Yin & Yang – Creating a perfect balance
THE CHI CONCEPT
Inner harmony relies on a healthy, balanced and unobstructed flow of Chi. Chi could be described as the vital energy or life force, which drives every cell of the body. It supports, nourishes and defends the whole person against mental, physical, and emotional disease.
It is an invisible, intangible flow of energy, which modem researchers have described in terms of electromagnetic energy. Chi flows around the body in invisible channels known as Meridians. There are twelve main Meridians, six of which are Yin and six are Yang and numerous minor ones, which form a network of energy channels throughout the body.
Each Meridian is related to, and named after an organ or function, the main ones are the Lung, kidney, Gall Bladder, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small intestine, Large intestine, Urinary bladder, Sanjiao, and Pericardium.
When Chi flows freely through the Meridians, the body is balanced and healthy, but if the energy becomes blocked, it can result in physical, mental or emotional ill health.
These are the two basic types of forces. They are opposing and yet mutually interdependent. When combined these energies create a unified, supreme energy.
Yang is male, excitatory energy. It is dynamic, stimulating and logic. It creates height and represents the sky and heavens. It is considered hot, or able to produce heat.
Yin is the female, inhibitory energy. It is static, calming and intuitive. It is represented by the lower points in land or nature and is signified by earth and the underground. It is considered cool, or able to produce coolness
Yin and yang have two different types of chi (natural energy or life force). There are yin versus yang meridians and organs. If these become out of balance, serious health issues can arise. Too much heat, for example, underlies pain and inflammation. Too much cold causes stagnation and blockage.
Each is needed to balance out the other. Both body’s physical and mental activity (yang) is supported by (yin).
When the body gets tired and needs a rest, yin takes over to relax us. Yang, or movement must decrease to allow this shift (we cannot nap when we are jogging). The opposite must occur when it is time to get busy.
There is a reason why certain people are referred to as ” couch potato” as this yin practice is not good for our bodies or minds. We need to give up some yin to make way for the healthier yang. Likewise, all yang is not healthy; we must rest and not continually run marathons; either of the mind or body.
When a female is too yang (male) or has too much of the male hormone testosterone, her body will be out of balance as our natural genetics are more of a nurture nature. On the opposite side when a man has too much yin (female) or excess of the female hormone oestrogen he too will be imbalanced, which can result in ill health in both cases.
In today’s society women are equal to men hence lots if stressed women with too much yang. Chinese philosophy recommends partner either containing yin or yang. One obviously more subservient to the other, either make or female.
Zen yoga is dedicated to balancing out yin and yang in the body to keep it in perfect harmony.