Welcome back to our exploration of how Tai Chi Qigong aligns with Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. In Part 1, we examined the TCM view of stress and emotions and how Tai Chi Qigong’s integrated approach helps restore harmony through regulating breath, smoothing Liver Chi, strengthening Heart-Shen, and balancing Yin and Yang. Today, we’ll explore specific Qigong exercises for emotional regulation and their physiological basis in TCM.
Specific Qigong Exercises for Emotional Regulation
Certain Tai Chi Qigong exercises are particularly effective for emotional regulation, each working with specific aspects of our energetic system:
“Supporting the Heavens,” 托天势 involves raising the arms slowly while inhaling, then lowering them while exhaling. This fundamental movement opens the Lung meridian, which in TCM is associated with letting go of grief and sadness. The expansive chest opening creates space for emotional release, while the upward movement symbolizes lifting away heavy emotions.
“Separating Heaven and Earth,” 分开天地 involves one hand pushing up while the other presses down. This powerful movement balances the ascending and descending energies in the body, helping regulate the Spleen-Stomach axis that governs worry and overthinking. It creates a feeling of being centered between opposing forces, promoting emotional stability in times of uncertainty.
“Five Element Play,” 五行功 works systematically through movements that correspond to the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), each relating to specific emotions and organs. By moving through all elements, practitioners achieve emotional balance by addressing the entire spectrum of emotional experiences.
“Calming the Heart and Quieting the Spirit” 安心静神 involves gentle patting or tapping along the Heart meridian followed by placing palms over the heart center with focused breathing. In TCM, this directly soothes the Shen (spirit) housed in the Heart and is particularly effective for anxiety and emotional overwhelm.
These exercises fall under the general categories of “regulating the heart/mind Qigong,” 調心功 and “regulating the spirit,” 調神 (—essential aspects of Qigong practice alongside “regulating the body,” 調息 and “regulating the breath,” 調身.
The Physiological Basis in TCM Terms
Regulating the Three Treasures
Tai Chi Qigong works holistically with the Three Treasures—Jing (essence), Chi (energy), and Shen (spirit)—the fundamental energetic substances in TCM:
Nourishing and Preserving Jing (Essence) happens through the slow, gentle movements that conserve rather than deplete our constitutional energy. Attention to the Lower Dantian and the cultivation of song (relaxed alertness) strengthen the Kidneys’ ability to store and preserve Jing. The meditative aspects reduce stress hormones that would otherwise deplete Jing over time, maintaining our foundational vitality.
Cultivating and Circulating Chi (Vital Energy) occurs through the coordination of breath and movement. The slow, deep breathing creates “post-natal Chi” while the gentle movements distribute it throughout the meridian system. Specific movement patterns stimulate particular meridians, creating a pumping effect that prevents stagnation and allows renewed flow where blockages once existed.
Refining and Calming Shen (Spirit) is achieved through the meditative aspects that create “tranquil awareness,” 静中覺. The rhythmic, bilateral movements harmonize the brain hemispheres, creating coherence that balances the Fire element associated with the Heart and Shen. This harmony creates the optimal environment for Shen to flourish, expressing itself through clear thinking and balanced emotions.
In the final part of this series, we’ll explore how Tai Chi Qigong creates lasting harmony in your daily life by balancing internal organs and integrating mind, body, and spirit. Don’t miss these insights—visit often for updates and be sure to register for my forthcoming e-courses to deepen your practice and transform your wellbeing one breath, one movement at a time.
