According to ancient practice in China, the first lunar month of the year belongs to yin, third in the twelve earthly branches, and in ad-dition corresponds to the Tri-Jiao Channel of Hand-Shaoyang in the jingluo system and tai in the sixty-four hexagrams. What you have to bear in mind in this month is that qi arises at 11 p.m. and you' d better face north in practice, and when yang emerges, heaven and earth and all other things are produced. In other words, it is not time to destroy but to create and not time to take away but to give.
(1) Lichun (the Beginning of Spring)
The time between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. every day in this month is good for the following exercise. Sit cross-legged on bed with one hand above the other on one knee. Turn body to the left and right with neck bent forward. Return to the starting position and repeat the above move-ments 15 times on each side. Then, sitting upright with neck erect, click teeth and inhale and exhale with mouth before swallowing saliva in three gulps.
This exercise is good for qi stasis, headache and pain behind the ear and in the shoulder, back and elbow.
(2) Yushui (Rain Water)
The time between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. every day in this month is also good for the following exercise. Sit cross-legged on bed with one hand above the other on one knee. Twist head to the left and right along with body turn. Return to the starting position and repeat the above movements 15 times on each side. Then, sitting upright and facing forward, click teeth and inhale and exhale with mouth before swallowing saliva in three gulps.
This exercise is good for stasis in the tri-jiao channel, deafness, sweating due to general debility, ophthalmagia and pain in the cheek.
