Here is a new practice video of a traditional Daoist exercise, Taiyi Yuanming Gong 太乙元明功 (literally translated as The Original Brightness practice).
This is a method that is very easy to learn; it is simple in ts movements, yet complex in its benefits. In the beginning there may be a few small details you are not so clear about, but don’t worry - even if you practice it sloppily, it will have a very positive effect on your health.
When practicing qigong, accuracy is mostly counterproductive. If you over-concentrate and try to be precise in copying the form, it inhibits the kind of deep relaxation needed to enter into that quiet state that leads to balanced qi.
The essence of qigong practice is an expression of the workings of Yin and Yang: dongzhong qiu jing 动 中 求 静 - Seeking quietness within movement.
The Yang arises from within the Yin, and the inner movement of the qi arises from physical relaxation and mental stillness. This will lead to an even deeper inner calm and a more lively circulation of qi that rejuvenates your health. That is the essential point of all qigong practice.
It is best to perform six repetitions of the Taiyi Yuanming Gong (that will take about 10 minutes - but doing it more or less times is also ok). You can try practicing it alone or, for example, after the Liu Zi Jue method or the tapping method, and it is better to do it twice per day when possible.
Here is another very good self-massage that you can do to maintain health: The massage of the Ten Xuan Points (shi xuanxue 十 宣 穴). Xuan 宣 literally means disperse, and so one can translate it as the Ten Points of Dispersion/Drainage.
Just like the Ba Xie points, these are extra acupoints that are located outside the meridians. In this case, the Ten Xuan points are located on the fingertips.
In the video clips below, I show two simple ways to massage them - either by hitting them with your fingertips, or by pressing your fingertips one by one with your thumbnail.
Duration of the massage: preferably a few minutes.
When regularly practiced for a few minutes a day, this massage has a very good regulatory effect on your qi. Its function is to clear heat, to remove hot qi, fire or external pathogenic factors, and to awaken the mind. It activates the flow of qi internally and protects the organs; but it also opens the flow of qi to the extremities, releasing the internal heat. Whenever it comes to removing heat or fire, you go all the way to the extremities, in this case to the fingertips. The old theory of qi describes that it is through the tips of your fingers and toes that nature's qi enters the body where it develops into an ever more powerful flow.
Here we want to show some simple, practical methods that are a kind of qigong self-massage as another effective way to regulate the Qi and protect your health.
Kerry and I had originally learned these 10 years ago from one of our teachers in Beijing, Jia Laoshi 贾老师, as part of a set of self-healing methods for qigong practitioners. In the meantime, we have seen that these methods, and other types of self-massage, are being taught to patients in the coronavirus wards of many Chinese hospitals to help activate their immune systems, improve their recovery, and protect their health from further mitigation of the disease.
There is no need for much theoretical understanding - one simply practices these massages in a very casual way. No special preparation is required, you can sit or stand or walk. Of course, it is better to have good posture, not slouching or leaning back if you are sitting. The main thing, as always, is to be completely relaxed.
Ba Xie Acupoint Massage Method.
The first method we show here involves a type of massage that involves knocking, or lightly hitting, eight special acupuncture points called Ba Xie 八 邪 ( which translates literally as the “Eight Evils“. In TCM theory, the term Evil stands for Xieqi 邪气 pathogenic Qi that invades the body from the outside, like a virus). In practicing this massage, you stimulate the acupoints to help clear the Xieqi from the body.
In general TCM terms, the medical effect is to Clear Heat and Toxic Qi, Eliminate Wind and external pathogenic Qi, and to alleviate pain. As we teach the methods here, they are also a preventative strategy to protect your health, and enliven your circulation. Practitioners of qigong have many such methods they use as an adjunct to support the effect of their regular practice.
The Ba Xie acupoints are located between the knuckles on the back of the hand. When you make a loose fist, you find them just above the crease in the finger webs, at the top of the knuckles as you look at the fist (see photos).
To do the massage, first spread your fingers, then knock your hands together with your fingers intertwined, so that the area of the acupoints are stimulated. You don’t knock very hard, but also not too gently. Do it just in a way that you can clearly and firmly feel the stimulus.
This type of knocking massage with the fingers interlocked only reaches 6 of the eight Ba-Xie points. The remaining two, (between the thumb and forefinger on both hands), are separately massaged by using the same method, interlocking the thumb and forefinger only.
You can do the knocking of the points either 36, 50 or 100 times. This are traditional instructions, but the exact number of times is not that important…you can do it casually.
That's it! Very simple, very effective, do it once a day or more - whenever you think of it. As always, the more regularly you do it, the better the effect!
Here is the next ancient Chinese Healing Sound exercise, for the Kidneys, which in TCM understanding is the "root of the original qi" which is your reservoir of esential energy that underpins all of life's processes.
The sound associated with this exercise is "CHWAY", which we only think in our imagination while we're exhaling the breath through the mouth.
The Healing Sounds exercises are now complete. If you want to practice all of them together, then do so in this order: Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, Heart, San Jiao.
This is the next ancient Chinese Healing Sound exercise, for the Heart, which in TCM understanding is understood as the seat of the mind and the control center for all qi-functions.
The sound associated with this exercise is "HU-AHH" or simply "HAAHH", which we only think in our imagination while we're exhaling the breath through the mouth.
This exercise belongs to the same set as the other Healing Sounds. With what we have learned up to now, the correct order for practice is:
The exercises of the Healing Sounds (Liuzijue 六字诀) are very old, and go back to a famous Daoist master and pharmacologist of the 6th century, Tao Hongjing 陶弘景.
This is the Healing Sound exercise for the Liver, which is the organ responsible for the free and easy flow of energy through your body.
The sound associated with this exercise is "SHUU", which we only think in our imagination while we're exhaling the breath through the mouth.
This exercise is part of the same set as the previous exercises for the Lung and San Jiao.
They can be practised together in this order: Lung, liver, San Jiao.
Here is another ancient Chinese Healing Sound exercise, for the Sanjiao 三焦 (usually translated as "Triple Burner"), which is the passageway and space through all three regions of the body, upper, middle and lower.
The sound associated with this exercise is "SHEE", which again we only think in our imagination while we're exhaling the breath through the mouth.
Like the Healing Sound for the Lung method this exercise a part of the same set which can be practised together, and the Sanjiao method would be the last method of the practice.
The exercises of the Healing Sounds are very old, and go back to a famous Daoist master and pharmacologist of the 6th century, Tao Hongjing.
Prof. Lin Zhongpeng, of the Qigong College for Advanced Studies in Beijing, recommended this particular version of the Healing Sounds, because it is being used as a self-help tool for all people to fight against the coronavirus. When practiced regularly (as recommended in the video we have posted), it will improve breathing, strengthen the lungs and help to dispel disease.
