YIN AND YANG

Yin and yang are words used to describe different forms of chi. Yin chi is slower, dispersed and cooler. Yang chi is faster, compressed and hotter. One Chinese interpretation is that yang chi is experienced on the sunny side of the mountain and yin chi on the shady side. Other ways we can experience natural environmental yin and yang chi is to see how we feel during the day, summer or full moon when there is a greater presence of yang chi compared to the night, winter and new moon when there is an increase in yin chi.

Yin and yang are an incredible pair of adjectives as they allow you to connect yourself to everything around you in a way that you can quickly decide what you need to do to bring yourself back to balance when feeling any discomfort.

You are always more yin or yang and most of the time this is healthy, however, sometimes you may find you are experiencing problems from being too yin or yang. Once you have identified whether you are too yang or yin, simply take in more of the opposite chi and reduce the chi you have too much of.

It is helpful to remember that yin and yang are relative terms and not absolutes. For example boxing might be a more yang experience than running but running can be a more yang experience than stretching. We are thinking in different shades of grey rather than black and white.

I suggest it also makes it easier to understand yin and yang when looking at the symbol and seeing that there is always some yin in the most yang situation and some yang in the most yin condition. This is illustrated in the yin and yang symbol by the small black and white dots in the greatest part of the opposite energy.

The lists below show you how you can identify whether you are too yin or yang. For example if you find that several items in the too yin list apply to you it might be that at this time your energy has become too yin and as a result you are experiencing some discomfort.


TOO YIN

Feeling cold.
Frequent infectious illnesses.
Cold clammy skin.
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Depression
Victim mentality

TOO YANG

Stiffness / tightness
Tension
Dry skin
Constipation
Stress
Anger
Overbearing

If you identify that you are predominantly yin or yang at the moment you can try taking in more of the opposite using the lists below. For example if you thought you are too yin then try doing more from the To Become More Yang list.

TO BECOME MORE YIN

Meditation
More fresh fruit and salads.
Water and juices.
Wearing pastel colours.
Change into loose flowing clothes.
Stretching.
Getting out into nature.
Relaxing music.
Soft lighting or candles.

TO BECOME MORE YANG

Martial arts.
Competitive sports.
Wear bright colours.
Dress up in smart, formal clothes.
Socialise.
Cooked foods.
Root vegetables, grains and fish.
Getting rid of clutter.
Exercise.

At the same time you can reduce the influences that might be causing you to feel too yin or yang using the lists below. Here is you feel too yin you would apply the suggestions under To Become Less Yin.

TO BECOME LESS YIN

Reduce;
Alcohol
Ice cream
Sugar
Cold foods
Sitting around.
Watching television.
Time spent on your own.
Being in a damp cold climate.

TO BECOME LESS YANG

Reduce;
Salt
Baked foods and dry snacks.
Meat, eggs and hard cheeses.
Exercise without stretching.
Setting too high standards.
Rushing.
Taking on too much.
Coffee.

We can be naturally more yin or yang. The can be a quality we inherit from birth or be acquired through life experience.

BEING NATURALLY YIN

Look for an oval shaped face, a leaner frame and long fingers and toes. Large eyes, full lips and fleshy cheeks are also more yin. Someone who blinks more often and finds it harder to make eye contact will be more yin.

Yin qualities include being creative, imaginative, sensitive, flexible, easy going and gentle.

Anyone who is naturally more yin can slip into becoming too yin more frequently than getting too yang.

BEING NATURALLY YANG

A rounder face, stockier build and solid look are more yang. Smaller eyes, thin lips and a well-developed jaw line emphasise the point.

Yang qualities include being focused, alert, precise, active and thriving on a dynamic lifestyle.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Yin and yang can literally be applied to anything and that is one of its greatest benefits.

Practically it is most often used in the practice of subjects including macrobiotics, feng shui, shiatsu, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, oriental philosophy and tai chi.

MACROBIOTICS

In macrobiotics different foods and cooking styles are used to create meals that once eaten could make our energy more yin or yang. Generally raw or lightly cooked watery vegetables will help us feel more yin and well cooked dryer foods like grains, beans, fish or meat would help us feel more yang.

FENG SHUI

In feng shui yin and yang can be used to create different environments to make it easier for us to feel more yin or yang. Generally we can say that hard, shiny, smooth, open surfaces create an environment in which we feel more yang and soft, textured, mat, irregular surfaces more yin. Colours can be a powerful influence on our emotions. Pale blues and greens can help us feel more yin whilst bright reds, yellows, purples or orange more yang.

Back to the Top