A Little Lighter. Have a listen if you haven’t already! 

Take a sip of water and feel your breath going in and out of your nose. In and out like waves in the sea. 

You can download this sound file so you can do this Chi Gong Belly Dance Routine any time without access to youtube:

Chi gong and belly dance postures are very similar. Remain aware of your breath as you slip into great posture. Feet parallel, hip width apart and fully connected to the ground, knees soft, pelvis tucked, chest open, shoulders a little bit back, gaze parallel to the ground, eyes open and mind free of thoughts. 

 

We’ll do the Standing like a Tree exercise to increase our power while I explain what we are about to do. Raise your arms up to chest level and stand like you are hugging a tree. Whenever you like, you can stand like this for as long as possible, until your arms start to fall. It will make you stronger. 

 

Whenever you want to increase your positive energy and also practice dancing, you can do this Chi Gong belly dance. Dance with the energy flowing in around you. Matching breath with movement has a meditative quality and brings more power into our minds and movements. Focus on the breath to really get the benefits. There’s no need to breathe really deep or strain your body or mind. Just breath naturally and keep bringing your awareness back to your breath. 

 

What I’m going to show you was inspired by traditional 18 form Chi Gong. It is usually 18 Chi Gong moves with no belly dance. I am by no means a Chi Gong master, but I feel the benefit every time I do Chi Gong and it is an amazing practice you can do just about anywhere. 

 

I started learning an 18 form Chi Gong series years ago, and I still find it hard to remember the sequence of 18 moves and fit into my every day life. I have modified this so it is just 12 chi gong moves in 3 parts. It is not traditional, but it is fun, easier to remember, and feels really good. You can do it every morning, or when you find yourself in a beautiful place, or when you are feeling tired and want more good energy.   

 

We will do each chi gong move 4 times and then we’ll dance right into a paired belly dance move and do that 4 times. By the end you’ll feel like you are flying, so stick with it! 

 

#1A. The first move is called “Begin with Measured Breath”

1. Breath in as your hands rise up 
   1. And exhale as your hands fall back to the earth 
2. Extend your arms as you rise
   1. Bring arms closer to your body as hands fall
3. Breath in naturally and relax
   1. Breath out
4. Last time, breathe in, now aware of your breath
   1. Breath out, body and mind becoming one

 

#1B (Classic Arms) 

1. Inhale as one hand rises and you dance into Classic Arms
   1. Falling palm faces forward
2. Inhale rising palm pulling up from the earth
   1. Exhale 
3. Inhale not worrying if you are doing it right
   1. Exhale you are dancing
4. Last time inhale
   1. Exhale 

 

#2A (Expand the Chest)

1. 1. Inhale as you raise your lower hand to join your other hand at chest level and Expand the Chest
      1. Exhale as palms almost meet in front of you
   2. Inhale expand the chest
      1. Exhale palms move together
   3. Two more times, eyes open, looking at your surroundings

 

• Exhale

• Last time enjoy the expansion

• Exhale get ready to dance

 

 

#2B. (Upper body undulations)   

1. Expand the chest as you flow into Upper Body Undulations
   1. Exhale as you lean back and roll back to neutral
2. Inhale as you scoop up with your breast bone and lift 
   1. Exhale smoothly bring your chest and belly back to neutral
3. Feel free to stand at an angle 
   1. make it pretty
4. Let your arms follow your chest 
   1. On your last exhale let your arms fall and cross your wrists near your belly button

 

#3A (Separate the Clouds)

1. Inhale as your palms rise up
   1. Exhale as you flip your palms forward and Separate the Clouds. That’s what this move is called. 
2. Inhale and cross wrists
   1. When you get close to your third eye exhale and separate the clouds. Let the clouds fall with your breath
3. Inhale feeling the clarity you are cultivating
   1. Exhale clear your mind. You can do this any time you are feeling confused, frustrated, or angry. 
4. Inhale one last time
   1. Exhale totally clearing your mind. Keep palms facing down as wrists cross again again near your belly button

 

#3B. (Separate Flamenco Clouds)

1. Inhale as you embody a smiling flamenco dancer
   1. Exhale as you Separate Flamenco Clouds
2. Inhale again with energy all the way to your fingertips
   1. Exhale and pivot slightly so you are at a beautiful angle
3. Inhale middle fingers dangling down with imaginary castanets
   1. Exhale and enjoy the clarity now in your mind
4. Inhale relaxing your face

1. 1. Exhale and let your arms fall to your sides so you can begin Rowing a Boat in the Middle of a Lake

 

4A. (Rowing a Boat) 

1. Inhale as your arms rise circling slightly behind you
   1. Exhale palms down pushing your imaginary paddles
2. Again. Enjoy the subtle expansion as you inhale
   1. Exhale hands fall
3. Inhale and keep facing forward 
   1. Exhale I’ll show you what this looks like from the side
4. Inhale
   1. Exhale and bring fingers in for Flamenco Sunset

 

4B. Flamenco Sunset

1. Inhale as your arms rise outlining a sun
   1. Exhale as the sun sets in your core
2. Inhale energy all the way to your fingertips
   1. Exhale and find a new angle to enjoy
3. Inhale inside the sun
   1. Exhale letting the energy travel down to the earth
4. Inhale last time with beautiful hands
   1. Exhale, and pause. Widen your stance a little for part 2, starting with Push Palms, Pivot Hips

 

5A. (Push Palms Pivot Hips)

1. Inhale as you push one palm forward and pivot your hip
   1. Exhale turn that palm to the sky and slide it back 
2. Inhale as you add your other hand and pivot hips
   1. Exhale one palm pushing forward
3. Inhale don’t worry if you are doing it right
   1. Exhale just flow and enjoy
4. Inhale you can always watch this part again later
   1. Exhale noticing which side of your chest is now forward 

 

#5B. (Chest Infinities)

1. Inhale beginning a Chest Infinity on the side that is farther forward
   1. Exhale draw the other half of the infinity with the other side of your rib cage
2. Inhale don’t rush. 
   1. Exhale enjoy the gooey slowness on the other side
3. Inhale this infinity can be big or small
   1. Exhale relax your face
4. Inhale 
   1. Exhale rotate your upper body to one side for Rolling Tai Chi

 

#6A. (Rolling Tai Chi)

1. Inhale and bring the arm you are facing away from up to chest level, slide your hips to the opposite side and rotate your upper body to follow the leading hip
   1. Exhale, raise your opposite arm with palm facing down, slide your hips toward your raised elbow, rotate your chest. 
2. Inhale leading with your hip, arms flow, chest follows
   1. Exhale this will get easier with practise
3. Inhale this is my favorite Chi Gong move
   1. Exhale and flow
4. Inhale once you get this you’ll love it
   1. Exhale and notice which hip your weight is under so you can begin Hip Infinities there

 

6B. Hip Infinities

1. Inhale as you slide your free foot next to your weight-bearing foot and start drawing a slow horizontal infinity with your hips
   1. Exhale as you shift your weight to your other foot and continue drawing the infinity on your other hip 
2. Inhale this one is easy
   1. Exhale you’re half-way through
3. Inhale clear your mind 
   1. Exhale enjoy dancing
4. Inhale 
   1. Exhale and step forward a little on your weightless foot so you can Scoop the Sea

 

7A. Scoop the Sea and Look at the Sky

1. Inhale as you rock forward and look down at the ground
   1. Exhale as you rock back and look up at the sky
2. Inhale as you rock forward and bring your hands together stacked with palms up
   1. Exhale as you rock back look up and separate your hands
3. Inhale as you rock forward and scoop the air in front of your thighs, stacked palms rising
   1. Exhale as you rock back and look at the sky with your hands falling open
4. Inhale, rock forward, scoop the sea
   1. Exhale rock back, look at the sky and stop your arms at shoulder level for Rocking Shoulder Rolls

 

8A. Rocking Shoulder Rolls

1. Inhale, rock forward and roll your shoulders back
   1. Exhale rock back and keep rolling those shoulders so slowly and smoothly
2. Inhale, rock forward, letting the snakelike movement travel down your arms and into your fingers
   1. Exhale, rock back and look at the sky
3. Inhale speed up those shoulder rolls
   1. Exhale and look up
4. Inhale point your back foot
   1. Exhale, bring that front foot in, pose and pause. Enjoy your breath. It’s time for Part 3, where we’ll Set the Waves in Motion 

 

9A. Set the Waves in Motion 

1. With one foot slightly forward, Inhale and rock onto your back foot with palms hovering in front of your chest
   1. Exhale rocking forward with open palms forward, push a wave back to the sea
2. Inhale bring the power of a wave into your heart
   1. Exhale gaining power from flowing with the receding wave
3. Inhale bring the power in
   1. Exhale flow with the tide
4. Inhale the ocean is in you
   1. Exhale get fingers ready for Wrist Circles Back, Finger Ripples Forward

 

9B. Wrist Circles Back, Finger Ripples Forward

1. Inhale rocking back with 3 wrist circles in
   1. Exhale rocking forward with finger ripples out
2. Inhale wrist circles back
   1. Exhale finger ripples forward
3. Inhale rock back and use just one hand
   1. Exhale finger that hand forward
4. Inhale rock back and circle your other wrist
   1. Exhale and as you finger ripple this last time, lift the back foot so it is beside your standing foot in a stance a little wider than your hips. You are about to be a Wild Bird in Flight

10A. (Wild Bird in Flight)

1. Inhale and rise up on the balls of your feet with your arms spread at shoulder level
   1. Exhale sink down, keep your arms up at shoulder level this first time. Adjust your stance if you are not steady
2. Inhale, rise up and lead with your elbows
   1. Exhale, sinking down and bringing your arms down too
3. Inhale, rise up. This is great for your balance
   1. Exhale, bend your knees and keep your upper body upright 
4. Inhale, rise up
   1. Exhale sink down and we’ll morph this into 

 

10A. (Wings)

1. Now inhale and make your arms really beautiful. Leading with your elbows
   1. Exhale sink down playing with different body lines and angles 
2. Inhale, rise up as if coasting on warm wind
   1. Exhale, sinking down and bringing your arms down too
3. Inhale, rise up and lead with your elbows. I told you you’d be flying near the end of this right? 
   1. Exhale, bend your knees and keep your upper body upright 
4. Inhale, rise up with energy all the way to your fingertips
   1. Exhale sink down. Keep your stance wide and hold a wheel from your shoulders to hips. 

 

11A. 

1. Inhale and first just watch me Turn Like a Wheel in the Heavens
   1. Exhale arms as the wheel comes down
2. Now inhale as one arm passes through your midline and forms a wheel with your other arm
   1. Exhale as the wheel falls from your shoulders
3. Inhale watching this wheel turn in the heavens above you
   1. Exhale watching it fall back toward earth
4. Inhale, this move can be as big or as small as you want
   1. Exhale get ready to pause and watch the Hair Throw before you do it with me

 

11B. Hair throw

1. Inhale. If you have any neck issues, please take this time to take care of your neck. 
   1. Exhale and Gently massage or stretch your neck. 
2. If you like doing hair throws and it doesn’t hurt, check that your stance is solid, inhale and get ready. 
   1. Throw your hair as you exhale
3. Inhale and decide which way you will throw your hair next
   1. Exhale and throw your hair 
4. Inhale and get ready to do a big hip circle with a big bent over hair throw
   1. Exhale as you start the big hip circle and bend over
5. Inhale and pause
   1. Exhale and pose or do that big hip circle and hair throw one more time if you like 

 

12A. Gather the Chi

1. Inhale and get ready to watch me if this is your first time. This is the only Chi Gong move we will do with our eyes closed. 
   1. Exhale, check that you are in a wide stance, and smile. 
2. Inhale palms up and sweeping out from hips, gathering the energy all around you
   1. Exhale, palms pushing energy from above your head all the way down through your body and the energy continues to flow through you, all the way down to the bottom of your feet and into the ground. Stack your palms on your lower belly just below your belly button. Pause, experiencing the flow of energy. 
3. We’ll do this 2 more times. Inhale palms up and sweeping out from hips, gathering the energy all around you
   1. Exhale, palms pushing energy from above your head all the way down through your body and the energy continues to flow through you, all the way down to the bottom of your feet and into the ground. Stack your palms on your lower belly just below your belly button. Pause, experiencing the flow of energy. 
4. Inhale and gather the chi 
   1. Exhale, bringing this new energy through you. Stack your palms on your lower belly just below your belly button. Pause, experiencing the flow of energy. 

 

12B. Now dance to whatever sounds are around you, however you like. You might feel more grounded, more flexible, more awake or more free. Whatever you feel, honor it and set a time to do this with me again. I feature Danceable Rituals like this in each episode of my belly dance podcast A Little Lighter. Have a listen and subscribe!