What is Dantien?
Dantien is a concept that often occurs in Asian philosophy, medicine and martial arts. Dantien is the center of gravity of the body and theoretically is a storage center for Qi or life force. It is just below and behind the navel, although some traditions indicate that the body actually has three points of Dantien, in the navel, heart and forehead. Students in courses dealing with traditional Chinese philosophy, such as Qi Gong classes, are often introduced by the concept of Dantien at an early stage. The term is translated as a "red field" and many people visualize Dantien as a physical field of energy, except for a place on the body. Dantien is sometimes considered a ball of energy in the body that can be manipulated or modified.
The philosophy aside, the stomach is very close to the center of gravity for the human body, and, as athletes know, learn to use the center of gravity can help generate more power. Be aware of the center of gravity and bringing low in the stomach can also improve the balance that is useful for athletes such as boxers and swordsmen because it can prevent falling when it isBody widespread in attack. The concept of Dantien is therefore very important in martial arts, with instructors encouraging students to concentrate their energy in dantien for stronger strikes and more balance.
There are a number of contexts in which Dantien may appear. In meditation, people may be encouraged to breathe deeply into their dantene and concentrate their mind on the energy it contains. Dantien is also used in traditional Chinese medicine, while experts investigate the energy flow of the body and the amount of energy stored at this key point in points. Some practices, such as Qi Gong, are supposed to improve energy flow and strengthen Dantien, chamber for later use.
The idea of the lower abdomen as the seat of the life force and energy is hardly unique to Asia. This part of the body has strong symbolism in many cultures and appears in a wide range of traditional healing practices and sports, although it may not always be explicitly defined as a powerhouse of mental energy in Western athletics.