Welcome to the second blog post of this three part series on how to apply the practice of yin yoga to your meridians, to help bring balance and harmony.
I have previously wrote a brief introduction about the meridians (Yin Yoga For Inflammation), the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians (Yin Yoga For Frustration) and today I will be covering the Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians (Yin Yoga For Anxiety).
I have chosen to name this blog Yin Yoga For Anxiety as an imbalance with the Kidneys (where our jing is stored) can result in fear. Fear can manifest in many different forms such as anxiety, loss of personal power, loneliness and insecurity. On the other hand when your Kidneys are balanced you may find you have more courage and willpower. So by bringing balance to our Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians through yin yoga poses, you may help remove blocked stagnant energy and replace it with new vitalised energy, helping your Organs to function at their optimal ability.
Before I go into detail about these two meridians, just take a moment to notice how you feel right now. No need to judge your thoughts, just notice.
Now begin to bring your awareness to your body, notice if you are clenching in your jaw or if your shoulders are up by your ears, softly unclench and release.
Let's now take a nice big inhale through the nose, parting the lips, release a long exhale out through the mouth.
Notice how you feel from when you first started reading this blog to how you feel right now. Just noticing, not judging or thinking you should feel a certain way.
What is Jing?
Jing (which means essence) is stored in your kidneys and is carried in the semen and menstrual fluids. From the kidneys, jing is distributed to all the other organs to help them in their normal, healthy functioning.
You have two types of jing. The first type is the prenatal jing that is given to you as you are being created in your mothers womb. This is a fixed amount and cannot be replenished. Once your prenatal jing is used up, life is over.
The second type is the jing you gain from living, eating and exercising. This can be called after life jing. You are constantly consuming jing just by being alive, however there are some ways that can consume jing too quickly such as:
Stress
Illness
Abuse of substances
The secret to longevity is to use as little prenatal jing as possible, whilst building up a store of after life jing through practices such as yin yoga. Some other ways that may help lengthen your life and develop wisdom are:
Eating healthy foods
Getting plenty of sleep
Hanging out with inspiring people
Avoid unhealthy activities, people and practices.
The Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians.
The Kidneys house your willpower and determination, which are also connected to the reproductive health and function.
Problems with the kidneys can be seen in the:
Ears
Lungs
Genitals
Throat
Problems with the Urinary Bladder (which is connected to the Kidney chi) include:
Getting up many times during the night to urinate
Backaches
Headaches
Mental problems
Too much fear can weaken your Kidneys but when your Kidneys are functioning well this can be a source of deep wisdom and being able to mature gracefully.
Here are three yin yoga poses you can try that may help stimulate the Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians.
Please remember to use the three yin principles as you are coming into a pose.
Come into the pose at an appropriate depth.
Resolve to remain still.
Hold the pose for time.
By using the power of your breath during the pose, you can really help cleanse and stimulate the flow of energy whilst dislodging any blockages.
Sphinx
Lie on your stomach with your elbows just ahead of your shoulders, propping yourself up.
If you begin to feel strong sensations in your lower back that are uncomfortable, move your elbows slightly more forward, lowering your chest closer towards the floor.
If you notice during the pose your neck is getting sore, you can try resting your head in your hands or on a block.
Once you have found your edge, hold sphinx pose for 3-5 minutes.
To come out of sphinx, slowly lower your chest to the floor. From here you can roll over onto your side, then slowly rise back up to seated.
Butterfly
Sitting on a cushion or bolster, bring the soles of your feet together and then slide them away from you creating a diamond shape.
Allowing your back to round, fold forward, gently resting your hands on your feet or on the floor in front of you.
You can allow your head to hang or if you prefer you can support your head on a block.
Spend around 3-5 minutes in butterfly focusing on your breath.
Coming out of the pose, use your hands to push into the floor and slowly roll up. Before straightening your legs, lean back on your hands to release the hips.
Straddle
To begin sit on the ground in a comfortable position.
You may like to sit on a blanket or towel to prop up your hips allowing yourself more space.
From here begin to extend your legs apart, just as far as what feels good for you. Don't go past your edge.
Once you have found your edge you can begin to extend your hands out in front and slowly begin to fold forward. Again listening to your body and going only as far as what feels comfortable for you.
You may like to place a block under your forehead to support your neck.
Allowing gravity to do the work, find stillness and hold for 3-5 minutes.
To come out of the pose, slowly begin to rise back up by pushing into your hands.
Once you are back up, lean back slightly to release the hips and begin to bring your legs back together.
I hope you have enjoyed giving these yin yoga poses a try and as always please feel free to contact me at amy@believeyoga.com.au if you would like to ask me any questions.
Part three of this series will be all about the Stomach and Spleen meridians.
Sending loving kindness,
Amy. x
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