Editor’s Note: Part 1 of this four-part article ran in the November issue; Part 2 ran in the December issue.
4. Working With Yinyang
If we ask ourselves what the simplest Chinese medicine definition of health and well-being would be, we might say harmony of yin and yang, and free flow of qi and blood.
When we adopt the core qigong standing position (the standard preparation for a qigong session, as well as a deep practice in its own right), we attune to yinyang – the great pulse of the universe. We release our weight and intention down into yin earth, both to create a strong physical and emotional base and to experience the upsurging nourishment the earth offers.
From that foundation, we softly lengthen upward to yang, heaven – here denoting sky, cosmos, universe and infinite space. We can then close our eyes (yin) and focus internally on body awareness and breath, or open them (yang) and connect externally to the environment surrounding us.
When we move, we lengthen (yang) and release back (yin) while exploring the constantly shifting dynamic between strength and softness.
The yang energy in people is firm; firmness without restraint turns into aggressiveness, like fire rising. Yin energy is flexible; flexibility without support becomes too weak, like water descending. — Liu I-ming, 18th century9
A qigong saying goes, “In all stillness (yin) there must be movement (yang); in all movement (yang) there must be stillness (yin).”
Standing, with no apparent movement, we cultivate internal softening in order that acute or chronic obstruction and stagnation begin to be released, and qi and blood can express their true nature, which is to flow.
And moving, even in the midst of hard training, we maintain a still, internal core. The more we connect with this peaceful center (like the stillness of the sea beneath the waves), the more we can carry it through into our daily life.
The cool eye discerns men’s character. The cool ear hears the intent in their speech. Cool emotions plumb others’ feelings. The cool mind penetrates everything. — Vegetable Root Discourse, 16th century CE10
Yinyang and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an almost-too-perfect illustration of yinyang dynamics. The yang sympathetic branch of the ANS is conventionally said to produce the “fight or flight” response. It is activated in times of danger and stress, as well as voluntarily – when we choose to do or watch scary things.
Blood vessels constrict, blood pressure rises, and breathing and heart rate speed up. It is part of our ancient defense mechanism and can save life and limb, but we need to be able to revert back to yin, parasympathetic dominance, as soon as the threat has passed.
However, many people are stuck, to varying degrees, in sympathetic dominance. They experience chronic or acute levels of stress, fear, anxiety, worry, defensiveness, inability to enjoy intimacy, and poor judgment. Their cells burn more energy, giving rise to inflammation, cell damage and breakdown of cell repair – factors we know underlie many chronic diseases.
The parasympathetic nervous system, by contrast, is the rest, relax, digest and repair branch of the ANS. Blood vessels soften and dilate, heart rate and blood pressure go down, the immune system is enhanced, energy reserves are restored and anti-inflammatory pathways counter the inflammatory effects of excess sympathetic activation. Emotionally, parasympathetic dominance is characterized by feelings of safety, trust, intimacy, friendliness and “flow states.”
When we practice qigong, with its combination of mindful movement and (especially) slow, deep, lower abdominal breathing, we are training ourselves to deeply enter this parasympathetic dominant state. As far as Chinese medicine is concerned, lower abdominal (dantian) breathing helps lower heart fire into the cooling embrace of kidney water.
This not only enhances our own physical and mental well-being, but also radiates out of us as an invitation to others (including our patients) to let their defenses down. This invitation to healing can start with the very first moment of a patient encounter – even an initial phone call. The parasympathetic state also enables us to respond to those around us and to life events in a centered, unflurried way.
A flexible and responsive ANS also demonstrates the wisdom of the “yin within yang” and “yang within yin” imagery of the taijitu (yinyang) symbol.
To respond to danger and other life challenges, we need a rapid yang sympathetic response while retaining a core, still presence (yin within yang) so that we keep our wits about us, rather than panic in the face of threats.
And while the ability to enter a deep parasympathetic state optimizes our well-being and that of those around us, maintaining a core, alert presence (yang within yin) reduces the likelihood of us being eaten by a tiger while lost in meditation.
References
- Liu I-ming. Awakening to the Tao. Translator :Thomas Cleary. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2006.
- Tsai Chih Chung (translator). Cai Gen Tan [Vegetable Root Discourses]. Asiapac Comic Series. San Francisco, CA: China Books & Periodicals, 1986.
