The twenty-four solar terms

Exercise 1.

Spring Beginning: The spring season begins.

This exercise is best practiced during the period of 11:00 P.M.–3:00 A.M.
(The exercise can be done any time, but this is the time when the natural energy is highest. The times
vary for each solar term.)
1. Sit cross-legged and fold the left palm over the other and press them on your lap.
2. Slowly turn your torso and your neck to one side as if you’re trying to look behind you. Keeping
your legs and palms in the same position, repeat on the other side. Inhale when
you turn; exhale gently when you return to the center. Repeat fifteen times on each side.
3. Facing forward, click your teeth together thirty-six times. Roll your tongue between your teeth nine
times in each direction. Form saliva in your mouth by pushing your cheeks in and out. When your
mouth is filled with saliva, di- vide the liquid into three portions.
4. Inhale; then exhale, imagining your breath traveling to the dantian (the field to cultivate the elixir
of immortality—at a level three fingers-breadths below your navel and at a depth in the center of
your body) and then swallow one- third of the saliva, imagining that it travels to the dantian.
5. Repeat two more times until you’ve swallowed all three portions.
6. Sit comfortably as long as you like. Through this exercise, ancient Taoists sought to prevent or treat
obstructions in the body; rheumatism; and pain in the neck, shoulder, ears, back, elbow, and arm.

Exercise 2.

RAIN WATER

: The air grows warmer, the snows begin to melt, frozen rivers and lakes begin to thaw, and rain is
plentiful.
This posture is identical to Exercise 1 except that this one begins with the right hand over the
left. This exercise is best practiced during the period of 1:00–3:00 A.M.
1. Sit cross-legged and fold the right palm over the other and press them on your lap.
2. Slowly turn your torso and your neck to one side as if you’re trying to look behind you. Keeping
your legs and palms in the same position, repeat on the other side. Inhale when you turn; exhale
gently when you return to the center. Repeat fifteen times on each side.
3. Facing forward, click your teeth together thirty-six times. Roll your tongue between your teeth nine
times in each direction. Form saliva in your mouth by pushing your cheeks in and out. When your
mouth is filled with saliva, di- vide the liquid into three portions.
4. Inhale; then exhale, imagining your breath traveling to the dantian and then swallow one-third of
the saliva, imagining that it travels to the dantian.
5. Repeat two more times until you’ve swallowed all three portions.
6. Sit comfortably as long as you like. Through this exercise, ancient Taoists sought to prevent or treat
obstructions in the body; rheumatism; and pain in the neck, shoulder, ears, back, elbow, and arm.

Exercise 3.

INSECTS AWAKEN:

Insects and animals awaken from hibernation. Thunderstorms occur. Signs of spring are everywhere.
As insects increase in activity, so too does the pace of the countryside grow quicker.
This exercise is best practiced during the period of 1:00 – 5:00 AM.
1. Sitting cross-legged, close the fists tightly, with the thumb inside the fingers.
2. Turn the head from side to side, moving the elbows up and down like the wings of a bird each time
for thirty repetitions.
3. Facing forward with your hands resting on your lap, click your teeth together thirty-six times. Roll
your tongue between your teeth nine times in each direction. Form saliva in your mouth by pushing
your cheeks in and out. When your mouth is filled with saliva, divide the liquid into three portions.
4. Inhale; then exhale, imagining your breath traveling to the dantian and then swallow one-third of
the saliva, imagining that it travels to the dantian.
5. Repeat two more times until you’ve swallowed all three portions.
6. Sit comfortably as long as you like. Through this exercise, ancient Taoists sought to prevent or treat
toxins and relieve back pain; obstructions in the back, lungs, and stomach; dry mouth; yellow eyes;
swelling; loss of sense of smell; and darkening of vision.

Exercise 4.

SPRING EQUINOX :

The spring equinox is one of the two occurrences a year when the days and nights are of equal length.
From this point to the summer solstice, the daylight hours increase. Weather continues to grow
warmer and more pleasant. Farmers plant rice paddies, corn, and trees in this period, and life in the
countryside becomes more active.
This exercise is best practiced during the period of 1:00 – 5:00 AM.
1. Extend your arms, with one palm pressed on the back of the other. Extend one leg.
2. Turn the head to the left and the right twenty-one times. Then switch legs and palms, turning to
the left and the right twenty-one times. Inhale on the turn, exhale in the center.
3. Sit cross-legged and face forward. Click your teeth together thirty-six times. Roll your tongue
between your teeth nine times in each direction. Form saliva in your mouth by pushing your cheeks in
and out. When your mouth is filled with saliva, divide the liquid into three portions.
4. Inhale; then exhale, imagining your breath traveling to the dantian and then swallow one-third of
the saliva, imagining that it travels to the dantian.
5. Repeat two more times until you’ve swallowed all three portions.
6. Sit comfortably as long as you like. Through this exercise, ancient Taoists sought to prevent or treat
weakness; poison in the chest, shoulders, and back; tinnitus; feverishness; and pains in the upper
torso.

Exercise 5.

CLEAR BRIGHT:

Clear Bright occurs around early April. Plants are growing in full force. Green is everywhere, but there
can still be much rain.
This exercise is best practiced during the period of 1:00 – 5:00 AM
1. Sit cross-legged and raise your arms as if holding a bow.
2. Pull back with your cocked arm as if drawing a bow. Repeat on the other side. Inhale when
you pull; exhale gently when you relax as you change sides. Repeat fifty-six times on each side.
3. Facing forward with your hands resting on your lap, click your teeth together thirty-six times.
Roll your tongue between your teeth nine times in each direction. Form saliva in your mouth
by pushing your cheeks in and out. When your mouth is filled with saliva, divide the liquid into
three portions.
4. Inhale; then exhale, imagining your breath traveling to the dantian and then swallow onethird of the saliva, imagining that it travels to the dantian.
5. Repeat two more times until you’ve swallowed all three portions.
6. Sit comfortably as long as you like. Through this exercise, ancient Taoists sought to treat
weakness and pain in the legs, kidneys, intestines, and stomach; difficult swallowing; decline in
hearing and pain in the ears; neck and shoulder pain and mobility problems; and pain and
weakness in the arms and legs.

*Copyright belongs to Master Han and Golden rishi, Not allow the copy without permission.