A year ago, the author publicly shared the secret Daoist practice of Daoyin and led a face-to-face class for students to practice together.
Later, a WeChat live broadcast was held to introduce this method to all fans.
In ancient times, there was a foundational practice in the Kunlun sect known as “repairing leaks and restoring” which was later passed down by practitioners to the world.
Those with affinity practiced it; as time passed, this celestial method gradually faded away…
By chance, I encountered a unique individual who imparted this knowledge to me, which felt like a treasure; however, many people today have health issues.
Hospital visits are too costly, and after much thought, I decided to promote this Daoist method to strengthen the physical health of our Chinese nation, transforming this secret transmission into a widespread practice, hoping that those with affinity can achieve good health and live in peace.
The above content is merely a legend; everyone can enjoy it as entertainment.
The following is the main text, Author: Wang Xiaohong
(1) Origin
Meeting Teacher Xiao Yi was a great fortune in my life; my fate began to change from the moment I met him.
I still clearly remember the day I first formally encountered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and began my journey of learning TCM—January 17, 2020, when two cases of COVID-19 appeared in Daxing, Beijing. To avoid being unable to return home for the New Year due to lockdowns, my family hurriedly packed and set off.
On the way, I came across an article interpreting the Five Movements and Six Qi in relation to the pandemic, which led me to Teacher Xiao Yi.
From that day on, I followed the online courses of Fan Xin and Zhi Xian, and attended every offline class by Teacher Xiao Yi. Over two years of study transformed me from a novice in TCM into someone full of confidence.
All three teachers are ones I greatly admire.
They have different teaching styles and approaches, covering topics from home feng shui to human feng shui, from external environments to internal spaces, from adjusting form and regulating Qi to treating the spirit. The principles are simple yet profound, leading to the same goal.
In accordance with the Dao, aligned with virtue, following the trend, and achieving unity, this is an important feature of the Daoyin technique taught by Teacher Xiao Yi.
It has been almost a year since I started practicing Daoyin, and it has given me a different understanding of TCM and life.
(2) Daoyin Technique: Encountering Your True Self!
The “Huangdi Neijing” states: “When the spirit is kept within, where does illness come from?” The issues in our bodies arise primarily from disturbances in our spirit.
Scattered spirit, chaotic spirit, unstable spirit, and external distractions provide opportunities for illness to take hold.
The key to treating illness and restoring the body’s self-healing ability is to bring our “spirit” back.
The “Huangdi Neijing” also states: “Control the spirit, and the Qi will flow easily.” All practices, techniques, and acupuncture methods are processes of treating the spirit.
This is also the core of what I understand about the Daoyin technique.
In our busy lives, many people feel physically and mentally exhausted. Most modern individuals overuse their energy, leading to excessive energy depletion. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, our bodies are in a constant state of “discharging”; at night, we continue to work late, and irregular schedules further exacerbate energy depletion.
For most people, they are in a state of “depleting the excess while supplementing the insufficient.”
The Daoyin technique provides a way to harmonize the body and mind, effectively replenishing energy.
During the Daoyin process, by gently adjusting the body and mind, calming the spirit, we gradually experience changes in our bodies, observing tension, hardness, and temperature variations.
In the Daoyin process, you will slow down the pace of your body and mind, having the opportunity to see the restless thoughts in your mind and feel the fluctuations of emotions.
Daoyin has the effects of meditation, but it is more suitable for modern people.
Meditation is a form of quiet cultivation highly regarded in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.
However, for those without meditation experience, spending time sitting quietly, observing thoughts, may seem like a waste of life, meaningless, and boring, making it difficult for ordinary people to persist.
In contrast, Daoyin, in my view, is a dynamic form of meditation.
It does not focus on thoughts but awakens our sensory perception through slow movements.
“Feeling” means “to sense the heart,” “to be free of thoughts and actions, and to connect with the world through feeling.”
Through gentle and slow movements, Daoyin leads us to bring our spirit back to the body, feeling the changes within.
First, gather the scattered spirit, focusing on bodily sensations, helping the consciousness to calm down, thus allowing our body, mind, and intention to naturally unify, aiding the body in adjusting to a balanced state and awakening its self-healing power.
At the same time, Daoyin also has the effects of adjusting form and regulating Qi; the time spent will quickly manifest in your body through various changes.
For example, pain in certain areas may subside; bloating may reduce; discomfort symptoms may improve, etc.; these practical results can motivate you to continue and witness more miracles.
As you delve deeper into Daoyin, you will gradually experience the joy and happiness it brings to your body and mind, leading you to enjoy spending time on this seemingly “wasted” activity.
(3) Daoyin Technique: Encountering Your Innately Abundant Self!
TCM treats illness differently from Western medicine; TCM believes that the body has its own great physician, and as practitioners, we are merely facilitators. In the treatment process, the real agent of change is the patient themselves.
Therefore, the key to TCM treatment lies in awakening the body’s self-healing ability.
“Guide the Qi to harmonize, and the body will become soft; when the Qi is harmonious and the body is soft, longevity can be sought.”
Although Daoyin does not emphasize treating illness, it is an excellent method for preventing disease.
Unknowingly, your body’s Qi will flow more smoothly, and many minor ailments will disappear without you realizing it.
Having practiced Daoyin for almost a year, I have experienced significant changes in my body; issues like back pain and gastrointestinal problems have improved, and my sleep has become better than before…
More importantly, I have realized that the essence of Daoyin is simplicity, rooted in Yin and Yang, which is the core principle consistently emphasized by my teachers.
“When the principles are clear, the heart can generate myriad methods.” At that time, you will be able to create movements based on your body’s condition to alleviate discomfort.
Daoyin emphasizes adjusting the spirit; “Those who gain the spirit thrive, while those who lose it perish.” Through practicing Daoyin, we have the opportunity to encounter the “spirit” in our lives.
Through Daoyin, our awareness of the body continuously improves, allowing us to be alert to minor issues at their onset, and with Daoyin, we can alleviate them with a few simple movements.
Continuous practice has made me increasingly fond of Daoyin, and it has made me believe that self-healing is indeed possible!
No one knows you better than yourself.
Daoyin has led me on the path of self-help and autonomy in health, and this is an innate ability everyone possesses. As long as you persist, your body will bring about miraculous changes.
(4) Daoyin Technique: Leading You Home!
When the teacher guides us in practicing Daoyin, he emphasizes “gentle and slow”; this secret has led me into the true realm of Daoyin.
Last year during the Dragon Boat Festival, I returned for retraining and learned the Eight Sections of Brocade with my fellow students. After retraining, I persisted in practicing every day, sweating profusely, and within a month or two, I lost 7-8 pounds.
This is a great thing for many people hoping to lose weight.
However, for someone like me who is already thin, it made me quite anxious; sweating too much may deplete my Qi.
Later, I heard Teacher Xiao Yi emphasize that movements should be “slow,” and I realized the issue with my practice; I had been practicing too quickly, focusing only on form, which only consumes energy.
So, I tried practicing the Eight Sections of Brocade at a speed three times slower than usual, focusing on feeling the flow of Qi and blood in my body. This time, the results were better than the previous three times combined.
After this comparative experience, I understood that Daoyin adjusts the form externally, regulates Qi internally, but emphasizes treating the spirit as the core.
“Gentle and slow, comfortable to the degree” is precisely what modern people lack. Our busy lives make us feel disconnected and numb, while Daoyin helps us hit the brakes in our fast-paced lives, leading us on a path back home to our hearts!
Daoyin helps us to re-understand the secrets of wealth; what we have pursued throughout our lives is merely limited wealth.
True abundance is the richness within life, the ability to remain happy and joyful regardless of the circumstances you encounter!
It is not directly related to how much material wealth you possess!
Daoyin allows us to encounter our abundant selves!
(4) Daoyin Technique: Leading You to Encounter Your Greater Self!
“Kind heart, gentle hands, warm body”—these six simple words carry profound meaning.
Gentle hands and kind heart, soft body and clear mind; Daoyin leads us on a path of internal and external cultivation.
The foundation of cultivating the Dao lies in having a compassionate heart.
“Compassionate heart embodies kindness”; the essence of cultivation lies in “understanding that within the core lies kindness, and within kindness lies vitality.”
As long as you grasp this essence, “the spring energy moves, roots grow, and branches flourish naturally.” Otherwise, you will ultimately be futilely stirring the spirit on the “branches and leaves.”
This spring, I grew many seedlings at home and gained a profound understanding of “compassionate heart embodies kindness.”
In nature, seeds possess kindness; when they encounter suitable conditions, they begin to grow naturally; a kind heart in humans is the source of life’s continuity. Cultivation must start from the root of the heart.
When the foundational work is done, “the body naturally transforms and flourishes.”
Thus, when the foundation is established, cultivation can begin, gradually eliminating the barriers and oppositions between self and others, and between oneself and the world, embracing the great love of “the compassionate person is one with heaven and earth.”
“Teachers impart knowledge and embody compassion; healers possess a compassionate heart and skill.” Teacher Xiao Yi’s simplicity, transparency, and spontaneity have profoundly influenced me.
By selflessly sharing the Daoist Daoyin technique with us, the teacher is a messenger of great love, and encountering Daoyin is a blessing for each of us!
I also call on everyone not to remain in the stage of self-use.
We should also cultivate a heart for sharing the Dao and a heart for teaching; we need to actively practice and use our actions to inspire and awaken more people around us to have confidence in practicing.
Giving someone a fish is not as good as teaching them to fish; helping others solve problems is not as effective as giving them the ability to solve problems themselves.
Daoyin is a treasure of self-help for health that everyone can master. As long as you take action, everyone can become the primary responsible person for their own health and take responsibility for their own life!
May all those who are destined to encounter this method become a conduit of love, transmitting the love given to us by our teacher to more people!