is the ancient name for qìgōng (氣功) exercises. The first character, dǎo (導), consists of the well known character for ‘the Way,’ dào (道), positioned over the character for a (living) inch, cùn (寸), which is used to measure the anatomical locations of many acupuncture points. The second character, yǐn (引), means to stretch; it is the pictograph of a bow (and arrow). A bow propels movement through stretching and then releasing. This is much the same dynamic as the neo-natal dǎoyǐn (導引), which stimulates internal movement through harmonizing physical movements — stretching and then releasing — with deep cleansing breathes. Neo-natal dǎoyǐn (導引) truly has a fitting name, as it is a practice of ‘measuring internal movement that is activated by stretching and releasing.’
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