The weight loss principle of Frog Exercise and a detailed explanation of Lotus Seat Exercise

Why does practicing the Frog Exercise have such effects? What role do the breathing techniques play? In general, they promote metabolism and provide a massage effect.

When you inhale, the pressure in your chest and abdominal cavities increases, causing the blood vessels of your heart and internal organs to pump out a large amount of blood, accelerating the flow of blood to all parts of your body, including your limbs and head, and even the extremities, which receive more nutrients and oxygen.

The two-second pause is based on the principle of mechanics, allowing the blood in the blood vessels to continue flowing and being output under the influence of inertia.

During exhalation, the pressure in the chest and abdominal cavities decreases, and a large amount of peripheral blood rushes back to the heart and blood vessels of various organs, carrying away a significant amount of metabolic waste. This process promotes metabolism and enhances the function of various tissues and organs. If dieting is combined with this process, the body cuts off external energy supply and instead utilizes a large amount of internal fat, which is then metabolized and converted into energy needed by the body. This energy expenditure produces the effect of weight loss.

The rise and fall of the abdomen provides a good massage effect on the internal organs. In addition, it promotes blood circulation and enhances the metabolism of various organs, thus strengthening organ function and having a therapeutic effect on certain diseases of these organs.

Because peripheral circulation is improved, it can also treat certain skin diseases.

"Dry face washing" and "dry hair combing" have a massage effect on one hand; on the other hand, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, 14 of the body's 26 meridians pass through the face. Through massage, the meridians can be soothed and blood circulation improved, thus enhancing energy. Therefore, after practicing the Frog Exercise, one's energy is greatly increased.

Lotus Seat Exercise

It gets its name from imitating Buddhists sitting in meditation on a lotus seat.

Like the Frog Exercise, the Lotus Seat Exercise also requires regulating the body, mind, and breath. If you have already learned the Frog Exercise, then learning the Lotus Seat Exercise will be much easier.

You can sit in the same way as Buddhists sit cross-legged. If you are not used to it or do not know how to sit, you can adopt the same posture as the frog exercise. Sit on a stool, chair or sofa with your upper body straight, without leaning against the back of the chair, and with your chest slightly concave and back straight (you can first straighten your chest to know what it means to have your chest slightly concave).

Place your hands together, palms facing up, on your inner thighs. Men place their right hand on their left, and women do the opposite.

His chin was slightly tucked in, his eyes were closed, and his brows were relaxed, like a Buddha statue in a temple, as if no human strife or injustice existed. He wore a smile, his tongue gently licking his upper gums, and his mouth was slightly closed.

After the adjustment, my whole body felt relaxed, comfortable, and natural.

The method of calming the mind is exactly the same as the Frog Exercise. First, sigh and relax your whole body. Then, think about the most pleasant thing in your life for a minute or two, so that you can devote yourself to the exercise in a relaxed and contented state.

As we enter the breathing adjustment phase.

The breathing in Lotus Seat Exercise involves nasal inhalation and exhalation, without considering the rise and fall of the chest and abdomen. Its breathing regulation is divided into three stages: First, using the mind to direct inhalation and exhalation-only directing exhalation, not inhalation-and then allowing natural breathing without directing either.

The first stage involves directing and adjusting your breathing. Directing and adjusting means consciously making your breathing increasingly fine, slow, even, and natural, subconsciously (in your mind). When you first start practicing, listen quietly to see if your breathing is making any sound. If it is, gradually make it silent. This process should be natural and not forced. It should take about 5 minutes; once you are more proficient, 1-2 minutes is sufficient.

The second stage, building upon the guidance and adjustment of breathing, shifts to guiding only the exhalation, not the inhalation. This involves consciously making the exhalation increasingly fine, long, and even. During inhalation, let it flow naturally, without intervention. Similarly, the guided exhalation should be silent. This stage takes about 5 minutes. With practice, it can be completed in 1-2 minutes.

The third stage of breath regulation is the most important stage of Lotus Seat Exercise. The term "Lotus Seat Exercise" mainly refers to the state of breath regulation and consciousness during this stage. Therefore, we will explain this stage in more detail.

The third stage involves completely disregarding inhalation and exhalation, letting them flow freely regardless of length, intensity, or depth. The mind is blank. However, this is difficult to achieve; thoughts may quickly wander. What to do then? Focus on one thing to expel more thoughts. In Qigong terminology, this is called "one generation of ten thousand thoughts." It means consistently focusing on one point, one part, one thing to eliminate distracting thoughts. What should one focus on? Focus on breathing, constantly feeling its presence without controlling it. In Qigong, this is also called "mindfulness of breathing." "Mindfulness of breathing" requires achieving a state where breathing is almost imperceptible, seemingly focused yet not focused, hazy, continuous, and indistinct.

Lao Tzu, the ancient patriarch of Qigong, described it as a state of "vague and indistinct, indistinct and vague," which is exactly this state. If distracting thoughts arise at this time, don't be alarmed. Calmly tell yourself, "It's okay, my mind is like a furnace; all distracting thoughts will dissipate." After thinking this way, you will return to the state of focusing on your breath. If distracting thoughts arise again after a while, deal with them in the same way.

This stage lasts about 10 minutes; it is even better for patients with chronic diseases to practice for 20 to 30 minutes or 40 to 50 minutes.

After regulating your breath, you can conclude the exercise, which is done in the same way as the Frog Exercise.

This exercise should be practiced three times a day, after the Frog Exercise, or when you wake up in the morning or go to bed at night. The environment should be quiet and you should concentrate during practice.

Why can the Lotus Seat Exercise help with weight loss?

The Lotus Seat Exercise mimics the state of "true sleep," allowing for thorough rest. "True sleep" is the state of maximum relaxation and rest, the deepest and most restful sleep. The more and longer one experiences "true sleep," the better one feels they've slept, and the more refreshed they feel upon waking. While the whole body seems to be at rest, the brain cells and nerves responsible for breathing and heartbeat continue to maintain basic life functions: breathing, heartbeat, and metabolism. The hazy, dreamlike state of the Lotus Seat Exercise creates the illusion of being in "true sleep," thus achieving ample rest. Therefore, the Lotus Seat Exercise is remarkably effective in restoring physical strength, eliminating fatigue, and enhancing mental alertness. It is also highly beneficial to overall health. When combined with the Frog Exercise, it has excellent regulatory effects on the body; if combined with a diet, the weight loss effect is even better.