Daoism, Emotions, the Body, and Flow

Abstract

Fundamental to the Daoist, specifically that of the text Zhuangzi, approach to living life is allowing life/qi to flow naturally without any obstructions. Ongoing, absolute, restrictive, threat based, emotionally laden psychosocial judgments, thinking and beliefs give rise to chronic stress and its intertwined emotions. Chronic stress and its intertwined emotions significantly interfere with and impede this natural flow resulting in physical and psychological damage to one’s overall health and well-being. Body based practices such as Daoist meditative techniques, Taijiquan, and Qigong reestablish this natural flow.