Phuket Opinion: Finding life balance through Daodexinxi

Sopin Koaysomboon, a 53-year-old Phuket native, is a vice president of the Phuket Daodexinxi International Club. She has been practicing Daodexinxi for more than three years. Here, she talks about how to improve our lives with exercise, meditation, songs and charity.

PHUKET: People in the modern world are making a great deal of unnecessary sacrifices. Youths give up their vital energy to gain wealth at the sacrifice of their mental and physical health, and then, as we grow older and see the condition of our health faltering, we use the money and power we have gained and attempt to buy back our youth.

This is an unhealthy cycle, as there is a balance between seeking riches and maintaining a healthy mind and body. One of the many ways a person can pursue this balance is through a practice known as Daodexinxi (Daoxin).

Daoxin is a new practice – it has only been around since about 1990 – but it incorporates many traditional Chinese beliefs and borrows from Tao Te Ching, Tai Chi and some modern scientific concepts.

It was started in China by Zhao Miao Guo, and in 1996 came to Thailand, where it has grown in popularity. Today, people come to Thailand from China to study it.

Currently, there are over 200 members in our Phuket Daodexinxi Club, which receives the support of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization.

Dao means nature or the law of nature, De means virtue, and Xinxi means media, including written and spoken words, songs and music.

We believe that a combination of physical movements, meditation and music can help us to be happy and healthy, and create a more peaceful and loving society.

Three of the physical techniques we practice are Daoxin dancing, poses and movements. If you take part in one of our events you will do each of these.

We start with dancing – we dance slowly and move our bodies in a relaxing way. As we are dancing, we press our heels and the balls of our feet into the ground because we believe that pressing the balls of our feet stimulates the liver and pressing the heels stimulates the kidneys. And of course the dancing helps firm our bodies.

We have nine poses, taken from Tai Chi. We believe that these poses will stimulate blood circulation in nine main body systems, such as the neurological, digestive and respiratory systems. By assuming the different poses, we also promote the flow of Chi (energy) in our bodies.

Finally, the slow movements – they are a form of moving meditation. We believe that the movements balance the mind and body.

As we’re doing the three physical exercises we listen to music and songs. The song lyrics include concepts from the Tao Te Ching and focus on love, gratitude, humility, thriftiness, patience and being united with nature.

We think that music, singing, words and thoughts can create positive changes in our bodies and can assist us through life challenges.

Daoxin is more than just physical and mental practices – it is a lifestyle. Altogether, there are eight aspects of Daoxin – the three physical exercises, singing, meditation, reading from the Tao Te Ching, doing volunteer work and chanting; all of these we believe ‘develop our body’s software’.

Dr Chotinuch Tungabordee at Phuket Provincial Hospital is a good example of the effectiveness of Daoxin. After she broke her neck in a car accident, she used Daoxin as physical therapy. It was so helpful for her that she now hosts an exercise session in the parking lot of the hospital.

Another place we meet to practice Daoxin is in the parking lot of Queen Sirikit Park, Monday to Thursday from 5:30 to 7pm. We also meet at Rama IX Park (Suan Luang) on Chao Fa Road, Monday to Friday from 7am to 8:30am. Everyone is welcome to join and there is no charge.

Every Friday we have sessions where we meditate on the elimination of disasters. That’s at 5pm at Muang Phuket Municipal School.

We also have a retreat in Kanchanaburi where you can go and stay for several days.

For more information, please call 081-6919327 or 081-5352197.