Turning Back the Clock

“Compared to strengthening muscles, restoring elasticity to the fascia is slow work – unsurprising since we are effectively turning back the clock.”

— Peter Deadman, Chinese medicine scholar and author

Silk Painting of Tao Yin Practice from 168 BC

It’s a worthy goal to learn to live in the present, but who doesn’t want to feel like as young, flexible, and full of energy as they felt 10, 20, or 30+ years ago? Personally, I got hooked on Qigong when it seemed to melt the pain and stiffness right out of my body. I was amazed that something so relaxing and downright enjoyable worked better than the myriads of flexibility techniques I had studied as a dancer and educator.  This was never more apparent than when I first learned Tao Yin. Honestly, it felt like a miracle!

Before Qigong or Yoga, there was Tao Yin. Recorded in ancient writings and illustrations discovered on cave walls and etched on turtle shells, this profoundly healing practice is used to guide enlivening, nourishing Qi through the body and mind.

Tao Yin, like Qigong, recognizes that we humans hold tension in many layers of ourselves, not only our fascia, but also our emotions and thoughts. The power of Tao Yin lies in the way its unforced, gentle, flowing stretches gradually grow deeper and effectively melt tension from all the layers. Its continually flowing movements keep the mind engaged and relaxed, making it much easier to avoid the potentially damaging over-exertion of most stretching techniques. This ease and flow creates an unrushed sense of spaciousness that helps restore elasticity. Compared to Yoga, there is much more flow in Tao Yin. Compared to Qigong, there is more stretch.

I incorporate Tao Yin principles into each class. However, to reach the deepest level of ease and flow, it’s necessary to explore the floor stretches, which allow the skeletal muscles to let go and relax more than when they are needed to maintain an upright stance. That’s why I’m offering a Tao Yin workshop on May 2. We’ll take a deep dive into this relaxing, rejuvenating technique, and learn how to start turning back those biological clocks. Read more, below.