The “tendons” are the lifelines of our body; they play a crucial role in connecting the upper and lower parts of the human body. As people age, they may experience stooping, unbalanced walking, or stiffness in the limbs, all of which are caused by the contraction of the “tendons”.
In daily life, excessive fatigue often leads to calf cramps (muscle spasms), where the “tendons” clearly refer to the muscles. Muscle stiffness can cause the tendons to shorten, leading to blocked qi and blood, resulting in brain hypoxia and nerve compression.
To lengthen, thicken, and make the tendons flexible, it is essential to first relax the muscles. Without muscle relaxation, the tendons cannot fully extend, and muscle relaxation relies on stretching exercises.
Stretching is an aerobic exercise; those who do not stretch and remain still miss out on a crucial aspect, which is why Daoist practices emphasize the combination of stillness and movement.
“Strength arises from the bones and connects to the tendons,” the tendons are the foundation of the bones, and the muscles are the foundation of the tendons. To change the length and thickness of the tendons, one must first learn to relax the muscles. Standing meditation can soften these “tendons”. There is a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine: “For every inch the tendon lengthens, life is extended by ten years.”
There are many tendons in the human body; which tendon, when softened, contributes to longevity? Research has found that the softer the tendons in the feet, the longer the lifespan.Ancient Chinese medical practitioners discovered through introspection that: the root of a person’s tendons lies in the feet; therefore, only stretching the body’s tendons without addressing the tendons in the feet is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause! Softening the tendons in the feet not only strengthens the body and prolongs life but also improves one’s temperament, as the harder the tendons in the feet, the more irritable a person tends to be.
“Health relies on strong feet.” Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the feet are closely related to the five internal organs and the limbs of the body. In Chinese martial arts, there is a saying: “A hundred practices are not as good as one standing meditation; it is better to practice tendons for an inch than to thicken muscles by a foot.” From a health perspective, tendons nourish qi, qi nourishes blood, and blood nourishes tendons.
Daoist health practices emphasize standing meditation, where strength arises from the bones and connects to the tendons. The length, thickness, and flexibility of the tendons are developed through standing meditation, stretching, and tendon exercises. The reason people become ill is due to insufficient qi and blood flow, which is caused by the contraction of the tendons. As people age, the legs age first; thus, caring for the feet is crucial. Once the feet can no longer move, the tendons in the feet become tight and contracted.
Standing meditation emphasizes that strength originates from the roots; stretching must begin from the feet. Gradually, the cervical spine, lumbar spine, vertebrae, shoulders, hips, and groin must all be stretched to ensure smooth qi and blood flow, thereby enhancing immunity and eliminating diseases. The Daoist health exercises from Longhu Mountain are particularly effective for stretching tendons and bones.
