05/22/2026
This week in many of our classes, we’ve been weaving in principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, spring is associated with growth, renewal, vision, and a deeper sense of purpose. We move out of winter, a season connected with rest, introspection, and stillness, and begin to emerge into a time of creativity, expansion, and possibility.
Within the Five Element system of TCM, spring is connected to the Wood Element, along with the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. This week, much of our focus has been on the Liver meridian, which is energetically associated with flow, adaptability, direction, and the ability to move forward with clarity.
Many of the poses and shapes we explored this week targeted the inner thighs, front of the hips, side body, and outer abdomen, areas commonly associated with the pathway of the Liver meridian. We practiced twists, wide-legged forward folds, triangle, and butterfly, along with balancing poses like tree pose that remind us we can be both rooted and flexible, able to bend without breaking.
We’ve also been exploring the acupressure point Liver 8 or “Spring at the Bend” (LV8, or Ququan in Chinese). Traditionally, this point is used to support circulation and nourish the Liver meridian, and it’s commonly used for medial knee discomfort, inner thigh tension, and stiffness through the hips. Energetically, it’s also said to support clarity, emotional balance, and reconnecting with our sense of purpose and vision.
You can try this point for yourself from butterfly pose. Using both thumbs, apply gentle circular pressure to the point for about a minute. Then pause the movement and simply hold steady pressure with the thumbs, allowing yourself a few breaths to soften and tune inward. Don't worry about getting it just right, since this is acupressure, and not acupuncture (with a needle), we don't have to be quite as precise.
Acupressure is subtle, but sometimes subtle practices create meaningful changes. Take a moment to explore this point for yourself and see what you notice.