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Winter Qigong: Foods & Qigong

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There are many approaches to practicing Qigong. The many Qigong teachers of the NQA represent some of these approaches. One approach is to organize and practice Qigong according to the ancient Chinese principles of following the seasons and their impact on humans. One specific emphasis of following the seasons is the 24-Seasonal Nodes or Phases.

Origin Story of the 24-Seasonal Nodes

The ancient quest to understand the patterns of nature, especially the weather patterns, was crucial for developing an agricultural society around the time of the Yellow Emperor,2700 BCA. The text, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (Huang DiNei Jing), was the first to emphasize the importance of living according to the seasons. By the 5thcentury B.C., early Chinese astronomers had calculated the year length to be365 and 1⁄4 days. The solar calendar was created in another two centuries,telling farmers the best times to plant crops. These discoveries eventually divided the year into twenty-four seasonal phases, each about fifteen days.This began the idea of living in harmony with the seasons. These ideas led to the further development of practices known as Yang Sheng (nourishing life),which influenced diet, exercise, and other lifestyle practices. By the 10th century, these practices had been codified into a system called Seasonal Node Qigong and were associated with the Daoist sage Chen Tuan. And thus, we have the origins of the 24-Seasonal Nodes. 

My own story of 24-Seasonal Nodes

My own story of the 24-Seasonal Nodes started in 2017 when I came across articles in Qi Journal by Dr. Henry McCann, an NYC-based Chinese Medicine professional and Qigong and martial arts teacher. In his articles from 2017 to2019, he thoroughly explored the 24-Seasonal Nodes detailing the dietary changes according to the changing seasons. Later, another teacher, Tom Bisio, published his book on the same subject, which included material on Qigong associated with the seasons. (Eight Winds in the Heavens)

This article will explore the six nodes of the Winter season.

Beginning of Winter

The first node, Li Dong,Beginning of Winter, November 7th is the time to start nourishing the Yang energies,which have decreased since the past Summer Solstice when the Yin energies began increasing. (Yang energies have been decreasing throughout the previous Autumn season.) When I talk to my local Qigong students about the beginning of the winter season, I associate it with the Animal Bear Frolic. As the body’s surface begins to cool, the Yang energy goes inside like the hibernating bear due to the greater Yin energy in nature. We practice the Bear Frolic to fortify our internal energies. It is like keeping the pilot light on to keep the internal organs warm while the external body cools. 

In addition to practicing Qigong exercises that focus on nourishing the internal Yang energies, we have started to change our dietary habits. First, we begin to eat more warm foods,especially those that drive our energy inward. To go along with a warming diet,we cut down on raw vegetables, juices, or chilled foods and drinks, which tend to cool off the warm energies needed to maintain the vitality of digestion(Spleen and Stomach Qi). Here is a list of warming foods to incorporate into a Winter diet: chicken, onion, squash, leek, warm, hearty soups, bone broth,whole grains and nuts, especially walnuts, and more. The caution, though, is not to overheat the body. Thus, we must balance the diet with cool foods like fruits,eggplant, celery, cucumber, and spinach. 

 

Minor Snow

The next node is Xiao Xue, Minor Snow, starting November 22nd. This is a good time to drink ginger tea to nourish the kidneys and protect the Yang qi. This is a great remedy; it will counteract the congestion of Qi due to the cooler temperatures and the decreased activities of most people. To go along with nourishing the kidneys with diet, in my Qigong classes, we practice more exercises that strengthen and stimulate the Kidney meridians through bending and turning the body. This kind of exercise, like the Bear Frolic, Swimming Dragon, and many more, all have the powerful effect of tonifying the Kidney Qi and the vital Mingmen area. The Mingmen has the function of storing and protecting our jing-essence.

A precaution during the Winter node is to not overindulge in salty foods. Salt is nourishing to the kidneys, but in excess, it can lead to stagnation and fluid retention, which can damage the bones and muscles. 

Major Snow

The next node is Da Xue,Major Snow, starting Dec 7th. As I've already said, the energetics of the winter is that the external Qi moves inward and downward. The Yang energy retires deep in the body. This is the time to nourish the Yin without making the body colder.According to Chinese Medicine and Daoist cultivation principles, we turn inward to practices like silent meditation and Qigong exercises, which produce deep Qigong states. In my local Qigong classes, we devote ten minutes to quiet sitting meditation at the end of each class. This practice helps to calm the energies and store them deep in the kidneys. 

Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice, DongZhi, is the next node starting around December 22nd. This is the Great YinDay of the year. On this day, there is the reversal of the Yin to the Yang movement of natural energies. This is the Yin and Yang of life.

For diet, continue eating warming soups and drinks. Eat some nourishing foods like root vegetables and highly nutritious walnuts and other foods that have a black color, like black sesame seeds, black rice, and black beans. Here is a description of a Winter Qigong exercise we do frequently in class:

Qigong exercise

Raise the Kidney Qi up the front meridians. Direct the Qi to the heart area, then push the palms to the sides, the front, and again to the heart area. We repeat this sequence several times to raise the Kidney Qi, nourish the Heart Qi, and thus increase a powerful flow of Qi up and down while supporting the Heart.

Minor Cold, January 5,and Major Cold, January 20

During these last two Winter nodes, continue eating warming foods with plenty of vegetables(especially root vegetables like yams or turnips) and soups or stews. Eat foodsthat are easy to digest and decrease heavy meats.

Continue to practice quiet sitting meditation and other meditative Qigong forms. Don’t be afraid to practice Qigong outdoors; it is a good way to keep the energies moving and stimulate and support Kidney Health.

Web page of Shifu Michael Rinaldini, qigongdragon.com.