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This article clarifies the use of the term Makko Ho Leader and provides information about the original source and history of Makko Ho, Makko Ho’s relationship to the ancient practice of Do In, and how Shizuto Masunaga used both to develop his Zen Imagery Exercises.
Do In
Makko Ho stems from the ancient practice of Do In – a physical and meditative practice for sustaining a healthy body. The Japanese the name is Do In, and in Chinese name is Dao Yin or Tao Yin. The practice originated in China, and the first known reference to Do In is found in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, a text believed to have been written in the 4th century BCE by Neijing.
Do In is a dynamic meditation and there is evidence of influence by Indian Yoga and later by Zen Buddhism. In his book Meridian Stretches, Shizito Masunaga defined the term Do In as follows:
Do: “opening the channels and facilitating the energy flow along certain routes”
In: “stretching and moving the limbs in order to achieve this goal”
Do In was developed during a prosperous Era in China when the lifestyle involved less physical work and as a result, people began to suffer increased physical maladies. The Do In exercises were developed to help the body regain its naturally healthy condition. There are limitless physical and energy exercises in Do In, but the purpose of all of them is to improve health by stimulating energy and creating clear circulation in the meridians.
Although monks have continually practiced Do In in many forms, the practice nearly
disappeared from use by the general public until a resurgence of interest in the mid-twentieth century when it was reintroduced by Shizito Masunaga and Michio Kushi.
Unlike many other physical practices that focus on parts of the body separately, Do In
emphasizes the interconnectedness of all parts of the body, mind, and the universe. Do In developed over time to emphasize the importance of body awareness and feeling the connection and relationship between oneself and universal energy, thus promoting balance and harmony of one’s energy. The practice of Do In supports health by creating healthy conditions in the body, mind, emotions, and spirit that allow self-healing to occur.
Makka Ho Origins
While Do in is ancient, the origin of Makko Ho is a relatively recent development by a Japanese businessman, Wataru Nagae.
In his early 40’s Nagae was partially paralyzed by a stroke. Doctors offered little hope that he regain full mobility. He lived in a Buddhist Temple in which his father was a monk. After a period of despondency, Wataru began to feel grateful for being alive. As he observed the monks in their daily practice he realized how much of what they did had to do with expressing gratitude and sincerity. He was drawn to these practices but was physically unable to perform them. He set his intention on being able to place his body in a Child’s Pose while listening to the Monk’s teachings and being able to give gratitude with full body bowing.
After three years of focused effort, he regained his mobility and was able to perform the gratitude bowing movements along with the monks. At the temple, Wataru had access to Do In and used many of the Do In exercises to achieve his goal. After his concentrated effort to regain mobility, around 1933 he separated the four exercises that he believed fulfilled the requirements for a healthy body. He named this set of four exercises Makko Ho which can mean literally “to look straight ahead” or “to look in a mirror”. The exercises were meant to lead to a healthy physical body so that one would then be free to pursue one’s life purpose and dreams.
Zen Imagery Exercises
Shizuto Masunaga’s last book is titled 'Zen Imagery Exercises' and contains the basic exercises that are now often referred to as Makko Ho. Masunaga saw through his Shiatsu practice that there was a need for a more holistic form of body movement to maintain health. Masunaga observed that Nagae’s Makko Ho regime engaged several meridians and saw ways to extend it to include all of the meridians. While Makko Ho has four exercises, the basic Zen Imagery Exercises consist of eight exercises. In his book Zen Imagery Exercises, Masunaga stated, “I developed Zen Imagery Exercises in order to revive the essence of traditional Chinese practices and provide a method for exercise and self-help therapy in the home." The Imagery part is Masunaga’s way of
helping guide practitioners to let go. With conscious effort of the body and mind, the exercises need to be learned and the breathing needs to be learned, but the performance of the exercises is to be done unconsciously. The act of letting go while focusing one’s energy on specific meridians leads to self-healing as the body finds its natural balance and harmony. The exercises are done in a specific order based on the organ clock. By moving unconsciously, the intention of the exercises moved from just physical health to the creation of emotional, mental, and spiritual health as well.
Makka Ho - Current Practice
Although Wataru Nagae’s Makka Ho practice consisted of just four exercises, Makko Ho leaders include many Do In exercises beyond Nagae’s four. Makka Ho classes offer guidance in an array of exercises and media-ons to help promote energetic balance and harmony and to introduce concepts of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in an enjoyable format. Basic principles of Do In that guide all parts of the class include:
The class must be fun and available to all body types
Everything is energy and as such can be moved and used to promote intentions.
Where the mind goes, energy flows.
The mind is focused on the body’s energy meridians.
Based on this summary, it is clear that the current Makko Ho practice encompasses much more than the original Makko Ho, and technically the term "Makko Ho leader" is a misnomer. A more historically accurate name would be Do In leader or Dao Yin leader. However, the term Makko Ho has been adopted over time as the name for exercises that relate to the meridians and energy movement and is widely accepted as such.
REFERENCES:
DO-IN: Tao Yoga for Health and Energy by Llilian Kluvers
MAKKO HO: Five Minutes’ Physical Fitness by Haruka Nagae
The Essence of Makko-Ho and the Stretches of Masunaga by Lilian Kluver
ZEN Imagery Exercises by Shizuto Masunaga
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Keith Strand is a retired architect, a Makko Ho Leader, and The Five Lights Center Community Outreach person. Keith received a Bachelors in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute.
He practiced architecture in New York City for over 35 years, owning and managing his own firm for 31 years. Keith’s strengths include understanding and navigating bureaucracies and their requirements as well as teamwork development. Keith is assisting Five Lights Center in reaching out to individuals and organizations promoting shiatsu and the Five Lights Center, and assisting in follow-up inquiries.
Keith is excited to help others learn and heal through their own energy. He finds the Five Lights Center’s philosophy and teaching methods to be inspiring and unique and is happy to be a part of what comes next for the School and the Practitioners. Keith feels his personal mission is to lead others in Makko Ho (Do-In) exercises as a way to maintain good health and promote Shiatsu.
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