14/03/2022
YIN YOGA & ACUPRESSURE POINTS TIPS
Here is a photo of a well-known archetypal Water Yin Pose combined with Chinese Acupressure Stimulation to lower stress and lower the mind activity.
Are you using therapeutic acupressure points while practicing yin yoga poses?
Recently, I posted this blue picture variation of Caterpillar pose (the yin name), also known in English as (Forward Fold), and in Sanskrit: (Paschimottasana).
This pose is the archetypal yin pose linked to the Kidney/Bladder meridians and the water element taught by Shizuto Masunaga (Shiatsu master), following the teaching of Mr. Nagai, the creator of the Makko Ho stretching technique to balance energy flow.
In this picture; I hold both sides of my ankles with my fingers.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?
By pressing these two acupressure points or meridian cavities together (KD6 [Kidney] and BL62 [Bladder]), you are helping the body to calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, stress and possibly release old traumas.
BL62 & KD6 LOCATION POINTS:
Hold the BL62 pressure point just below the ankles on the outer sides of the legs, and the KD6 on the inner side of the legs just below the ankles. Hold for 2–3 minutes, breathing in pure energy to nourish your mind and body and releasing any stagnant energy in the exhalation through the mouth.
HOW TO CALM YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM (lower the mind activity) WITH ACUPRESSURE POINTS:
1- in CATERPILLAR (BL/KD original Makko Ho stretch). This pose is perfect for self-reflection. Round your back, relax your feet, place a rolled towel under your knees or a blanket under your sitting bones if you suffer from lower back issues and tight hamstrings. Forward fold stillness provides a sacred time to contemplate the self, retire into your secret world, and forget everything. The bladder meridian along the entire back body and the muscles and fascia are lengthened. Feel calmness settling your mind.
2- Press simultaneously KD6 (Kidney 6-on the medial side of the legs, in the depression, right below the medial malleolus) and BL62 (outside of the legs, on the lateral side of the foot, in a dip below the point of the outside ankle bone, just below the external malleolus) while in Caterpillar pose (seated forward fold).
The relaxing effect is almost immediate.
Not only because of the acupressure point stimulation but with the combination of the:
1-held posture
2-mental intention blending with conscious breath
3-energetically pressing this combination of meridian points
KD6: Is part of the Kidney meridian. KD 6 also shares energy with the Yin Qiao Vessel, also known as the Yin Heel Vessel. By pressing KD6, Qi & Blood flow from the heel to the eyes calms the mind and nervous system together.
BL62: is part of the Bladder Meridian on the energetic level and connects to the limbic brain and the nervous system along the spine. Pressing the points along the bladder meridian calms the mind and re-balances all of the organs’ energy. (I will post more about this soon.)
TEXT EXTRACTS FROM THE GOLDEN CHAMBER OF QI BOOK
The URINARY BLADDER MERIDIAN reflects the energy of “Calm and harmony.”
It is a YANG meridian – active the most between 3– 5. P.M. – its element is WATER – its season is WINTER – Its colour is DARK BLUE
The yang bladder organ is paired with the yin kidney organs.
The bladder is where the cooling water energy of wisdom assembles and is drained upon being sparked by Qi.
CONSCIOUSNESS
The bladder holds our confidence, willpower, stability, and enthusiasm. Running along the back of the body also carries mental and physical burdens, past old emotional wounds. The bladder needs good quality water, Himalayan salts, and calmness away from emotional stress.
PSYCHOLOGICALLY
The limbic system is linked to the bladder meridian and connects to our primitive brain (where survival, fear, and memories reside). The limbic system or emotional brain uses the body to manifest emotions through physiological changes. For instance, neck or lower back pain may be triggered by an imbalance of the bladder meridian, particularly when we feel fearful most of the time. The four branches of the bladder meridian exert a powerful effect on the sympathetic and parasympathetic trunks of the nervous system. When the sympathetic system is over-activated, stress, tension and pain along the spine, periphery and channels are out of balance. It is often felt as
symptoms of fear and anxiety rising.
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KIDNEY MERIDIAN reflects the place of our reproductive and sexual life, confidence, and willpower.
It is a YIN meridian – it is primarily active during 5– 7 P.M. – its element is WATER – its season is WINTER – its colour is MARINE BLUE.
CONSCIOUSNESS
Mentally a strong kidney Qi/Jing shows all aspects of a wise individual with a solid and lucid mind, intelligence, calmness and resilience. In contrast, absent-mindedness, rigid delusion, authoritarianism evokes a lack of kidney/water element equilibrium. The kidneys do not like over-pushing work and activities raising adrenaline as much as coffee does.
PSYCHOLOGICALLY
The kidneys house the spirit Zhi. The Zhi reflects our willpower and determination to fulfil our dreams, goals and desires. The kidneys reflect wisdom, will, and dedication. Any kidney energy instabilities contribute to fear, phobia, paranoia in excess, terror with panic attacks or loneliness, and timidity in deficiency. The kidneys need to release sympathetic nervous system arousal and amygdala over-reactivity to restore the vital energy flow by calming the heart and reclaiming a sense of security and empowerment. When deficient, we must tonify the kidney to force the Qi to flow back up.
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MORE INFO: www.yinyogaqiflow.com
ORDER THE GOLDEN CHAMBER OF QI BOOK:
www.yinyogaqiflow.com/product-page
EMAIL ME: book@goldenchamberofqi.com
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