Longyougong (龙游功) · The Swimming Dragon
- Miguel Briske
- 28 abr
- 3 Min. de lectura
The “Swimming Dragon” series of exercises is an ancient Neigong practice (內功, internal work), or Qigong (氣功, energy cultivation).
This practice has been associated with the Taoist tradition developed on the “Flower Mountain,” or Huashan (華山) in Chinese.
Some attribute its creation to a legendary figure named Peng Tzu, who is said to have lived 834 years, until around 1100 CE, and is considered one of the patriarchs of that Taoist lineage.
I began practicing this exercise, along with other Neigong or Qigong series, in 1990 under the guidance of Master Qian Langen, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Despite its apparent simplicity, the Swimming Dragon is a very powerful tool and has become one of the practices that has brought the greatest benefits to my personal health and physical well-being.
Through teaching it over the years, I have been able to help many people overcome various ailments and greatly improve their physical, energetic, and emotional condition.
Unique Characteristics
& Specific Benefits
The Swimming Dragon series that I practice and teach consists of eight individual exercises.
The first exercise is the most important and gives its name to the entire series. The other seven are secondary exercises that complement and enhance the effects of the main one.
Focusing specifically on the first exercise, we can say that it works the entire body at once. However, the spine is the central focus and is strongly stimulated.
The spine must first be lengthened, decompressing the vertebrae, and then moved laterally in a sinuous, snake-like motion, while the body rises and lowers and the hands—held together—trace circles in front of it.
All of this greatly improves spinal condition and mobility, while simultaneously massaging the internal organs and strengthening the muscles of the torso.
Energetic Effects
On an energetic level, it helps unblock the Ren and Du channels, normalizing the flow of energy through the twelve main meridians of Chinese medicine.
It also activates two very important energy points for this type of practice:
Qihai (氣海) – “Sea of Energy”
Mingmen (命門) – “Gate of Life”
Qihai, located in the abdominal/umbilical area, strengthens the spleen and stomach, improving digestion and nutrient absorption. It is also associated with relief from abdominal pain, impotence, edema, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine bleeding, irregular menstruation, constipation, weakness, infertility, and mental fatigue, among others.
Mingmen, located on the spine at the level of the second lumbar vertebra, strengthens the kidneys when activated, increasing vitality and reducing both physical and mental chronic fatigue. It is also associated with relief from lower back pain, leucorrhea, impotence, urinary incontinence, menstrual disorders, infertility, and decreased libido.
It also helps regulate thyroid function and metabolism, making it a valuable aid in stabilizing body weight—whether above or below a healthy range.
Finally, it has a strong effect on the thymus gland, often referred to as the “gland of health and immunity.”
This gland plays multiple roles, including stimulating bone growth, supporting the development of sexual glands, and aiding in the maturation of the lymphatic system.
However, its primary function is the production and differentiation of T lymphocytes, which are essential immune cells that protect the body against foreign antigens.
For all these reasons, despite its apparent simplicity, this is a very powerful practice— so powerful that it can help regenerate various bodily systems, both physical and energetic, strengthen the immune system, and restore vitality and youth to those who practice it seriously.
This series form the first online course of our new project >> “Ancestral Qigong.”
In following courses, we will explore different methods for health and personal development used by practitioners of Taoist internal alchemy.
Topics in these will include a variety of psycho-physical practices, (some similar to modern Qigong), nutrition, medicinal herbs, meditation, and more.
If you’re interested in integrating this practice and transform your life, feel free to get in touch for more information.
