Seasonal mindfulness: late summer is a time to nourish

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) there are five elements - metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Each of these elements is linked to a season. If you wonder how it can be, if there are only four seasons, there is a fifth season in the TCM: late summer. This is the season of the earth element.

This short season, which begins at the end of August and ends in September for the autumn day of night, is of particular importance because it marks the transition from Yang to the Yin period of the year. We can often feel this shift even with noticeable changes in the light and in the air, and even in the type of food that our body longs for.

Every season also corresponds to certain yin/yang pairings of organs and according to the TCM, the balance (or imbalance) of the Qi of our organs influences not only our physical, but also our mental health, whereby our inner organs are also associated with our emotions.

Qi (vitality or energy) flows through our body via the meridians (energy channels). The organs (and their health) are connected to the meridians flowing by them. We can influence our Qi through our movements or movements, our diet, our surroundings and our lifestyle in general. The organs of the late summer are stomach and spleen. The food we consume is one of the paths on which Qi comes into the body (known as a grain qi). The stomach (Yang organ) is known as a "sea of ​​nutrition" due to its crucial role in digestion and works with the spleen (Yin organ). In the TCM, the stomach and spleen also supply our minds with food as well as emotional and physical stability. (For those of us who may have been removed, it is worth noting that even if a certain organ has been removed, the meridians and the energetic qualities of the organ are preserved.)

We also get Qi about our parents (prenatal qi) and our breath (natural air-Qi). You have probably already heard of acupuncture to promote the healthy Qi river through the meridians. When it comes to improving natural air Qi, exercises such as Qigong, Tai Chi and Yoga can help. yin-yoga with its special focus on organs, fascia and meridians is a way to influence the Qi flow it is worth trying, especially if it is an exercise that they are not yet familiar with.

What is Yin-Yoga?

The word 'Yin' comes from the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, where everything consists of the complementary elements Yang and Yin. While Yang is hotter, faster and more active, Yin is cooler, slower and passive.

yin yoga is a meditative practice that is mainly based on the ground and in which each attitude is held over a longer period of time (normally about three to five minutes). Physically, the focus is on penetrating deeper into the connective tissue of the body (think of fascia - the sticky film -like fabric that holds our muscles and actually our whole body together under the skin), while the meridians are stimulated energetically. It is believed that the meridians are in the fascia, which - if we - the philosophy of the TCM, that our organs are connected to our emotions, and the complicated network that the meridians form in our body - considering a special response to the sentence "Problems in our tissue". "

Yin Yoga teaches us to find a place of acceptance and ease by taking poses that have access to these deeper locations. The use of requisites such as Blocks , cushions ceiling and belt can make it possible for us, The temptation to let go of our Yin posture with a Yang posture. This slow exercise also calms the nervous system and promotes a quiet condition.

The gastric and spleen merchants

The gastrointestinal lines run from the head through the diaphragm, the stomach, the spleen, the pelvis and the front of the legs and end at the top of the second toe. In the meantime, the spleen lines start in your feet, hike up the legs, past the bar in spleen and stomach before moving through the diaphragm and along the side of the esophagus and ending at the tongue root. Yin poses that in particular stretch the abdominal area stimulate these meridians.

If gastric, spleen and earth-QI are unbalanced, we are more susceptible to excessive concerns, anxiety, lack of boundaries and lethargy. If we are in balance, we can feel more obtained, have more sympathy for others and move better in the flow of life.

So in this late summer, think about how to eat physically, mentally and emotionally and consider integrating Yin Yoga into your life. That does not mean that Yang or more active practices are bad. We need both Yang and Yin to be in harmony in our body and mind. If we have this harmony, satisfaction, better health and happiness can follow.

yin yoga for stomach and spleen - dragon husbandry

Dragon is also an effective hip and groin opener. Aim at one to three minutes if you are not yet familiar with Yin, or three to five minutes if you have more experience. Allow your breath to be even and calm.

PRECTION on all fours with one foot forward into a soul position. You can cover your back knee with a cushion ceiling . Place your hands on one side of your front leg or both hands in your front leg. You can bring the floor to you by a brick under every hand. If both arms are within your front leg, you can alternatively your hands or forearms on a neck roll