Over time, you will learn to hold this pose for a long time. You will feel some discomfort at first, but interlacing your fingers at the back of your head will significantly reduce the tension. Then the pain and tension will disappear, and you will forget about your hands, which will become weightless and light as feathers.
Two centers located in the middle of the palms, the “dragon cavity” and the “tiger cavity,” will come into contact with the back of the head. You should feel the flow of energy passing through these energy points. With their help, you can direct the energy flow along the control and functional channels, forming a “microcosmic orbit”. Experiment with the flow of energy. “Tiger Hollow” and “Dragon Hollow” are powerful centers for controlling the movement of qi.
When writing this book, I was guided by considerations of maximally saving the reader's time. Therefore, for full-fledged training, 15 minutes a day will be quite enough. However, you can increase the duration of the exercises. Please note that time can be saved by combining the static exercises of the “second treasure” with the “hair breathing” of the “first treasure” and the sexual kung fu of the “second treasure” (at least in the part where the presence of a sexual partner is not required) or with Shen exercises of the “third treasure”. This rule applies to all remaining sections of the book.
I would like to caution you against trying too hard, which could cause your yoga practice to be detrimental to other aspects of your life. In China, an overly zealous attitude towards daily practice is called “qigong syndrome,” when uncontrolled enthusiasm becomes all-consuming. I have been convinced more than once that the best criterion for assessing one’s personality is the attitude of others. If your loved ones are unhappy with the changes taking place in you, do not ignore their comments.
Taoist yoga is a process of internal improvement that causes significant changes in personality. Inner alchemy is based on the process of change and transmutation that occurs within a person. Therefore, the changes that have taken place in you should not affect your relationships with loved ones and isolate you from everyday worries. If you are not sure about the correctness of what is happening, ask Heaven for advice and you will receive the right answer. Pay special attention to your interaction with the outside world. Beware of thoughts of your own exclusivity, since you are the bearer of secret knowledge and have an advantage over other people. Give up pride and don’t think that you are always right. Be lenient when you are criticized. And always maintain peace of mind.
On the other hand, you should not blindly believe everything that others tell you, or indulge unjustified fears and preconceived opinions. - this is a new way for you and for most of your friends to understand life and the surrounding reality, and society has always been hostile to any innovations. You must be prepared that the teaching will be treated with a certain degree of suspicion, since it does not correspond to the usual ideas about reality. In other words, you will have to solve a dilemma: either you try to explain your position, or protect yourself with a “wall of silence.” Under no circumstances should you accept someone else's preconceived opinions. Remember that you are your own mentor and best teacher.