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Taoist Yoga - opening The Energy Gates
Taoist Yoga style known as "Kaimen" is an excellent system for the young and old alike to maintain and improve their health and longevity, through the passive and dynamic exercises that make up this unique Chinese body, mind & spirit system. Practicing Taoist Yoga can enhance your performance in other related arts, as well as maintain and improve good health and longevity.
Today, many people from all over the world are aware of the many health benefits that practicing yoga as to offer. whether it be Indian, Malaysian or Chinese styles. The particular method of Chinese Yoga that is taught by the Li Family Internal Arts Association originates from the Taoist school of energetic study. it is known as "k'ai Men" which means to opening the gates. The Taoist Yoga style of K'ai Men involves both gentle, passive and strong, dynamic movements alongside meditation practice for developing greater self awareness and inter-action with the Dao.
the difference between Indian, Malaysian yoga compared to the Chinese Taoist Yoga style of K'ai Men, is that each of the particular exercises that are performed within K'ai Men are never held at the peak of its movement. Once a student as reached the full extension of their movement they immediately yield and return back to the beginning of the exercise and then repeat ir again. The Taoist Yoga style of K'ai Men involves Lying, Sitting and Standing exercises, with each particular exercise practiced in a Yin Sequence method and a Yang Extension method. both the Yin & Yang method exercise resemble each other, but the Yang Extension method is much more bigger and dynamic in its actions.
The Yin Sequence Exercise Method--This is a more passive type of exercise, where the body is slowly and gently exercised in a soft flowing action, combined with deep rhythmic breathing the Yin Sequence method cultivates energy and circulates the Qi energy smoothly around the entire body. The Yin Sequence method is ideal for the very old or individuals who are recovering from illness.
The Yang Extension Exercise Method--This is a more stronger and dynamic type of exercise that encourages the student to make bigger movements. It develops Muscle, Tendon, Ligament and Joint flexibility by lengthening and extending the bodies natural range of movement. Again, the Yang Extension method is combined with deep rhythmic breathing to help in flushing stagnant blood and energy blockages clean.
The practice of Yoga, be it Indian, Malaysian or Chinese can not just help to maintain and improve your health. It can also compliment and improve performance in other related arts, like healing, meditation and martial arts training. My teacher Master Chee Soo would always mention that each of the arts that he taught where aii connected together. And by studying all of them gave you the individual a greater insight and a much more balanced art. For practitioners of the Li Family Energy Bodywork Massage system of Tuina. The practice of Taoist Yoga alongside your massage can be an excellent Self Maintenance tool by helping to replenish low energy levels, increase the circulation of energy around the body, develop a greater awareness and sensitivity of Qi within the body as well as making stronger connections of the Mind & Body.
For those individuals who study the Li Family Feng Shou Quan-Gong Fu, by practicing Taopist Yoga alongside your martial arts training can help you to improve greater flexibility,allowing you to kick higher, punch faster and move the whole body much more quickly, as through the practice of Taoist Yoga exercises muscle tension and joint stiffness can be limited to a small amount, allowing the body to maintain a much more relaxed state, so improving strong Qi energy circulation into the upper and lower limbs for strong energy power.
K'ai Men Taoist Yoga-Dragon Posture Exercise.
Yin Sequence Exercise
Starting from a neutral position with feet shoulder width apart, both arms hanging by both sides of the body.
1) Step forwards with your Right leg into a Dragon stance, at the sametime raise your both arms sideways to shoulder height, both palms facing the floor. Breathing inwards through the nose
2) Lean the body to your left side and touch the inside of your right ankle with your left hand, your right arm points directly upwards to the ceiling while still remaining in a Dragon stance, Breathing out through your nose.
3). Straighten your body back upright, return back to both arms held out to both sides, breathing in through the nose.
4). Lower your both arms down to your both sides and return back to the neutral position, breathing out though the nose
Yang Extension Exercise
Start from a neutral position with feet shoulder width apart and with both arms hanging by sides of the body.
1). Same as Yin Sequence movement one.
2) Bend your body sidewards to your left side and place your left palm flat on the floor alongside your right foot. at the sametime look upwards towards your right arm which should be pointing directly upwards to the ceiling. Breathing out through your nose
3) Straighten your body back upright, with your both arms pointing out to both sides at shoulder height, breathing in through your nose.
4) Same as in Yin Sequence Exercise number four, breathing out through your nose as you return back to neutral position.
repeat both the Yin and Yang exercises on both sides of the body, so that you balance the circulation of energy throughout the whole body.
