How to explain the sinking of Qi in Dantian in Tai Chi?

1. The location of "Dan Tian" "Dan Tian" is the place where Taoist practice produces and stores the "Golden Elixir". Of course, the place where the elixir is hidden cannot be on the surface of the body. The specific location of our "Dan Tian" is: the highest point of the bulge in the lower abdomen, and the vertical junction with the central axis (Chongmai) when the body is standing. Expand this point into a group. This completely meets the requirements of the "lower Dantian" condition. Chinese people often say: "Jing, Qi, and Shen" have their own places, and they live in the lower, middle, and upper Dantian. The lower Dantian stores essence, which is "the place where essence is trained and transformed into Qi"; the middle Dantian, where Qi is stored, is "where Qi is trained and transformed into spirit"; the upper Dantian, where the spirit is stored, is "the place where spirit is trained and returned to emptiness". What is now called "Dantian" is located between the small intestine. It is the general storehouse for the output of nutritional essence and the base camp of reproductive semen. 2. The concept of Qi

The Qi of the human body is also called the "true Qi" in "Lingshu·Lajie Zhenxie Chapter" says: "The true qi is what is received from the sky and combined with the grain qi to fill the body." This shows that the true qi itself is received from the innate, the atmosphere of the sky, and combined with the qi of water, grain and food. It has the function of nourishing the whole body. "The true qi is the original qi. When the qi is in the sky, it is received by the nose and controlled by the throat. When the qi is in the water valley, it enters the mouth and is controlled by the throat. However, when the qi is concentrated in the beginning of the unborn period, it is called the innate qi. The Qi that is formed after birth is called acquired Qi. The Qi that is divided into Yang is called Yang Qi; the Qi that is divided into Yin is called Yin Qi; The stomach is called Stomach Qi; the upper Jiao is called Zong Qi; the middle Jiao is called Zhong Qi; the lower Jiao is called Yuan Yin and Yuan Yang Qi. "The Qi in the sky is received by the nose and controlled by the throat." The air in the sky enters through the nose and enters the lungs through the throat for gas exchange. This "qi" is a real gas and can enter the human body. Everyone knows this common sense of breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon.

3. How to "Sink" the Qi to the Dantian is to make the center of gravity settle to the "Dantian" by changing the body posture. The center of gravity is the gravity (gravity) exerted by each part of the object. ). The point of action of this resultant force is called the center of gravity of the object. The center of gravity of the human body is not constant at one point, because physiological processes such as breathing, digestion, and blood circulation are going on all the time. What's more important is that the human body has different body shapes and often changes into various postures and movement states. Therefore, the center of gravity of the human body moves within a certain range as the body undergoes physiological processes and postures. Research results show that under normal circumstances, when standing upright, the center of gravity of the body is located about 7 cm in front of the upper edge of the third sacral vertebra, which is equivalent to about 4 to 5 cm behind the frontal axis of the hip joint. So, how can we do this? The center of gravity sinks to the Dantian (qi sinks to the Dantian). 1. The diaphragm must be moved in the body. Most people can feel and experience this phenomenon when doing "chest lifting" by holding the back and lifting the cervical spine. When you "breathe", you will feel that you have grown taller. This is actually a "side effect" of the upward shift of the center of gravity. If you follow the many posture requirements of Tai Chi, "bring your chest and back, relax your shoulders and elbows, and add deep, long, thin and soft "Abdominal breathing" can lower the center of gravity. At this time, the lifting and lowering of the center of gravity mainly relies on the lifting (contraction) and sinking (relaxation) of the diaphragm. Usually the functional activities of internal organs are not controlled by consciousness, but the activities of skeletal muscles and body can indeed affect the internal organs, lungs and diaphragm, which are the most obvious examples. In contrast, the diaphragm can adjust the proper position of certain internal organs. Therefore, the "inner martial arts" all advocate "an empty chest and a solid stomach", which means to relax the diaphragm and push the center of gravity to sink to the "dantian", so that the breath can flow in and out smoothly, the mood can be calm, and the brain can eliminate distracting thoughts and enter a state of concentration. realm. 2． In vitro, by tightening the waist forward or relaxing it backward, the center of gravity can be raised or lowered. Therefore, when practicing Tai Chi, one must "use the strength to hold up the force and sink the energy in the Dantian", take care of each other, be consistent up and down, and cannot be partial. For example: hanging the head and neck, straight eyes, natural face, lips touching the teeth, tongue licking the palate, breathing through the nose, loose shoulders and elbows, chest and back, loose waist and folded hips, slipped hips and wrapped crotch, bent knees and folded The requirements for stretching your ankles, spreading your fingers (toes) and extending your palms are all to relax the joints and muscles all over the body. Do not force the joints to close and the muscles to be tense and stiff. In the same way, the mental situation, mind, and thoughts must be relaxed, calm, and comfortable. Focus on breathing, and it must be even, relaxed, and slow. Thin, deep and long. Internal factors are also the conditions that promote the rise and fall of the body's center of gravity. To further achieve the goal of making the spirit and energy go smoothly like the Jiuquzhu, all these involving higher skills must start with the body posture. If the body's center of gravity cannot be lowered to the Qi in the lower abdomen, All other Kung Fu skills that are absorbed in Dantian are equivalent to wasted practice.

Maybe some people haven't subjectively realized that they need to do this, but those with profound skills can achieve it naturally. If we understand this principle when popularizing and promoting Tai Chi, when we start to learn Tai Chi, or when we are about to get started, and learn this kind of exercise essentials, we can achieve twice the result with half the effort. 4. Why to sink 1. The sinking of Qi in Dantian promotes the movement of Qi. Judging from the approximately two thousand capillaries per square millimeter of muscle cross-section, only about five capillaries have blood flow through them in a quiet state. The movement of Qi There are about 200 capillaries with blood flowing through them; they beat like millions of tiny hearts. This reduces the burden on the heart and lowers blood pressure. 2. Whether the air sinks into the lower abdomen during inhalation or exhalation, it increases the movement of the diaphragm, increases the ventilation function of the lungs, changes the rhythm of intra-abdominal pressure, and is beneficial to the blood circulation of the viscera in the chest and abdomen, especially for those who have already Elderly people with rib cartilage ossification and thoracic mobility impairment and patients with emphysema are more beneficial. 3. Due to the increased movement of the diaphragm, the internal organs will naturally descend slightly during inhalation, and the center of gravity of the body will shift downward. During exhalation, due to the reaction force of the expiratory airflow on the lungs and the natural sagging of the ribs forward and downward, this can all be achieved. Stable balance like a tumbler. Therefore, when doing Tai Chi exercises and turning movements, the sinking of Qi in the Dantian is very helpful in maintaining one's own balance. 5. Practicing Tai Chi naturally and "sinking" does not mean that the Qi sinks down from beginning to end, but as the movement progresses, the Qi sinks. Depending on the changes in breathing, sometimes the air sinks down, and sometimes the air rises up. These are all natural and formed intentionally or unintentionally, so as to facilitate the ups and downs of the body and the change of reality and reality. I believe that after long-term practice, it can not only improve the flexibility and coordination of movements, but also achieve the effects of curing diseases, keeping fit, and extending life