Lesson 6. The energy body
6.1 The chakras
Ancient cultures understood that the human body is not only a physical machine but works on an energetic level.
Thousands of years ago the Hindus discovered a series of energy channels that they called nadis and several centers or energy vortices that they named chakras , which means wheel, because of the shape they have on the etheric plane. The seven main chakras are located along the spinal column, and each one is related to certain glands, organs and faculties of consciousness. The ancient yogis came to the conclusion that the body requires two opposite and complementary energies to function and when they are in perfect balance the chakras can be activated to improve health or access different levels of consciousness. The two main energies Ha and Tha run through two main channels called Ida and Pingala that meander along the spine. Through breathing exercises, which are part of the science of pranayama , these energies can be balanced and controlled to activate the different chakras of the etheric body. By activating them, states of consciousness and powers that the yogis called siddhis are awakened.
The conception that we have in the West about yoga is more similar to a sport, which is completely valid if what we are looking for is a discipline to keep the body healthy and the mind free of stress, but it does not even give a vague idea of what is yoga as a philosophy and as a tool for the transcendence of consciousness.
To understand what yoga is in depth, we could start with the classic text, the oldest treatise on yoga: Yoga sutras, written by Patanjali.
6.2 Traditional Chinese Medicine
While the Hindus developed Yoga as a self-improvement tool, the Chinese also studied the subtle energetic changes that occur in the body. For the Chinese, polarity is the first manifestation that comes from the whole, or the Tao . The feminine and masculine forces or Yinn and Yang are present everywere in nature; and therefore also in the human being. From these two forces, in their continuous movement and interaction, all the others emerge, which the Chinese represented in 8 trigrams that we see in the Pa-Kua mandala. The 8 trigrams when combined give rise to the 64 hexagrams (8 x 8 = 64).
From these simple principles, Feng Shui, Traditional Chinese Medicine, was developed; and in general all the Chinese philosophy and worldview.
The body is laced with energy channels that travel either from heaven to earth or from earth to heaven called acupuncture meridians . So life is possible thanks to the balance of these energies: Yang: celestial and Yinn: terrestrial. The disease appears when these energies get out of balance, then the doctor has to reestablish the balance through various techniques, such as acupuncture that stimulates specific points, directly connected with the meridians and in turn with specific organs.
To those who understand a little more about Chinese medicine and biomagnetism, the similarities between the two systems will immediately become apparent. The pH balance is practically synonymous with the concepts yinn (alkaline -) and yang (acid +). In fact, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine we can apply magnets on acupuncture points and achieve practically the same effects as if we applied needles or acupressure.
The art of Chinese medicine is very extensive, so besides acupuncture, the Chinese developed other tools such as phytotherapy (herbal medicine), massage, diet therapy, moxa, cupping and several diagnostic methods. This brief introduction serves only to familiarize us with the concept they had of the human body as an energetic entity. Those who want to delve into the subject there are many books and treatises, starting with the classic: Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor .
6.3 The energy axes
Observing a little our body we realize that in reality the energy does not manifest itself in a uniform way in each part, but that it has fluctuations and nuances, this leads us to divide the body at least in the three main axes of the three dimensions. In the symmetrical axis we can divide it into two sides or hemibodies:
- The right half body is positive, male or in Chinese terminology: yang. For the same reason it is stronger.
- The left hemibody is negative, female or yinn, therefore weaker and more sensitive.
Perhaps it is because of this subtle difference between the hemibodies that the intelligent muscular response is only manifested in one hemibody.
We can also divide the body into the front and back.
- The front part is the jinn, feminine, sensitive part, that is why all our senses meet there.
- While the back is yang, masculine. So it is better protected and better resistant to attacks.
Finally we can divide the body into the lower and upper half starting from the abdomen. The legs are the yinn part related to the coldest and most static Earth energy. While the upper part, from the diaphragm upwards, has to do with the yang energy that is lighter, warmer and more dynamic.
As we can see, the two energies yinn and yang color the energy in our entire body, that is why the pairs are regularly placed with the negative on the right side and the positive on the left; or when placed vertically the negative is placed above and positive is placed below.
Also if we look at the extremities we see that they have an "internal" yinn part that is more fragile and delicate since it carries blood flow through veins and arteries, as well as the networks of the main nerves. While the yang, external areas of the extremities are stronger and more muscular, they resist aggression better. In martial arts it is taught to protect the yinn parts and to use the strength of the yang parts.
Complementary activities:
