ChineseHealingExercisesbyLiviaKohn PengzusMethodofLyingDownExercisesforNurturingImmortality Onesystematicsequence,calledPengzusMethodofLyingDownExercisesforNurturing Immortality,putsthedifferentmedicalpracticesintoanorganizedpatternandtreatsvarious physicalconditions.Practitionersremaininasupinepositiontheyalwaysundertakethepractice betweenmidnightanddawn,andneverafteramealorabath. 1. Inyourresidence,loosenyourclothesandliedownonyourback.Stretchyourhipsand lengthenthesacrum.Holdforfivebreaths.Thisstretchesthekidneys,relievesdiabetes, andhelpswithyinandyang[sexualenergy]. 2. Stretchouttheleftlegwhileholdingtherightkneeandpressingitintothetorso.Holdfor fivebreaths.[Repeatontheotherside.]Thisstretchesthespleenandeliminatesallcold andheatfromtheheartandbellyaswellasallwaywardandobstructedqifromthe chest. 3. [Withlegsstraightupintheair,]pullthetoesofbothfeetwithyourhands.Holdforfive breaths.Thiseliminatesallpotentialherniasanddigestivetroublefromthebelly.

Italso benefitsthenineorifices. 4. Raiseyourtorsotowardyourtoes.Holdforfivebreaths.Thisstretchesthehipandthe spine,relieveslocalizedpainandstiffness,andimproveshearing. 5. Turnyourfeetsothetoesfaceeachother.Holdforfivebreaths.Thisstretchestheheart andlungs,eliminatescoughs,andhelpswithailmentsduetorisingorreverseqi. 6. Turnyourfeetsotheheelsfaceeachother.Holdforfivebreaths.Thistensesthethighs, therebycleansingtheqiofthefivenetworks.Itbenefitstheintestinesandstomachand eliminateswaywardqi. 7. Bendyourleftshinandpressitagainsttherightknee[withrightlegstraight]Holdforfive breaths.[Repeatontheotherside].Thisstretchesthelungsandeliminatesqidepletions causedbywind.Italsosharpenstheeyesight. 8. Extendtheshinsallthewaytothetoes.Holdforfivebreaths.Thispreventsmuscle cramps. 9. Graspthekneeswithbothhandsandbendtheminsotheyaredirectlyaboveyourheart. Holdforfivebreaths.Thisrelieveshippain. 10. Turnbothfeettotheoutside.Repeattentimes.Thenturnbothfeettotheinside.Repeat tentimes.Thisrestoresyoufromfatigue.(6b7a)