Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine have different concepts in health preservation and treatment. Chinese medicine focuses more on health preservation, which coincides with the increasing health preservation needs of modern people. Traditional Chinese health wisdom advocates a combination of movement and stillness, believing that both exercise and rest are important ways to maintain health, but they should be balanced moderately.
Exercise is considered a general rule for health maintenance, as it can promote physical health, enhance metabolism, and prevent premature aging. However, excessive or intense exercise may burden the body instead, so moderate exercise is recommended. On the other hand, “keeping calm to nourish the spirit” is also a key aspect of health preservation, emphasizing the importance of mental tranquility for health and longevity. Ancient health preservation masters like Laozi advocated “extremes in emptiness, tranquility and dedication,” emphasizing achieving mental tranquility by reducing distracting thoughts.
The combination of physical activity and rest not only promotes the smooth flow of qi and blood but also enhances the body’s ability to resist diseases. For example, gentle exercises like walking and qigong, while harmonizing bodily functions, also adhere to the principle of appropriate balance between movement and stillness. This principle requires adjusting the ratio of movement and stillness flexibly based on individual physical strength, health condition, and time to achieve optimal health preservation effects.
Ancient texts like the “Huangdi Neijing” mention concepts such as “quiet inactivity” and “keeping the spirit within,” further emphasizing the importance of combining mental tranquility with physical activity. Historically, many Chinese people adopted the “nourishment through stillness” approach, adjusting their mindset, reducing external distractions, and maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude towards life to achieve the goal of health and longevity.
Practicing stillness requires adjusting one’s worldview first, learning to transcend the gains and losses in life, and reducing psychological burdens. Simple stillness practices such as meditation, closing the eyes to nourish the spirit, deep breathing, when practiced daily, greatly benefit physical and mental health. Despite the fast pace of modern life, cultivating the habit of stillness is of long-term significance for young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals in maintaining physical and mental health.
The wisdom of combining movement and stillness in health preservation includes not only the positive attitude of “life lies in movement” but also integrates the ancient wisdom of “keeping calm to nourish the spirit.” Both complement each other, forming the core of traditional Chinese health philosophy. In the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, understanding and practicing the principle of combining movement and stillness is undoubtedly a path worth exploring.
