Which Way do You Flow?

In my exploration of Hatha Yoga and more recently Taoist Qi-Gong practices, I have come across two different ways of aligning the body. Two different archetypal expressions of the human form, each with a different purpose.

In Hatha Yoga one has an upward relationship to the ground. From the soles of the feet up through the body, one is taught to use one’s musculature in a way that is supportive and buoyant, engaging the muscles “in and up” and creating a sense of lightness in the body. The sternum is lifted and the spine is elongated upwards. One is taught to use the bandhas, or internal muscular coordinations that create an energetic, upward lift. This expression can be easily seen in the form of tadasana, “mountain pose,” one of the most essential templates of yoga posture:

The alignment commonly found in Tai Chi and Qi-Gong is virtually opposite. Instead of lifting away from the floor and away from gravity, the practitioner almost entirely gives himself into gravity. He positions his body in such a way as to maximally align with and distribute the force of gravity down the legs and out through the feet, into the earth. Knees are bent, the sacrum is relaxed downwards, the front of the body takes on a relaxed sinking rather than an upward lifting. Movements are intended never to break this balance with the earth.

Typical Taoist alignment - "Embrace Tree" posture

 

 

OK, SO?

So…The interesting part is that these two archetypes of posture represent two different currents of energy in the human body. Hatha Yoga alignment reinforces an upward flow, Taoist systems a downward flow. It should be noted at this point that each system incorporates both upward and downward flows, but each also focuses on one more than the other. Let us start with yoga.

Now if you trace a line from the pelvic floor up the front of the body to the crown of the head, in what ways will you be able to see this line expressed in bodily processes? Setting aside the esoteric sexual practices that draw energy up from the genitals, we will find that as we go up the front of the body we will find the processes of regurgitation and belching, coughing, laughing, and sobbing, sound production, exhalation, sneezing, and crying. All of these processes represent an upward movement of force along that line from the pelvic floor to the crown. These processes are both regulatory–dispelling waste in the digestive or respiratory systems–and expressive–releasing emotions and feelings to consciousness and communication. It does not matter if they are physical or emotional, these processes take part in the same “flow.”

Hatha Yoga, in many of its practices, reinforces this upward flow of force. The breath is encouraged to inflate and lift the chest. The deep back-bends practiced by advanced yogis stretch the front channel open. Also the use of internal muscular lifts (bandhas), pranayama techniques, and many of the kriyas (purification practices) of both the physical and subtle bodies emphasize the upward movement of prana or energy.

This goes hand in hand with yoga’s emphasis on heart opening, meditation on the higher chakras, and many of the far-out tales of mystical powers, astral worlds, and kundalini experiences that permeate some of yoga’s literature. To my mind the archetype of yoga mimics the upward flow of energy–a practice devoted to opening, releasing, expressing, and expanding the consciousness to bigger realities.

But what happens when we turn the line around? This time, picture a line from the crown of your head down to the pelvic floor. What do you get? Inhalation, swallowing, fluid secretion, digestion, metabolism, excretion, ejaculation. This is the downward flow of energy in the body. These processes, like the alignment of the Tai Chi practitioner, relate more to grounding, storing energy, and harmonizing with the earth.

If you find yourself practicing Taoist internal arts, you will probably at some point be instructed to “let the Qi sink” down into your Dan Tien (the area below the navel) as you practice. This is akin to letting your body surrender to the support of the floor and the breath becoming deep and relaxed. One’s breathing and one’s center of gravity lowers into the Dan Tien, which becomes a major reservoir of vitality.

From my understanding Taoist Philosophy, like its physical practices, emphasizes rooting and balancing one’s energy with the earth, harmonizing with the seasons, and acquiring a store of vitality deep within the body that fuels the whole being.

So, which way should you flow?

As I said before, both of these practices utilize upward and downward patterns of energy movement. Many yogis will bring energy down after meditation on the higher chakras, re-rooting it into the body. Savasana–considered by many yoga’s most important pose–is also entirely about surrendering to gravity, albeit while lying down.

The Taoists also have practices for raising energy and consciousness, although these are only advised once one has sufficient rooting. They do have their share of mystical tales of adventure, too.

And what it more, Yoga and Taoism are only two of numerous ways to find expressions of these archetypes. Ever wonder why singers and actors are so emotional, or why colon cleansing fanatics are so gung-ho?

 

I think it is important to know both sides of the energy equation. My upbringing made it quite easy for me to raise my energy and express my higher faculties, which is what drew me to yoga. However, in my lightness of being there was always an undercurrent of physical tension and unease, which my recent exploration of Daoism is leading me to uncover as I let my energy ground.

Everyone will have their own unique patterns of expression and thus may benefit more from one flow or the other, the only way to find out is to try! Its not always what you think.

~ by yogibenji on February 5, 2010.