Daoyin-exercise Therapy

Daoyin-exercise therapy, also called guiding exercise, was a unique health care exercise in ancient China for health preservation. “Dao” means “qi guiding” by adjusting breath with mental activities and regulating exhalation and inhalation to keep fit; “yin” means “guiding the body” by exercising the body or self-massaging to enhance health. Different forms of qigong today are derived from the ancient Daoyin. Five Mimic-animal Frolics, Eight-section Brocade, Muscle-bone Strengthening Exercise, Six Healing Sounds, Taijiquan are some popular Daoyin forms enjoyed by the modern people.

Portions of this article were adapted from research materials originally published on the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine website.