The Tao of Stress: How to Calm, Balance, and Simplify Your Life Read Online Free PDF

types of stretching exercises. If you aren’t familiar with taijiquan, it looks like a very slow- moving form of self- defense that’s relaxed, soft, and quiet. It doesn’t show any strength or power in its movements, hand strikes, or kicks.
    Taoism’s behavioral practices are also grounded in five key
    components:
    • Not interfering with ourselves
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    • Not trying to coerce or force others to do something for our
    benefit
    • Creating a situation that is conducive to our growth and that of others
    • Not being controlled by or getting entangled with the affairs of the world
    • Being flexible
    Conclusion
    This chapter laid a foundation for understanding the fight- or- flight response, chronic stress, and a Taoist approach to managing stress. The next chapter will explore the basics of Taoist mediation. You will also learn some Taoist meditation techniques. I believe that these techniques and the others you’ll learn throughout this book will be immensely helpful to you as you journey along the path toward freedom from chronic stress.
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    Basics of Taoist Meditation
    Chapter 2
    Basics of Taoist
    Meditation
    As noted in the previous chapter, Taoists see chronic stress as being due to a continually agitated mind and body. Taoist meditation is a fundamental component for stopping this continual agitation of mind and body. Throughout this book, I will weave together Taoist mediation with the three components of the Taoist path: simplifying life, reducing desires, and stilling and emptying the mind.
    Five Components of Meditation
    Taoist meditation, whatever the form, consists of the five basic components mentioned in chapter 1: body posture, attention, concentration, breathing, and guan, or nonjudgmental, unbiased, detached observation of the present moment. In the following sections, I’ll discuss each of these components individually and how they relate to each other. It is important to note, however, that these five components essentially comprise one interrelated process.
    Body Posture
    Correct body posture or alignment is fundamental to all Taoist practices, including meditation. Whether we are sitting, standing, or moving, 25
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    The Tao of Stress
    if our bodies aren’t in the proper posture or alignment, we won’t be rooted and centered. If we aren’t rooted and centered, our mind, breath, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, organs, nerves, and so on will be strained and stressed because they aren’t functioning in a natural manner.
    Exercise Awareness of Posture
    Try the fol owing experiment to for a direct experience of the difference between proper and improper alignment: Stand hunched slightly forward, with your shoulders pulled up, your jaw pulled down toward your chest, and your eyes looking downward. You should immediately notice the stress and strain on your neck, chest, spine, knees, and various muscles. This position also puts undue stress on your organs.
    You will probably have a sense of being off balance because your
    body is pulled forward. Your breathing may feel compromised. As a
    result of all of this unpleasantness and stress, your mind may be agitated, making you feel tense. This improper and excessive position is harmful to both your mind and your body.
    Next, stand up straight, with your eyes looking forward, and visu-
    alize that the middle of the top of your head is gently being pulled up, as though you’re suspended from above like a puppet on a string.
    You should notice that you feel as if your head is being pulled back slightly; that your jaw is parallel to the ground, rather than being tilted up or down; your shoulders drop natural y; your spine is both pulled up and sinks as it finds its proper natural alignment; and your feet feel as if they’re sinking or rooting through the ground. You should have a clear sense of being centered and relaxed. Your mind will probably feel focused, stil , and empty.