The characteristics of Daoyin Yangsheng Regimens

1. Relevance and marked effect in disease prevention and treatment.

As is firmly believed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), "When the right medicine is administered, it will cure the illness as soon as it arrives." Also, "when the right acupuncture method is applied, the meridian will run smoothly as soon as the needle touches it." For this reason, this theory has been moved to the forefront in Daoyin Yangsheng Gongs.

During creation, there was an emphasis on being relevant or targeted, that is, the exercise principles should be based on the cause and pathology of each system of the human body; the features of the practice routine should be based on the principle of preventing and treating the diseases of each system; and the movements in the exercise routine should be organically constructed according to the specific characteristics of each practice routine. All this in order to be targeted and achieve the goal of "selecting targeted practice for the disease and benefiting health and/or removing the illness when the practice is done".

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2. The comprehensive and national characters of training-nurture integration.

In both TCM medicine and modern science, a healthy and sound lifestyle is regarded as the core of good health and longevity. That’s why TCM health preservation enshrines the close combination of "manual labour" and "a regular daily schedule, moderate diet, and tranquility and detachment" while the World Health Organization combines "moderate exercise" with "a reasonable diet, psychological balance, abstinence from smoking and limited intake of alcohol". Among those requirements, mental regulation commands a prime place in order that one succeeds in Yangshen―"nurturing the mind".

By focusing on this core, Daoyin Yangsheng Gongs start with the fundamental of Yangxing (cultivating the temperament as "There are techniques for attaining longevity with cultivating the temperament being the fundamental.").  

The regimens have a close combinination of Daoyin practice and Yangsheng behaviour. The following view also set forth this: "Yangsheng is the foundation and core while Daoyin is the means; Daoyin is part of Yangsheng and serves Yangsheng.” (from Zhang Guangde's Guide to Yangsheng through Daoyin, Beijing Sport University Press, April 1993).

The book outlines such Yangxing (temperament cultivation) methods as "being open-minded, abstaining from anger, worrying about nothing and believing in longevity"―ideas which are further implemented in the regimens’ mnemonic rhymes, design, practice requirements, and teaching and training. This enables the Daoyin Yangsheng regimen enthusiasts to naturally enter a fine state of simultaneous physical and mental training and of training-cultivation integration.

 

3. The holistic and philosophical nature of dialectical treatment.

It is believed in the yin-yang theory that "when yin qi is smooth and peaceful and yang qi is solid and compact, one’s spirit is normal; If yin and yang are separated, one’s essential qi will be exhausted”. In other words, the theory emphasizes the balance between yin and yang, and the interaction between them.

In addition, the Five Elements Theory contains the relationships between sheng and ke (generating and restraining), and between cheng and wu (excessive checking and counter checking). Therefore, in treating an illness, a TCM doctor doesn’t "treat the head when there’s a headache or treat a foot when it hurts".   

It is under this principle that all Daoyin Yangsheng regimens not only emphasize relevance, but also draw our attention to two areas: on the one hand, the need to improve the practitioner’s overall physical fitness and immunity function to cope with a certain disease; on the other, the need to dertermine, on the basis of analyzing the relationship between a certain internal organ and other organs and the viscera, different technical characteristics and optimal technical movement so as to achieve the best effect in prevention and treatment. For instance, in the creation and compilation of Qi-invigorating and lung-nourishing Gong, a large number of moves such as arm rotation, neck turning, the Shaoshang and Shangyang acupoints (on the first knuckle of the thumb and forefinger), finger roll-in and wrist back tilting as well as chest expansion and body spreading are designed for the very beginning as they are moves that help improve the breathing function and dislodge the lung meridians. In addition, the design also includes exercises such as sudden rise, proning and leaning back that involve full body movement with big amplitude and moderate to low intensity so as to improve the cardiopulmonary function and physical fitness. Moreover, the "Holding the Sky with One Arm" movement is introduced to nourish the spleen, regarded as “the mother” of lungs. The Naughty Boy Washing Clothes movement is intended to nourish kidneys, which are regarded as the “sons” of lungs.

 

4. The real and eternal nature of deriving joy from helping others.

As a line in a famous song goes, "As long as everyone gives a little love, the world will become a beautiful tomorrow." And the Chinese maxim of "giving roses to people and leaving some fragrance in your hand". Both convey the message that a harmonious society needs people who delight in helping others.

For this reason, Prof. Zhang Guangde imbedded in his Daoyin Yangsheng regimens the practice-guiding principle of "Four Pleasures and Eight Mutual Relationships" to help practitioners in a better position to reach the ideal state of "unity of body and mind, unity of the individual and society, and harmony between man and nature". Specifically, the "Four Pleasures" are the pleasure of helping others, seeking pleasure in hardship, the pleasure of enjoying oneself, and the frequent pleasure of being content.

The "Eight Mutual Relations" mean respecting each other morally, promoting each other’s progress philosophically, comforting each other spiritually, exchanging ideas information-wise, learning from each other in practice, complementing each other in theory, helping each other in work, and assisting each other in life.

 

In conclusion, DYG focuses on the needs of people all over the world for physical fitness and general wellbeing. DYG draws its essence from  Yangsheng secrets and from Daoyin martial arts from ancient China. The regimens have an organic combination of form, breathing and mind regulations as well as integration of Daoyin and Yangsheng with physical/mental exercises and a science-based sound lifestyle. In terms of theories and principles, they incorporate not only traditional culture and knowledge of Chinese/Western medicines, but also sports biology, psychology, philosophy, aesthetics, ancient and modern literature and auspicious Chinese culture. Moreover, poetry and songs are skillfully embedded in the routines. Daoyin Yangsheng regimens form a self-exercise system individually created for body movement, breathing regulation, and mental activity. The underlying principles are science-based, the exercises well balanced and appropirate, well targeted, easy to learn, elegant and straight forward, with remarkable result and no side effects.

What is highly commendable is the fact that Prof. Zhang Guangde, while accomplishing his self-salvation, also presented the world with a "golden doll" for keeping one physically fit and strong, and for curing the incurable. For this reason, since the launch, DYG has spread widely, loved by the general public, inside and outside of China, highly praised by experts and scholars alike, and supported by government.

After nearly 50 years of research, teaching and development, DYG has spread to more than 60 countries and regions in the world, with over one million people as regular practicioners. It has enabled tens of thousands of people suffering from chronic diseases and malaise to lift themselves up from a sense of loss and despair and get a new lease on life. It has enabled countless elderly and infirm people to shake off anguish, worries and danger, and take a turn for the better in health. It has also lightened the burden of many individuals, and their families, and brought them joy and happiness. Countless people praise the regimens as, "life-saving", the "golden necklace of martial arts".

 

Today, Beijing Sport University has an established a Daoyi Yangsheng Centre and the science of Sports Yangsheng (Health Preservation through Sports) as a concentrated discipline under which many undergraduate, master-degree and doctoral-degree graduate students are enrolled and trained. A twelve-step Daoyin Yangsheng Gong is also included in the Health Qgong routines promoted by the Chinese government. In 1992, it won the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress by the State Sports Commission. For these achievements, Prof. Zhang Guangde was honored with the title of Top 100 Chinese Wushu Heroes and the New China Sports Pioneer Medal of Honour and was given a special monthly allowance by the State Council. In addition, he was the first Ninth Duan holder for both Wushu and Health Qigong in the world.  From a terminally-ill young student, Prof. Zhang Guangde propelled himself into the ranks of Wushu and Yangsheng grandmasters. He is remembered for both, his published masterworks, as well as, his outstanding Wushu/HQ skills.

 

It is my hope that fitness enthusiasts will join the growing Daoyin Yangsheng Family, to share in a healthy, happy and beautiful tomorrow!