Hi all,

I worked with Gayle Simmons, author of the “Let’s Learn Mandarin” blog on this exciting collaboration. It has indeed been a pleasure working with her and bring our ideas alive. This blog fuses with my general perspective on staying healthy and finding ways to keep fit. I was interested in the Chinese culture and the way they do things, so here it is!

中国有方法健身

A Chinese Approach to Fitness

In the Chinese culture the symbol Yin-Yang represents opposing forces. These forces show the yin to be cooler and passive, and the yang to be more hardcore and aggressive. In looking at their approach to fitness to put it simply would be to strike a balance between the yin and yang type of exercise. The yin energy helps to soothe your mind and body. This energy replenishes the body and aides in the accomplishment of your goals etc. Whereas the yang incorporates all your decisions for spirituality, physical and emotional that deals with the mind and body. The yang aids your body to move about and shift gear quickly.

Some Examples of Yin Fitness are;

Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, qigong

Some Examples of Yang Fitness are:

Intensive gym, Chinese Martial Arts (Kung Fu), Cardiovascular exercises

Balancing the yin yang approach….

It is said that balancing your exercise as it pertains to the symbolism of the yin-yang is beneficial for long term results. This is because it helps with a person’s endurance level. You would not have to worry that you are not getting enough exercise or it is not intense enough for your liking, it will be at the right pace. When too much of intensive energy is utilized the body can break down or go into crashing modes, however if the right stability is found then a person may last longer. For example, if you go to the gym and the trainer only gives you weights, heavy equipment and intense aerobics then your body will soon be in deficiency for the Yin to help with the replenishment of the body. But if you fuse the two your endurance level will increase and result in better long term goals.

These Four methods of exercise are developed for striking the balance between both forces:

Tai Chi

Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan when translated means "supreme ultimate fist". It is a slow and elegant style combination of KungFu and Yoga. It fuses slow movements accompanied by regulated breathing. Tai chi focuses on agility and emotional balance rather than on martial arts as a sport. It is considered a good method for balancing the Yin and Yang because its movements and breathing exercises removes blockages of energy at the meridians, enabling chi to flow freely.

Yin Yoga

it is a extremely slow paced style of yoga with poses that are usually held for long periods of time. It can also help to rebalance yin and yang. It works to stretch the connective tissues at the joints of the lower spine, hips and thighs (the yin parts of the body). it also helps the ligaments, bones and other areas of the body especially after an accident or some form of injury. Poses such as the frog, shoelace, butterfly, swan and sleeping swan are all performed on the floor and held for five minutes. These postures rebalance the yin by increasing fluid movement of several body parts especially the limbs as as improving organ function and relieving stress.

Yoga Poses

These are just some of the various yoga poses that are practised and utilized regularly during yoga exercises. Perform the frog pose by lying face down on stomach. Bend your knees, allowing your heels to rest on your buttocks. Lift your body from the waist as you reach behind yourself and grab your feet. Hold the pose for five to 50 breaths. Use mental imagery with butterfly pose. Sitting on the floor in an erect position, draw your feet toward your groin area. Touch the soles of your feet together and hold your feet with your hands. Flap your arm and folded legs up and down like butterfly wings slowly increasing the speed and then gently slowing down. Breathe normally throughout the exercise. Both of these exercises help restore your yin.

Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese Martial Arts otherwise known as Kung Fu, Gong Fu or Wushu is the Chinese version of several similar fighting styles. This form of fitness is considered to be a Yang form of fitness because of its high energy nature. Kung Fu’s main function is self defence but also serves as body building, weapon training, a technique for instilling discipline and maintaining good health. 

Attribution:

https://experiencelife.com/article/yin-yang-fitness-the-best-of-both-worlds/