Techniques to preserve health
“Nourishing life” is the literal translation of Yǎngshēng, this little-known branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Yet Yǎngshēng holds an essential place in it. It is a set of methods and recommendations for maintaining health and increasing longevity.
For cultivating health is the primary goal of TCM, which considers health and not illness. In fact, Yǎngshēng is still taught in schools of Chinese medicine today. The Su Wen says: “Waiting until you are sick before treating yourself is like waiting until you are thirsty before digging a well, or waiting until war is declared before forging weapons. Isn’t that too late?”
Living in harmony with one’s environment
“Nourishing life.” The phrase itself is inspiring! It invites us to get closer to Nature and respect its rhythms and rules. Understanding the essence of Yǎngshēng enlightens us on how to transform our daily lives to live healthier… and happier lives.
It’s within everyone’s reach, provided they take the first step! This can start by reducing their sugar and alcohol consumption, taking up an art form, or an activity like climbing, boxing, dancing, meditation, spending time in nature… the list is endless. So let’s explore the avenues Yǎngshēng offers us.
Health results from balance and harmony. Humans can only be healthy if they live in harmony with their environment and respect the cycles of Nature. This includes moving in the natural direction of life, or in other words, “with the flow.”
Harmony means moderation. Yangshēng recommends banishing excess in all areas of life: food, sexuality, emotions, etc.
Excessive activity can be as harmful as excessive sedentary living. Harmony, and therefore health, is found in the right balance.
The search for balance
Yǎngshēng offers techniques that cover all ages of life, from birth to death. This includes :
- Improve diet
- Exercise regularly
- Practice an art
- Manage your rest
- Improve qualitatively your sex life
- Meditate
Indeed, when the mind is calm and clear, the disease cannot enter. “A man in peace will not get sick,” says an old Chinese saying.
Yǎngshēng places particular importance on adapting to the seasons. For example, in spring, it is recommended to get up earlier, when the days are longer, and to exercise more upon waking. Conversely, one should spend more time sleeping in winter, when the nights are longer. This adaptation to the seasons naturally includes diet. In spring, which corresponds to the liver organ in Chinese medicine, one should favor foods that support the liver, or even practice fasting.
Breathe
Breathing is the source of life. It begins with the newborn’s first cry and ends with the last breath. However, while babies breathe naturally by inflating their belly, as they grow, they limit their breathing from their nose to their diaphragm!
And deep, ample breathing is essential to life. The more consciously we breathe, the more we benefit from the benefits of breathing. The simple act of breathing fully allows us to be more relaxed, better nourish our organs, and experience our emotions more serenely. Techniques such as Prānāyāma help develop full and conscious breathing.
Eat well
As with the Greek philosopher and physician Hippocrates, dietetics is the first discipline of Chinese medicine.
We cannot hope to be healthy if we eat the processed products offered by the food industry. In Cambodia, for example, the massive use of white sugar and glutamate in food has become commonplace, killing thousands of people!
We must therefore favor unrefined products, limit meat consumption, and consume more fruits and vegetables and fewer starchy foods.
It is important to choose seasonal, freshly harvested, and naturally grown products. Finally, it is important to prepare them with love… and to enjoy them peacefully!
Control the body and mind
Life is movement, according to Taoist philosophy. Physical exercise is therefore recommended. It must be adapted to age and season. The practice of Qigong is one of the royal paths to cultivating the mind and body, along with taijiquan, meditation, yoga, etc.
Qigong consists of a series of postures and slow movements that help loosen joints and restore a harmonious flow of qi—or vital energy—throughout the body. Regular practice of qigong increases this qi and controls its circulation. Qigong is based on conscious breathing, relaxation, posture, and visualization. It is an extremely powerful self-treatment practice in itself. It helps calm the mind and better regulate our emotions.
Indeed, emotional disorders and stress are major factors in illness, especially in our contemporary world, which has broken this harmony with Nature. Yangshēng advocates taking care of our thoughts and emotions. This allows us to cultivate harmonious relationships with our fellow human beings, an essential condition for health, longevity… and happiness!
Benefits of inestimable value
Do not wait to practice Yǎngshēng and enjoy its benefits:
- Better immunity, so better health
- Increased self-confidence
- An increase in creativity
- A better emotional balance
- A clear mind
- More vitality
- More joy of life
You can already start with the following three points:
- Do 3 times a week for at least one hour of exercises including cardio exercises
- Eliminate sugar (alcohol), reduce salt, replace snacks with fruits
- Sleep for at least six hours between 10 pm and 6 am, hours that allow optimal recovery
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