Description
Book SynopsisDrawing on South and East Asian philosophies and medicines, this book illustrates how our bodies and minds are influenced by our actions, habits, aging, trauma and thought patterns. Using the analogy of being like water, Margot Rossi presents a range of practices - including imagery, Daoyin therapeutic movement, yoga and mindful attention - that help build awareness and potentially shift our form, physiologically and neurologically.
The first section of the book is dedicated to exploring the virtues of being like water, based on 30 years of Rossi's professional and personal experience. Each essay ends with Daoyin therapeutic movements, learned and interpreted from the oral teachings of 88th-generation Daoist master Jeffrey Yuen.
The second section offers teachings of Classical Chinese Medicine theory for patients and practitioners alike. It includes detailed case studies, basic diagnostic steps and demonstrates how health concerns can be used as a foundation for change and growth.
Trade ReviewFlowing, floating, diving deep, Margot Rossi is truly in her element as she invites us to 'take the measure' of ourselves through the subtle power of Dao Yin. Woven together with lessons from her own healer's journey, each of these exercises is a potential stepping-stone on that path of self-discovery. -- Nick Pole, Mind/body therapist and author of ‘Words That Touch - How to ask questions your body can answer’
Table of ContentsCONTENTS
Acknowledgments 1
Disclaimers 2
PART 1: A Life History of Water
1. Introduction 3
2. Calming the Waters 10
3. Basic Poses 19
4. Body and Breath Scan 21
5. 81 and 81 Belly Rub 24
6. Heraclitus and the Yoga Master 26
7. Swimming Snake 35
8. Preparing to Stand 37
9. Be Yourself 38
10. Lizard Runs Across the Water 44
11. Four Frog Shimmy 46
12. Obstacle Illusion 48
13. Bamboo Twist 52
14. Free Me 54
15. Equine-imity 56
16. Head Roll and Release 62
17. Opening the Doorways to the Earth 65
18. Opening the Windows of Heaven 67
19. The Purity of Water 69
20. Locust Looks East and West 76
21. Panning for Gold 79
22. Welcome Breathing 82
23. Roll on River 85
24. Locust Looks Ahead 89
25. Returning to the Core 92
26. Unfolding 96
27. Stretch the Bow 100
28. Fire and Water 102
29. The Water Cycle 104
30. Ah Ma Ohm 110
31. Agony and surrender 112
32. Vortex and Splash 115
33. Sidewinder 119
34. Reishi and Hermit 121
35. Circulate and Harmonize Self-Massage 125
PART 2: The Waterways
36. Introduction to Daoyin Practice 131
37. The Warp and Weft: A simple process for diagnosis 147
38. Case Studies 155
39. The Figures 161
a) Fig. 1-8: Basic Poses
b) Fig. 9: 81 & 81 Belly Rub
c) Fig. 10-12: Swimming Snake
d) Fig. 13: Preparing to Stand
e) Fig. 14: Lizard Runs Across the Water
f) Fig.15-16: Frog Shimmy
g) Fig. 22-26: Head Roll and Release
h) Fig. 27-30: Opening the Doorways to the Earth
i) Fig. 31-34: Opening the Windows of Heaven
j) Fig. 35-38: Locust Looks East and West
k) Fig. 39-40: Panning for Gold
l) Fig. 41-44: Welcome Breath
m) Fig. 45-51: Locust Looks Ahead
n) Fig. 52-56: Returning to the Core
o) Fig. 57-60: Stretch the Bow
p) Fig. 61-62: Fire and Water
q) Fig. 63-65: Agony and Surrender
r) Fig.66-70: Sidewinder
40. Illustrations: The Sinew Meridian Maps
a) Ill. 1: Tai Yang Urinary Bladder
b) Ill. 2: Tai Yang Small Intestine
c) Ill. 3: Shao Yang Gall Bladder
d) Ill. 4: Shao Yang Triple Heater
e) Ill. 5: Yang Ming Stomach
f) Ill. 6: Yang Ming Large Intestine
41. Appendix
42. Further Reading
