Seated Baduanjin for caregivers
To guide someone else through seated Baduanjin, do the movements yourself alongside them rather than instructing from the side, cue one movement at a time, and keep the first sessions to three movements. Watch for breath-holding, forced range, and any sign of dizziness or pain.
- Session length to aim for
- 15 minutes
- Movements in session one
- 3
- Best position for you
- Seated beside them, doing the same thing
- Cue style
- One movement, one sentence
- What to watch
- Breath-holding, forced range, dizziness
Why demonstrating beats instructing
A short demonstration can make a movement easier to follow than a long verbal instruction. Sit beside the person, do the movement yourself, and use one cue at a time.
Sitting beside rather than in front can make the session feel more collaborative. Stop if the person shows discomfort, confusion or distress.
How to introduce it
- Do not open with a description of Baduanjin. Open with the movement itself — "shall we do a few slow arm movements before lunch" works better than any explanation.
- Start with two or three movements. A short session gives you a chance to see whether the person is comfortable before continuing.
- Keep corrections simple. Comfort and safe positioning matter more than trying to reproduce a full range of movement.
- Attach it to something fixed — after breakfast, before the afternoon programme, after medication. A time that already exists in the day.
How to cue
One movement, one sentence. "Press both palms up toward the ceiling." Then stop talking and let them do it. Save the second sentence for the second repetition.
| Instead of this | Say this |
|---|---|
| Interlace your fingers, turn the palms outward and press up above your head while keeping the shoulders down | Press both hands up toward the ceiling |
| Now we are going to do the movement called drawing the bow, which opens the chest… | Open your arms wide |
| Remember to keep your feet flat on the floor at all times throughout all the movements | Feet flat |
What to watch for
- Holding the breath — cue "breathe normally" and reduce the movement if effort is visible.
- Forced range — if the person is pushing to reach further, halve the movement for them.
- Dizziness on head turns — reduce to a few degrees, or move only the eyes.
- Gripping — hands clenched hard, jaw tight, shoulders up. Ask them to let the hands open.
- Signs of pain, chest pressure, unusual breathlessness, pallor or distress — stop the session and follow the person's care plan or seek appropriate advice.
A fifteen-minute session you can run
Two minutes settling, eight to ten minutes working through three to eight movements slowly, two minutes sitting still. If the person is tired, cut the middle and keep the sitting still — a short, calm ending can be preferable to continuing when someone is tired.
This site provides movement education, not medical advice. If the person you care for has a diagnosed condition or has had recent surgery, check with their clinician what movements are appropriate before you start.
Doing this seated
The whole set is done seated, so the person you are guiding never needs to stand or balance. If they use a wheelchair, lock the wheels first.
Common questions
What if they refuse to do it?
Do it yourself in the same room at the same time. Participation by imitation is far more effective than persuasion, and it removes the sense of being told what to do.
Can I do this with someone who has dementia?
Dementia affects movement, attention and communication differently from person to person. Ask the person's clinician or care team before introducing a new movement routine, use familiar low-demand movements only, and stop if the person appears distressed.
How do I know if it is too much for them?
If they are holding their breath, gripping, going pale, or unable to talk, it is too much. Reduce the number of movements and the range, and let them rest between movements.
Can two people do it together?
Yes. Doing it together can make demonstration easier; keep the pace and range suitable for the person who needs more support.
Written by LiHe — practitioner, teacher and consultant in qigong and traditional health practice. Review status and sources are shown below where available.
This is general movement education, not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat or cure any condition. Read the full disclaimer.
The Chinese names are the traditional names of the movements. They are not medical claims, and this site does not diagnose, treat or cure any condition.
- Last reviewed
- Movement data
- Standing form follows the Chinese Fitness Qigong Association standard routine. The chair versions are this pack's own adaptation, written for a seated reader.. Version v0.5.