I've been doing quite a bit of 8 Pieces lately. I don't want to get stuck on it to the exclusion of other practices, but it does provide a thorough full body workout, is easy to remember, and to practice almost everywhere. So a few questions: 1) I did a version of it the other day in my garden where I slowed all the movements right down, and interspersed them with some extended static poses: it felt really good but to my surprise it had taken a good hour and a half; often, I feel I practice too fast, but slow seemed to really work with Brocades -- how valid an approach is that? 2) Archer I've mentioned elsewhere: I tend to take the stance very low, about as low as I can take it, and incorporate elements from actual archery I did years ago (I must take that back up again!) so I look down the imaginary arrow as if I'm aiming a real one, try to "feel" the weight of the imaginary draw in what would be the bow and the string hand; 3) Punching: although I did the rest of Eight Pieces very slow, I felt the vibe to do Punching quite fast, compensating time-wise by doing more rounds of it than the other elements, and putting some force into the blow as if it were an actual martial arts practice; 4) Kidneys, on the way up my legs I like to exert gentle massage pressure on some problematic leg veins, especially around my right knee which gives me problems from an old injury, I also when down touching my ankles put a bit of acupressure on some points there, I do something similar with ones in the knee in other movements. I don't always do Brocade slow, and generally when not following live or recorded sessions I think I tend to practice QG too fast, left to my own devices. But this seemed to work. Any advice most welcomed!

Aerobic exercise. Does aerobic exercise either before or after affect Qi Gong/Tai Ji practice. And, also eating before practice. Does that affect the flow of energies from practice?

I was wonder if anyone could recommend a brand or brands of pants for practice? I usually use sports store jogging bottoms, but especially as we come into Spring I thought it would be better to have something more breathable, quite loose fitting, with natural material, and reasonably well wearing. Especially for practice outside. Something with a bit of a drop crotch as you see in some communities in the Far East, South Asia, and parts of the Middle East. I've looked online at harem pants and stuff like that, but they tend to be too baggy, fashion statementy, and not that well made or hard wearing.

Sonny, this is another silly question but can you practice too much Qi Gong/Tai Ji during a day?

Hello Sonny, in the Eight Brocades, you do the Archer form with closed fists. With my previous teacher, it was done with an open hand. That is, the front hand with thumb and index finger open (index finger pointing up). What makes that difference?" @Kirby Mannon