Understanding Qigong 4: Four Seasons Qigong with Dr. Yang

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming teaches how to boost your immune system and discusses the theory of Four Seasons Qigong, with 25 exercises to improve your health. Qigong means "energy work" and is sometimes called "moving meditation". Using simple exercises to boost your Wei Qi (guardian energy) and stimulate the belt vessel, an energy meridian around the waist, you can increase your immunity and maintain your health.

Renowned Qigong expert and author Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming discusses the theory of Four Seasons Qigong (Si Ji Gong). Four Seasons Qigong is a well-known traditional medical Qigong practice in which one learns how to regulate the body from one season to the next to avoid common illnesses. This Qigong specializes in training the five internal Yin organs; heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen, which correspond to the four seasons the year.

It is believed that when we get sick it is often due to slow adaptability and immune response, such as during the changes from one season to another. For example, when Fall arrives, it is easier to catch a cold, and when Summer comes, the heart can be too excited. By practicing Four Seasons Qigong, you are able to adjust your body’s Qi during the change of seasons so your health can be maintained.

Dr. Yang's systematic approach to teaching offers deep insight into the ancient art of Qigong with modern scientific data to support his theory from both an Eastern and Western perspective.

• Dr. Yang instructs 25 qigong exercises & explains the related healing sounds
• Basic Five Elements TCM theory and its relationship to the organs
• Learn Four Seasons acupressure (qigong massage) techniques
• Understand how to use qigong to alleviate depression & stress
• 14 Video Lessons / 210 minutes

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Summer (Heart) - Environment: Extreme Yang

Hand Shaoyin Heart (手少陰心經) <---> Hand Taiyang S. Intestine (手太陽小腸經)

Result: Body Changes from weak Yang into extreme Yang. The heart becomes less Yin. Excess emotional excitement, including happiness, can turn the heart into a Yang state and become harmful. Guardian Qi is strongest in Summer and all pores are opened widely to release excess Qi in the internal organs. The main goal is to keep the heart in the proper Yin state. Deep inhalation can calm the mind and remove excess Qi from the heart into the lungs.

Mind

1. Emotion Excited and Stimulated

2. Deep Breathing and Peaceful Mind

3. Keep the Mind Away from the Heart

Breathing

Normal Breathing--Inhale Longer Than Exhale

Embryonic Breathing--Lead the Qi to the Skin and Bone Marrow

Sounds

Summer (Heart-Fire): He (Heart), Hen (Store Qi in Marrow) 呵、哼

Also: Fall, Winter, Spring, Main

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Fall (Lungs) - Environment: Yang Weakens and Yin Grows

Hand Taiyin Lung (手太陰肺經) <---> Hand Yangming Large Intestine (手陽明大腸經)

Result: Body Changes from extreme Yang into Yin. The Lungs are the first internal organs that interface with the external air which can make the lungs agitated and change the Qi state from Greater Yang in Lesser Yin. When this happens, you will cough. More water is needed to keep the lungs in Yin state. Exhalation should be longer than inhalation, to lead the Qi from internal organs to the skin surface and also enhance the Guardian Qi.

Mind

1. Emotions Depressed

Breathing

Reverse Breathing--Exhale Longer Than Inhale (Scholar Fire)

Embryonic Breathing--Store the Qi in the Lower Dan Tian and

Lead the Qi to the Skin to Strengthen the Guardian Qi

Sound

Fall (Lungs-Metal): Si , 泗

Also: Summer, Winter, Spring, Main

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Winter (Kidneys) - Environment: Extreme Yin

Foot Shaoyin Kidney (足少陰腎經) <---> Foot Taiyang Bladder (足太陽膀胱經)

Result: Qi Deficiency in Kidneys, Guardian Qi Shrinks to the Center, Body feels chilly, Urine Increases, Body shrinks/contracts, the Spirit is lower, and Depression increases.

Mind

1. Raising Up the Spirit

2. More Physical Movements

Breathing

Reverse Breathing--Exhale Longer Than Inhale (Expand and Strengthen the Guardian Qi)

Embryo Breathing--Massaging the Kidneys from Breathing

Sound

Winter (Kidneys-Water): Chui (Kidneys), Ha (Expand Guardian Qi) 吹、哈

Also: Summer, Fall, Spring, Main

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Spring (Liver) - Environment: Yang Grows and Yin Weakens

Foot Jueyin Liver (足厥陰肝經) <---> Foot Shaoyang Gall Bladder (足少陽膽經)

Result: Body Changes from Extreme Yin into more Yang. The Liver is in its Absolute Yin state and needs to change into Yang. Body's Guardian Qi starts to grow. Spirit is raised. When Liver's Qi grows too fast, the Liver will be too Yang. However, if Liver's Qi stays Yin, then Liver’s Qi becomes deficient.

Mind

1. Emotions start to be disturbed/stimulated

2. Deep Breathing and Peaceful Mind

Breathing

Reverse Breathing--Inhale Longer Than Exhale (Scholar Fire)

Embryo Breathing--Store the Qi in the Lower Dan Tian

Sound

Spring (Liver-Wood): Xu, 噓

Also: Summer, Fall, Winter, Main

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IMMUNE BOOST Four Seasons Qigong (Si Ji Gong, 四季功)

Medical Qigong for Prevention and Longevity (Yi Xue Qigong, 醫學氣功)

aka (Four Season Assimilating Life Gong)(Si Ji She Sheng Gong, 四季攝生功)

(Four Season Nourishing Life Gong)(Si Ji Yang Sheng Gong, 四季養生功)

General Theory Review

History

- Herbs and food

- Sounds

- Breathing

- Meditation

- Exercises

Related Chinese Documents

1. Song Dynasty (960-1280 A.D.) 宋朝

- 攝生月令（宋．姚稱撰）

- 混俗頤生錄（宋．劉詞撰）

- 養老奉親書（宋．陳直撰）

2. Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368 A.D.) 元朝

- 攝生消息論（元．邱處機撰）

3. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) 明朝

- 運化玄樞（明．朱權撰）

- 修齡要指（明．冷謙撰）

- 遵生八箋（明．高濂撰）

4. Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 A.D.) 清朝

- 壽世青編（清．尤乘撰）

- 壽世傳真（清．徐文弼撰）

- 石室秘錄（清．陳士鐸撰）

Qi and Qigong

glucose + 6O2 ------> 6CO2 + 6H2O

∆Go’ = -686 Kcal

Upper body and lower body

12 Qi Channels

- 6 Yin Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidneys, Spleen, PC

- 6 Yang SI LI GB B S TB

12 Qi channels circulation in the body

Six Yin organs with four seasons

Five Elements with five Yin organs

Kidneys (Winter)(water) ---> Liver (Spring)(wood) --->

Heart (Summer)(fire) ---> Spleen (Four Season)(earth) --->

Lungs (Fall)(metal)

All Four Seasons

Foot Taiyin Spleen (足太陰脾經) <---> Foot Yangming

Stomach (足陽明胃經)Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner (手少陽三焦經)

<---> Hand Jueyin Pericardium (手厥陰心包經)

Sounds

Four Seasons (Spleen-Earth): Fu 呼

Internal Fire (Triple Burners-Mutual Fire): Xi 嘻

Qigong Exercises

1. Both Hands to Hold Up Heaven (Shuang Shou Tuo Tian) 雙手托天

2. Large Dragon Loosens Its Neck (Da Long Shen Jing) 大龍伸頸

3. Buddha Explores the Sea (Na Zha Tan Hai) 哪吒探海

4. Circle the Waist Horizontally (Ping Yuan Niu Yao) 平圓扭腰

5. Regulate the Middle and Lower Burners (Tiao Zhong Xia Jiao) 調中下焦

6. Loosening the Upper Burner (Song Chi Shang Jiao) 鬆弛上焦

7. White Crane Loosens the Wings (Bai He Song Chi) 白鶴鬆翅

8. White Crane Shakes Its Wings (Bai He Dou Chi) 白鶴抖翅

Summer+Fall (Heart+Lungs) Qigong Exercises

1. Forward and Backward Swinging Arms (Qian Hou Shuai Bi) 前後甩臂

2. Left and Right Windlasses Turn (Zuo You Lu Lu) 左右轆轤

3. Feudal Lord Pulls the Bow (Ba Wang La Gong) 霸王拉弓

4. Immortal Pushes the Stone Tablet (Xian Ren Tui Bei) 仙人推碑

5. Large Roc Arcs Its Wings (Da Peng Gong Chi) 大鵬拱翅

6. Large Roc Spreads Its Wings (Da Peng Zhan Chi) 大鵬展翅

7. Shake the Head and Swing the Tail (Yao Tou Bai Wei) 搖頭擺尾

8. Baby Bird Receives the Food (You Niao Shou Shi) 幼鳥受食

9. Crane Shakes Its Wings (Bai He Dou Chi) 白鶴抖翅

Massage with Hands

Summer (Heart):

1. Massaging Heart

2. Massage Heart and Pericardium Channel

Fall (Lungs):

3. Massaging Lungs' Channel

4. Spread the Chest Area from Center Outward

Winter (Kidneys) Qigong Exercises

1. Two Hands Hold the Toes (Shuang Shou Pan Zu) 雙手攀足

2. Phoenix Spreads Its Wings (Feng Huang Zhan Chi) 鳳凰展翅

3. Turn the Head to See the Moon (Hui Tou Wang Yue) 回頭望月

4. Large Bear Softens the Waist (Da Xiong Ruan Yao) 大熊軟腰

Massage with Hands

Winter (Kidneys):

1. Massaging Ears

2. Massage Kidneys

3. Massage Sacrum

4. Massage Sanyinjiao

5. Massage Yongquan Cavity

Spring (Liver) Qigong Exercises

1. Left-Right Single Lifting (Zuo You Dan Ju) 左右單舉

2. White Ape Picks up the Peach (Bai Yuan Zhai Tao) 白猿摘桃

3. Lo Han Bows (Lo Han Da Gong) 羅漢打躬

4. Zhong Wan Up and Down (Zhong Wan Qi Fu) 中脕起伏

Massage with Hands

1. Massaging Liver

2. Massage Sanyinjiao

Only 10-15 minutes a day of qigong practice can greatly improve your health!

Understand a basic overview of your human energy anatomy. Meridians are rivers of energy, or ion channels, in the body. Vessels are larger, and act more like a reservoir. The eight vessels are called "Qi Jing Ba Mai." Qi means odd, strange, or mysterious. Jing means meridian or channels. Ba means eight and Mai means vessels. Qi Jing Ba Mai is then translated as "Odd Meridians and Eight Vessels" or "Extraordinary Meridians (EM)." "Odd" has a meaning of strange in Chinese. It is used simply because these eight vessels are not well understood yet. Many Chinese doctors explain that they are called "Odd" simply because there are four vessels that are not paired. Since these eight vessels also contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis, some times they are called "Homeostatic Meridians." French acupuncturists call them "Miraculous Meridians" because they were able to create therapeutic effects when all other techniques had failed. In addition, because each of these channels exerts a strong effect upon psychic functioning and individuality, t he command points are among the most important psychological points in the body. For this reason, they are occasionally called "The Eight Psychic Channels."

These vessels are:

1. Governing Vessel (Du Mai)

2. Conception Vessel (Ren Mai)

3. Thrusting Vessel (Chong Mai)

4. Girdle Vessel (Dai Mai)

5. Yang Heel Vessel (Yangqiao Mai)

6. Yin Heel Vessel (Yinqiao Mai)

7. Yang Linking Vessel (Yangwei Mai)

8. Yin Linking Vessel (Yinwei Mai).

General Functions of the Eight Vessels

1. Serve as Qi Reservoirs:

Because the eight vessels are so different from each other, it is difficult to generalize their characteristics and functions. However, one of the most common characteristics of the eight vessels was specified by Bian Que in his "Nan Jing." He reported that:

The twelve organ-related Qi channels constitute rivers, and the eight extraordinary vessels constitute reservoirs.

These reservoirs, especially the Conception and Governing vessels, absorb excess Qi from the main channels, and then return it when they are deficient. You should understand however, that because of the limited number of traditional documents, as well as the lack of modern, scientific methods of Qi research, it is difficult to determine the precise behavior and characteristics of these eight vessels. They can be understood on a number of different levels, and they perform different functions and contain every kind of Qi such as Ying Qi, Wei Qi, Jing Qi, and even blood.

When the twelve primary channels are deficient in Qi, the eight vessels will supply it. This store of Qi can easily be tapped into with acupuncture needles through those cavities connecting the eight vessels to the twelve channels. The connection cavities behave like the gates of a reservoir, which can be used to adjust the strength of the Qi flow in the rivers and the level of Qi in the reservoir. Sometimes, when it is necessary, the reservoir will release Qi by itself. For example, when a person has had a shock, either physically or mentally, the Qi in some of the main channels will be deficient. This will cause particular organs to be stressed, and Qi will accumulate rapidly around these organs. When this happens, the reservoir must release Qi to increase the deficient circulation and prevent further damage.

2. Guard Specific Areas Against 'Evil Qi'

The Qi which protects the body from outside intruders is called "Wei Qi" (Guardian Qi). Among the eight vessels, the Thrusting vessel, the Governing vessel, and the Conception vessel play major roles in guarding the abdomen, thorax, and the back.

3. Regulate the Changes of Life Cycles

According to Chapter 1 of "Su Wen," the Thrusting vessel and the Conception vessel also regulate the changes of the life cycles which occur at 7 year intervals for women and 8 year intervals for men.

4. Circulate Jing Qi to the Entire Body, Particularly the Five 'Ancestral Organs'

One of the most important functions of the eight vessels is to deliver Jing Qi (Essence Qi, which has been converted from Original Essence and sexual essence) to the entire body, including the skin and hair. They must also deliver Jing Qi to the five ancestral organs: the brain and spinal cord, the liver and gall bladder, the bone marrow, the uterus, and the blood system.

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