Community Outreach

What is Tai Chi Ch'uan

The term Tai Chi occurred for first time in the book of change. I Ching states that Tai Chi is contained in change, which brings forth the two energies, yin and yang. The concept of Ch'uan can be defined in three ways:

1. Fight with empty fists
2. Collecting life's energies internally
3. Balancing between both yin and yang energies

Chen Xin was the first to use the term Tai Chi Ch'uan as a collective term. The term Ch'uan also means balance that is why one weights things in order to determine their significance. As defined by the Chinese, Tai Chi Ch'uan imples the highest and ultimate goal to achieve which extends harmony and balance...thus coming into balance with the universe.

According to Wu Yuxiang, Tai Chi Ch'uan is to allow the "stream of energy " to flow by means of mental guidance in such a way that no barriers or blockages are created. This will preserve and strengthen the overall wellbeing of the person performing the exercises. Mental guidance is cultivated by practicing clearing the mind, using your mind to guide your breath. Proper breathing in Tai Chi Ch'uan means inhaling and exhaling at the right moment.

The guideline for inhaling and exhiling can generally be said to be the following:

When pulling back, inhale
When going forward, exhale
When reaching up, inhale
When reaching down, exhale

Beginning students should keep these rules in mind but first give their full attention to learn simple movements. The mental aspect of Tai practicing Ch'uan is that one should be completely relaxed, rounded shoulders, bent knees, beautiful lady wrist, turn in the waist, separation of yin and yang movements, and relaxed breaths. Tongue should be touching the roof of your mouth.

GuaSha <--- - - -> 12 Meridian

I am studying meridains. I want to share this subject with my friends, clients, and family because it is so relative in maintaining a healthy life. By understanding how our body work and how to maintain and cultivate it, we can all build a body and a healthy existence. So let get started. GuaSha is means Twelve Meridians. When the meridians are blocked the organs do not function correctly, soon illness will occur.

What are meridain?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focus on unblocking static energy. This eastern philosophy focuses on the human energy or Qi system. Chinese medicine is based on five yin organs and six yang organs, also known as "zang" and "fu" organs. These organs flow along a meridian according to the 24 hour cycle of earth Qi.

The five yin organs include the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys. The function of the yin organs is to produce, transform, regulate and store fundamental substances such as qi, blood, and body fluids. Yin organs do not have empty cavities.

The six yang organs include the gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder and triple burner. The yang organs mainly responsible for moving, digesting, secreting, and eliminating toxin from the body.


The twelve meridians are named according to their corresponding organs, limb positions and yin and yang properties.

They include three arm yin meridians (lung, pericardium, heart), three arm yang meridians (large intestine, triple burner, small intestine),

Three leg yang meridians (stomach, gall bladder, bladder), and three leg yin meridians (spleen, liver, kidney).

The triple burner and the pericardium do not refer to anatomical structures. They are functional units in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It should also be noted, the organs mentioned here have a much broader meaning in TCM then what is typically thought of their functions in western medicine. Since the twelve meridians make up the majority of the Meridian System, they are known as the regular or principal channels.

In TCM, the physiological functions of the body are based on harmonious relationships between yin and yang organs. Central to these relationships is the interior and exterior relationship theory, which states the interior belongs to yin and the exterior belongs to yang. Hence, yin organs are thought to have more internal functions and are called interior organs. They tend to play a more important role in TCM medical theory and practice. The yang organs, on the other hand, are believed to have more external functions and are considered exterior organs.


Qi flow should be correct when meridians are most active.

Cyclical Flow of Qi in the Twelve Meridians

Head Taiyin- Lung (1)(Metal)---->Large Intestine(2)(Metal) Head Yangming
3am-5am --------------------------- 5am-7am

Foot Tiayin-Spleen(Earth)(4)<-------Stomach (Earth)(3) Foot Yangming
9am-11am ----------------------------- 7am-9am

Head Shaoyin-Heart(Fire) (5)------->Small Intestine (Fire)(6) Head Taiyang
11pm -1pm --------------------------- 1pm-3pm

Foot Shaoyin- Kidney(Water) (8) <----- Bladder(Water) (7)Foot Taiyang
3pm-5 pm ---------------------------------- 5pm-7pm

Head Jueyin-Pericardium(Fire) (9)-----> Triple Energizer-Sanjiao(Fire)(10) Head Shaoyang
7pm-9pm -------------------------------------- 9pm-11pm

Foot Jueyin- Liver(Wood) (12)<----- Gall bladder(Wood) (11)Foot Shaoyang
1am-3am -------------------------------------- 11pm-1am

Meridian names are italicized.

They cycle begins with the lung (1) from 3 am to 5 am, and ends with the liver at 1 am - 3am. Knowing your cycle, you can map out a solution for your body time. If you know that the liver is most active between 1am and 3am, then you can make sure that you are rested doing those hours to prevent liver spot from popping onto your skin and dark rings from form around your eyes. I will be discussing more on this subject in my next article.


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Name of the twelve Meridians


Meridian------Zang-fu-----------------Element
Hand Taiyin ----Lung -------------------Metal
Hand Shaoyin----Heart --------- ---------Fire
Hand Jueyin------Pericardium ------------Fire

Hand Yangming------Large Intestine ----------------Metal
Hand Taiyang--------Small Intestine -----------------Fire
Hand Shaoyang-------Triple Energerizer --------------Fire

Foot Tiayin------------Spleen ------------------Earth
Foot Shaoyin---------- Kidney-------------------Water
Foot Jue Yin----------Liver --------------------Wood

Foot Yangming---------------- Stomach ----------Earth
Foot Taiyang------------------ Bladder------------Water
Foot Shaoyang---------------- Gall Bladder--------Wood


Distribution of the twelve meridians in the body:

The twelve Meridians are laterally and symmetrically distributed on the head, face, trunk and limbs. The six yin meridians are distributed on the inner side of the limbs, on the chest and abdomen. The six yang Meridians are distributed on the outer side of the limbs, on the head, face and trunk. http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/distributionmeridians.html