Tao yin, Exercises

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Tao Yin is a series of breathing exercises practiced by Taoists to cultivate ch''i or internal energy of the body based upon the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practice of Tao Yin was a precursor of qigong, and was practised in Chinese Taoist monasteries for health and spiritual cultivation. Tao Yin is also said to be a primary formative ingredient in the well-known "soft style" Chinese martial art, T''ai Chi Ch''uan. A typical Tao Yin exercise will involve movement of the arms and body in time with controlled inhalation and exhalation. Each exercise is designed with a different goal in mind, for example: calmative effects or expanded lung capacity.