While browsing through an old Readers Digest Guide to Alternative Medicine I came across an interesting article about an ancient form of Chinese massage called Do-In – pronounced “dough-in” – which aims to prevent disease, rather than cure it.
After a bit of research, It turns out that Do-In is just another way to pronounce Daoyin or Tao yin. Using these search terms you can come up with a lot of fascinating stuff, including demonstration videos.
Anyway, DO-IN or whatever you would like to call it, is a series of gentle exercises said to strengthen ‘energy channels’ called MERIDIANS, linked to the heart, lungs, liver, gall bladder and other organs, keeping them in a healthy condition.
As a stimulant, Do-In is best practised first thing in the morning when you wake up. And it can help to relax you when you get home from work and last thing at night before you go to bed.
However, it can be practised at any time of the day, except after eating. You can spend as much or as little time on it as you like – and, as with SHIATZU, with which it is closely related, age and infirmity are not necessarily a barrier. Proving you are fit and mobile, all you need is loose comfortable clothing, and a reasonable amount of free space.
Although Do-in is essentially a self-help technique, it is a good idea to attend some classes before attempting the exercises on your own, to make sure you are on the right lines.
