Tao Yin (Taoist Yoga)
“If you like yoga, you will love Tao Yin.
Truly the art of inner power and strength,
well balanced and informative, it is a gateway to deep relaxation
and the cultivation of mindfulness in movement”.
Claire Diab, Professor Seton Hall
What is Tao Yin?
Tao Yin lying and sitting positions contain a set of postures, breathing exercises, and meditations that are designed to move excess heat out of the body. They stretch, detoxify and revitalize the muscles and tendons. While in the relaxation period after the active phase of movement and stretQing, Qi is guided with the breath to particular parts of the body affected by the exercise. This yin phase of the practice expels the heat and opens the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.
In general, the combination of active and passive phases of the practice conditions the spine, tendons, ligaments, muscles and diaphragm in ways that cannot be achieved in standing and moving positions. A balanced session of practice opens Qi flow throughout all the meridians, removes toxins and tension throughout the body and engenders a deep sense of relaxed peace and calm - yet wonderfully energized at the same time.
In particular, Tao Yin focuses especially on the Psoas muscle because of its central role in our body. The Psoas muscle connects and moves the hips, spine and legs; all movements of Tai Qi Qi Kung come from the Psoas muscle. The kidneys are connected to the Psoas muscle, and the nerves move it from behind. While doing Tao Yin, one also trains the Second Brain in the abdomen as the control and coordination center of awareness for the body. Practicing Tao Yin is very helpful for the practice of Iron Shirt and of Tai Qi Qi Kung.
The sequence of postures, many named after animals such as the Bear, Monkey and Crocodile, strengthen tendons, relax the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, detoxify the internal organs and activate blood and lymph circulation. Emphasis is placed on strengthening muscles around the spinal cord for strength and flexibility. It also focuses on strengthening the Psoas muscles, and on toning the lower lumbar area and hips. According to Hans Leonhardy, MD, TCM Germany“Mantak Chia succeeds in drawing to the centre of attention the real soul of the musculoskeletal system: the tendons, psoas and the way of breathing”.
Like any yoga, Tao Yin brings strength whilst helping the body to relax. However, whilst the exercises may look like regular yoga to an observer, the Qi cultivation techniques of the Universal Tao add a unique touch, such as learning to train and develop your ‘Yi, the mind-eye-heart power’. You will also discover and train your ‘second brain’ in your abdomen and connect with the life-giving power of the universe. For thousands of years Taoists have trained their tan tiens (lower abdomens) but most western students have only superficially understood the practical significance of this. Focused training of the tan tien second brain is the cornerstone of all the practices that Master Chia teaches.
In the process of conditioning your spine and psoas muscles, you also learn to integrate the subtle power of the breath and mind. Then as you progress through the exercises, you learn to coordinate the network of round (ring) muscles throughout the body. When working in sync with the psoas muscles and spine, the pulsing of these Qi muscles fills the whole body with Qi.
To contact Tao Workshops email:
info "at" taoworkshops.co.nz
Contact
Phone Kim
+64 9 833 6553
+64 21 410 633
(Auckland)
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