Experience Exchange
Daoist Yang-Sheng: Preserving Life At All Costs 道家养生：不惜一切保养生命 by Neil Kingham
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ast year I was lucky enough to be able to spend the day at a series of conferences and workshops entitled ‗The Embodiment of the Dao: Daoist Yangsheng Practices and the Cultivation of Health and Vitality‘. It was an inspiring and informative day, and I‘d like to share some of what I learned. In the morning, Dr. Vivienne Lo talked about the history of Yang-Sheng self-care practices, and discussed their relevance and importance to the modern day. She emphasized that the key components of health have always been to keep moving, and eat a healthy seasonal diet, adding that though this is common sense, it is not common practice! To me, this shows the importance of Qigong and Taiji, and Chinese dietary therapy/nutrition as the cornerstone practices for good health. Professor Jiao Guocheng from the Renmin Peoples University of China then spoke on the Daoist approach to life and the practice of self-care techniques. He contrasted the pressures of the modern world with the simple Daoist beliefs – today we strive for success, wealth and fame at the cost of our health, while to the Daoists, health and well -being were precious treasures to be guarded and preserved at all costs. He quoted from Daoist philosopher Chuang-Tzu, who said the modern way is like "shooting a sparrow on a high cliff with priceless pearls". The pearls represent your life and health, which you waste, the sparrow is the uncertain profit that you aim for, and the cliff is the dangers that you face along the way. In the afternoon, we were treated to demonstrations and workshops by Abbot Liu Suibin (pictured) on Qingcheng Qigong and martial arts, and Abbot Wang Chengya on Daoist Five Phase Kung Fu. Some of these forms were extremely simple, but had very powerful effects – as Westerners we often complicate things when we don‘t need to, but the Daoist way is simplicity itself. December, 2011
In my clinic, I see clients with countless health problems of all kinds caused by poor diet over a long period, stress, and lack of exercise and bad posture. These are truly the health problems of the modern Western world, and we are all prey to them to a greater or lesser extent! In my mind, the ancient Daoist Yang-Sheng practices for self-care have enormous relevance in the modern day. Qigong and Taiji practice help to calm the mind and reduce stress, and work the physical body to maintain suppleness, balance and movement. Proper eating practices, as described by Chinese nutrition, help to maintain the body and mind by ensuring that we get sufficient nourishment. These two foundation practices of good health can provide an antidote to ‗the modern condition‘ and help us to nourish rather than squander life, and live longer, with better health and greater happiness. The Yang-Sheng self-care practices are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.
Neil Kingham has been involved in the Chinese healing arts for over 14 years. His interest in the area began with Taiji and Qigong, and these disciplines remain an important part of his own practice today. He has trained in the UK and China, and runs a busy practice in the UK in Bristol and South Wales. He is a great believer in using the Chinese health arts to prevent illness and disease, and maintain optimum health. Neil is a respected writer and teacher in the field of Chinese medicine. He is also an experienced practitioner, and course/workshop leader, and has worked in diverse settings with corporate groups, young sports-people, children with learning difficulties, and various health organizations. For more information about Neil and his blog, go to http://neilkingham.com
Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life)
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