7/24/2019 Swim Dragon

1/3

Swimming Dragon Qigong

by Tamara Bennett (Smiling Dragon Tai Chi & Qigong) and Stacy Shramana (Tai Chi for WellBeing)

Perhaps more ancient then acpnctre! is a Qigong system of e"ercise called #ang Sheng(#ang Sheng $ to feed the body)% These e"ercises are considered internal' becase theyact not only on mscles! tendons and sinews! bt also on the Qi ow of the internal organs%

#ang Sheng is an ancient Taoist form that originated in China oer *!+++ years ago% ,ne ofthe best -nown of the therapetic #ang Shengs is called Swimming Dragon! which imitatesthe serpent.li-e moements of a dragon swimming in the sea%

The power for spporting three ma/or physiological actiities is called the Triple Warmer orThree Brner system% 0i-e the acpnctre channels and their many points! the brnerscannot be fond by dissection or e"ploratory srgery% They are not ob/ects bt bodilyfnctions% They are nseen agents that -eep the natral machinery of the body rnningsmoothly%

The Three Brners are reglators of metabolism% The top brner is located in the pper chestand controls respiration% 1t powers the heart and lngs% The middle brner is in the pperabdomen and reglates digestion% 1t fels the stomach! spleen! lier and pancreas% Thelower brner is in the lower abdomen and pelis! and directs elimination% 1ts 2elds are theintestines! bladder and -idneys%

The Swimming Dragon #ang Sheng is fairly simple! yet an e"cellent way of promotinghealthy actiity of these brners% The reslt is an improement in general well.being! withtoni2cation of the metabolic system% 1t is repted to be the most e3ectie Qigong practicefor balancing body weight4 the sinos moements of the form help control the appetite!slenderi5e the waist! hips! thighs and bttoc-s and mobili5e fats and to"ins into lymphaticdrainage%

The Swimming Dragon inoles the whole body in a gracefl rhythmic moement% 1t redces

tension! loosens /oints! brings sppleness! massages the internal organs and stimlateslymph ow% 1t improes circlation of the blood and of corse Qi% The Swimming Dragonstretches ot the whole body completely! especially the spine! and helps to straighten andstrengthen the bac-% 1t reglates the -idney channelsaccording to Traditional Chinese6edicine! which in trn bene2ts the internal organs% 7eglar practice can re/enate the s-inand promote itality% The Swimming Dragon is also an en/oyable way to focs and calm themind%

8

7/24/2019 Swim Dragon

2/3

The moements also harmoni5e the hormonal system% This happens with the moementsmassaging the internal genital organs! which stimlates the /ing energy! so it has a strongfnction on re/enation and balancing of the se"al energy% 1t can also improe thecondition of many chronic problems arond the genital organs and lower stomach andimproe the power of fertility%

When practiced 9+ mintes daily! this simple form balances the metabolism! glandlarsecretions and circlation of blood! lymph and body ids! while promoting life.long healthand inner peace%

:eryone can learn the Swimming Dragon Qigong! no matter! at what age yo begin%

Swimming Dragon :"ercise . 0ose Weight in the Waist

1 loe Dr% 6ao% 1 hae recently begn to read his colmns and 2nd him to be a good dose ofcommon sense copled with down.to.earth and real.life ways to improe health ia natralremedies! ct calories and lose weight%

Today 1 fond this e"ercise which! 1 discoered! 1 hae been doing a ersion of for the pastsi" months or so! bt 1 call it part of sha-ing my booty arond the bedroom at night withshades drawn and no one watching ;) 1 loe the name of this e"ercise and 2nd it mosteocatie of the more esoteric aspects of playing chess andot to mention . ithas the qi(?chi?) of the nierse owing throgh it ;)

By Dr% 6aoshing >i. Posted on @ri! 6ar 8A! 9+8+! 8;9 am PDT

mericas rapidly e"panding waistline has become a hge concern in the past decade%Today! eight ot of ten adlts are oerweight and some E+ million people are consideredobese% 1ts not hard to see why; We eat foods that contain tightly.pac-ed calories in smallerpac-ages and dont engage in enogh physical actiity% Fere are G niHe and easye"ercises that will get yo in shape this springI

You have to move to lose weightThe nmber one case of being oerweight is inactiity% The hman body is designed forphysical actiity% ,r ancestors were hnter.gatherers who spent most of their lies on themoe4 their metabolic fnctions matched their physical lifestyle% >owadays! we lie inopposition to or natre% The reason most diets fail is becase or bodies are not designedto sbsist on meager foods% We are designed to consme a good amont of energy .. andthen to brn that energy% Physical actiity is the -ey to a healthy metabolism%

9

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/24986/3-unique-exercises-to-shape-up-for-spring/http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/24986/3-unique-exercises-to-shape-up-for-spring/

7/24/2019 Swim Dragon

3/3

Physical activity does not necessarily mean abrupt, fast-paced and forcefulexercise.What if 1 told yo that gentle! slower! and deliberate moements are /st asbene2cial for yor healthJ KniHe to China are the gentler -ind of moement arts thatpromote energy! balance of fnction! and a calm mind% 1 call them mind.body e"ercises! andthey inclde tai chi! Higong! and Dao 1n yoga% 6any recent stdies hae con2rmed that thesemind.body e"ercises help balance blood pressre! sgar! cholesterol! eHilibrim! and other

organ fnctions% 6ind.body e"ercise wor-s throgh a system of energy commnicationwithin the body% By deliberately actiating the ow of energy and remoing bloc-ages!commnication is restored and organ fnctions retrn to their optimal leel% #o can learnthese mind.body e"ercises with a teacher or from instrctional DLDs%

Ta-en from a tradition that is thosands of years old! here are three Higong e"ercises thattarget yor weight and get yo in shape% The Higong e"ercises from this article are adaptedfrom my boo- Secrets of Self.Fealing! where yo can 2nd many more e"ercises to bene2t aariety of health conditions%

:"ercise 8; Swimming Dragon speeds p yor metabolismThis simple Higong e"ercise can help speed p yor metabolism and redce yor appetite%>ot nli-e a belly dance! Swimming Dragon is a wriggling rhythmic dance of the torso! whichbrns energy and promotes fat brning in the abdomen%

8% 1n a comfortable! Hiet place stand with yor feet together and an-les toching! or asclose together as yo can get them% Bring hands oer yor head! with palms together and2ngers pointing p% Meep yor palms together dring this entire e"ercise%

9% 1nhaling! psh yor waist ot to the right side while -eeping yor head and pper torsostraight% Simltaneosly moe yor right elbow to the right! so that it rests at sholderheight%

G% :"haling! psh yor waist ot to the left side while -eeping yor head and pper torsostraight% Simltaneosly moe yor left elbow flly to the left at sholder height%

E% 7epeat this moement seeral times% :ery time yo moe yor waist to the right! bendyor -nees slightly more! lowering yor entire body as yo sHat% Be sre to -eep yorpper torso and head straight%

*% With each right moement! moe yor hands lower! -eeping yor palms together and2ngers pointing p% When yor arms reach yor chest! trn yor 2ngers toward the grondand contine the moement%

N% When yor arms reach yor -nees! yo shold be sHatting%

% Contine the moements! now rising with each right moement ntil yo reach thestanding position% When yor arms reach yor chest! switch the direction of yor 2ngers sothat theyre pointing p again%

Throghot this e"ercise! yor hands shold prodce an S.shaped moement and yor bodyshold do a rhythmic belly dance% 7emember to inhale on the rightward moement ande"hale to the left% ,nly do this e"ercise on an empty stomach% Begin slowly and increasespeed! warming p the whole body! bt not to the point of perspiration%

G