A look at movement through the lens of Chinese Medicine: Channel-sinew (jingjin) and Dūn Yāo

The Dun Yao is a qigong pattern that involves a rising expansion and falling compression. Yao is spine (or waist) and the loose translation for this is 'spine squat'. Emphasis is thus on the spine, and the rise and fall helps create a growing circulation up the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) and down the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel).

The rising movement is driven from an involvement of the Urinary Bladder jingjin (channel-sinews, or myofascial component of the channels) and the Kidney jingjin.. Key muscles involved are:

Gluteus maximus and hamstrings (BL jingjin): Hip extension while rising
Erector spinae (BL jingjin): back extension while rising
Cervical extensors and suboccipitals (BL jingjin): involved with drawing the head back and allowing energy (and lift!) to rise to DU 20 (Bai Hui).
Lower and middle trapezius (BL jingjin): Retracts and depresses the scapulae (shoulder blades) to make you taller.
Transverse abdominis (KID jingjin): creates a stabilizing 'girdle' around the midsection to stabilize the spine. A sign that it is active is a drawing in of the abdomen towards the diaphragm. But one should look for this and not 'suck the abdomen in'.
Psoas major (KID jingjin): This is an interesting muscle for so many reasons. It has dynamic, hip flexion based fibers AND it has spine stabilizing fibers, It is almost two muscle. The stabilization aspect, particularly, is part of the KID jingjin.

The sinking movement is driven from an involvement of the Stomach and Spleen jingjin. While it is subtle, there is a slight bowing and compression in the torso on this sinking face. Key muscles involved are:

Rectus abdominis (ST jingjin): This muscle has a slight engagement on the sinking phase. It is like a gentle and soft 'abdominal crunch', yet it should be natural and not forced.
Posterior rectus sheath and abdominal obliques (SP jingjin)). The abdominal obliques are part of many channels and we will see their rotational, unilateral involvement when we look at the Liver jingjin. Bilateral involvement that compresses the abdomen is part of the SP jingjin. Interestingly, the fascia of these muscles meet at the semilunar line which is at the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis and is the location of the Spleen primary channel in Chinese medicine. The fascia splits (bifurcates) and travels superficial and deep to the rectus abdominis, but I feel the deep layer is associated with the Spleen channel.
Serratus anterior (SP jingjin): Like the obliques, this muscle can act unilaterally as part of a rotational force and associated with the Pericardium jingjin. But bilateral activation is part of the Spleen jingjin role and causes a protraction of the scapulae.
Quadriceps femoris (ST and SP jingjin): part of the hip flexion and really active in both the sitting and standing, but in terms of its Yangming-Taiyin role, these are associated with the sitting phase.
Tibialis anterior (ST jingjin) and tibialis posterior (SP jingjin): Eccentrically loaded while sitting to allow foot pronation. This loads the spring of the foot.

The Dun Yao is traditionally down with a palm up, hand rising during the rise and a palm down, hands sinking during the fall. In this case, the above structures are involved. Adding the macebell not only adds weight and resistance, but also introduces rotation to the pattern. Particularly, this rotation is in the shoulder girdle and the torso with an emphasis on the lower ribcage movement. This massages and mobilizes the diaphragm, liver, thoracic spine and pericardium; and it is driven by the Liver and the Pericardium jingjin.

These channels include myofascia that is part of the list above, yet they are active as part of a functional pairing with other rotators which are part of these channels. Included are:

Rhombo-serratus sling (P jingjin): This includes the fascially connected rhomboids and serratus anterior which actually continues to the opposite side splenius cervicis and capitis. This manages position of the scapula in rotation patterns.
External obliques (LIV jingjin): This is associated with rotation of the torso
Psoas major, quadratus lumborum, adductor longus and brevis (LIV jingjin(: The psoas can also have a dynamic role, particularly associated with rotation patterns as there is opposing lengths between the left and the right. It is active with the QL and adductors and all of these are involved with rotation.

Check out the video below and you can look for these channel activities!