Daoist Flow, a Yoga and Qigong Practice to reconnect with Nature

“Nature is our greatest teacher, of surrender, of allowing, of simply being. Every blade of grass, every flower, every tree remembers. This moment. This present. This is where life is.” Alexandra Domelle, The Book of Now: Quotes and messages to bring your awareness to the present moment.

What is Yoga?

Yoga has been defined in many ways, there has been entire books written about this question. Simply put, yoga means union, being at one. Historically it has been used to avoid or attenuate suffering. It is the feeling of being part of nature, a sense of belonging as opposed to the idea that we are separate from one another and from what surrounds us. Nowadays, Yoga is often reduced to the physical practice but this is only one aspect of yoga, the asanas (or yoga poses) come from its philosophy and the underlying principle that there is no separation, we are all inter connected and part of nature.

Benefits of Yoga

The benefits of practicing yoga are numerous, to name a few: improved sleep, more flexibility, emotional resilience, better anxiety management, increased lung capacity and improved longevity.

It is a radical idea at an age where we live disconnected from what surrounds us. We have shoes with rubber soles which isolate us from the contact with the earth, we rarely put our feet on the ground.

Exalted warrior, Yoga asana

What is Qigong?

Most forms of Qigong originated from Daoist practices focused on cultivating and maintaining personal health. Daoism is a philosophical tradition that has been part of Chinese culture.

Qi means energy and Gong means practice, so it is an energy practice involving movements and meditation. It is also the foundation for martial arts. Some say Qigong is older that yoga. Yoga started about 5,000 years ago. Qigong has its sources in shamanic practices where humans mimicked animals through rituals. We can see the reminiscence of those practices in many animal forms. In Qigong the poses are called forms. It is also a seasonal practice which works with the Meridians and therefore is considered as a preventative medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Each form is associated with a season, specific Meridians, an element, organs and emotions paired with it. One of the purposes of the practice is to release energy blockages.

There are 3 underlying principles throughout the practice: Yi, Chen and Wuwei.

Crane form, Qigong

The 3 underlying principles in Qigong

Yi means intention. As it is an energy practice, Yi is present throughout the practice to give a direction. For instance, moving the arms and hands through mud or clouds will provide different sensations to the body and mind.

Chen means sinking. In Qigong, there is the action and intention of anchoring the feet to the ground. The knees are slightly flexed, the pelvis neutral and the tail slightly tilted towards the pubic bone which lengthens the lower back. There is a point at the back called Gate of Life. When the lumbar spine is compressed, that point is blocked which prevents the energy between the upper and the lower body to flow.

The heart is nested within the chests, shoulders open and chin slightly ticked in to open the cervical spine. The practitioner stands between heaven and earth, a reminder of where we are. No joints are locked, so the energy flows.

Wuwei means effortless actions or using the right amount of efforts in a given movement. It requires listening to the body and how is the energy on that given day. Not a day is like the other. The practice is mirroring the amount of energy of the practitioner. Sometimes it is advised to move to a third of what you would spend energy wise. This is the case especially when recovering from an illness or if the practitioner feels depleted. That principle makes the practice accessible to all.

Qigong is often compared to Tai Chi, the main difference is that in Tai Chi you often spare with a partner which isn’t the case in Qigong.

Benefits of Qigong

The benefits of Qigong are countless. First it is a preventative medicine, it clears energy blockages. Studies have been done involving 60-minute sessions two to three times a week for up to 12 weeks. Qigong significantly improved symptoms of fatigue and sleep quality. Qigong also had positive effects on anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and overall quality of life. It can be practiced at any age.

Daoist Flow explained

The practice of Daoist Flow consists in merging the 2 practices Yoga and Qigong. The outcome is a playful practice, seasonal, often involving animals from the current season. The practice is energy centred and is therapeutic for the body and mind. The underlying theme is nature and how to connect with it.

We say in Qigong we are a microcosm of a macrocosm, the Earth, the Universe. If we nurture ourselves, the ripple effect will be that we can take better care of those around us and the earth. So it is a practice which may start with the individual but it is really a way to take better care of our earth.

If you would like to find out more and try Daoist Flow classes, see the schedule below, all classes are Daoist Flow and involve Yoga and Qigong: