Regulating the body

Once you learn the basic breathing techniques, the movement of the breath is used in regulating the body. Movement of CHI within the body can be regulated within the body to flow with the inhalation and exhalation of the body. The basic goals of Chi Kung is to learn to control the flow of CHI within the energy channels. There are lots of places within the body where the CHI doesn't flow smoothly. Wherever it hurts or feels numb, the CHI is not flowing freely. The exercises involved in regulating the body is regarded as CHI KUNG. These are moving exercises. They combine movement and breathing.
The exercise involved in Taoist Yoga have many interesting names and histories. The Tao Yin is almost 2500 years old. It evolved to promote health and cure certain diseases by combining regulated, controlled breathing with physical exercises. It is very good for the lower back, legs, neck and shoulders. There are many such exercises which we will be learning in the coming few weeks.

Negative Ions

The Taoist's believed that there is a life sustaining force in the atmosphere apart from major components like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The Air has charged particles floating through it that are called IONS! The most important ions are NEGATIVE ions. They supply the electrical current within our body's cells. If our source of negative ions is depleted, we face weakness, we feel tired or become depressed. The Taoist's believe that the highest concentration of ions is found high up in the mountains. In cities, these ions have depleted due to pollution, working conditions and various other aspects of modern living. Negative ions attach themselves to the floating air and reduce the pollutants. This is proved Science and various high - end ionizers are being used to provide a healthier environment and better air.

Regulating the Breath

A nice thing about the breathing exercises is that they are really easy. They can be done anywhere and any time. There are two basic breathing techniques:

1. Abdominal breathing
2. Reverse breathing

Abdominal and Reverse breathing form the base of all the Chi Kung techniques. The Study of Chi Kung combines movement and breath. The most basic exercise to start with is Deep Breathing. It stimulates the Original Chi (Yuan), also called as vital energy. They are the building blocks to achieve physical and mental harmony. The breathing exercises increase our intake of oxygen and bring our abdominal muscles more into play. And also the Diaphragm. It is the decreased intake of oxygen that results in memory loss and other problems as we grow older. This can be brought to halt through the breathing exercises.

The way to begin

Chi Kung begins with the practice and study of Human Chi. Basically Chi Kung is concerned with making us healthier and slowing down the aging process. It uses the Three pronged approach. Regulating the Breath, the Body and the Mind. This approach will help us immensely in improving the way we live our lives and increase our longevity. This will definitely help you in living your life in the way it was meant to be!

The Body Lords

A Taoist has to first know the inner workings of his or her body. It begins with knowing the five primary internal organs: the Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidneys and Spleen. These are the Body Lords.
By learning to regulate the body's five major organs, you learn about yourself in a way you've probably never thought before. But in a very real sense, you are getting to know yourself.
The world and everything in it and on it is composed of five elements. It is a vital part of the Tao Medical Theory. Energy manifests itself as five basic forces. Fire, Water, Metal, Wood and Earth. We each have these five forces within us. Each of our five major organs is the storehouse for one of these five forces. When they are in balance, we feel good and healthy. By learning to regulate our five major organs, we learn to harmonize the five elements in our body.

The Silence

What we think of ourselves is only something that we have self created. The Taoist's understand that we are not born with an ego and when they die, it will disappear. We have to learn to ignore the ego and let our original nature regain control of our lives.
The Shen came from the The Jing which is converted into The Chi at conception. Our original mind possessed no ego. The process of Chi Kung involves revitalizing and restoring our original Chi. It is a process of Rejuvenation. Part of the procedure involves restoring our Original Mind. This mind has no Ego, no Self thoughts, no Self awareness. The Ego is something that we created as we grew up. The real mind is Silent. To silence the mind is one of the higher goals of CHI KUNG.

Yin and Yang

The key to understanding YIN and YANG is to realise that there is always an underlying third member that is the silent partner. This third member represents balance and harmony.
In our body we must balance the Yang CHI received from our father's sperm cell with the Yin CHI received from our mother's egg. The point to remember is that our Original CHI was created from equal doses of Yin and Yang. In Chi Kung, Yin and Yang manifests itself as active and receptive. Any two thoughts, ideas or actions that are opposed to each other or balance each other, form a Yin and Yang relationship.
Yin and Yang seek balance. In our bodies this balance is often lost. As the strength of the original CHI weakens, it loses the ability to keep us in perfect balance.
Yin and Yang can be thought as two poles of a battery. One is negative and the other is positive. Together, they work to keep the body and it's component parts in balance. If one pole goes out of balance, it must be adjusted by an infusion of energy from the opposite pole. Our upper body, above the novel is considered Yang and the lower body is considered as Yin.