Spleen and Stomach Meridians

Back from vacation and back to the meridians.  The spleen and stomach meridians are up for discussion today.  Your spleen is about the size of your heart and is located behind the stomach on the left side under the diaphragm.  The spleen is an organ of digestion.  It gets the nutrients from what the stomach digests and processes the nutrients for the body to utilize.  Also, the spleen destroys and recycles old red blood cells and is the location where white blood cells trap infectious organisms.  The stomach is located to the left of the diaphragm, between the esophagus and the intestines.  Food stays in the stomach for 3-4 hours sending the nutrients to the spleen and the waste to the small intestine.  This meridian pair is highly dependent on a healthy diet.  Pure foods high in nutrients keep our spleen and stomach healthy which yields health to the rest of the body.  When we eat poorly we throw our bodies into imbalance.  How can we expect our bodies to perform physically or mentally without the nutrients it requires to function?  We can expect for our body's rhythms to be off, such as sleeping, thinking and breathing, which make us lethargic and dull.  We need food to ground us so when we eat well we feel earthy and full.  When the spleen-stomach meridians are not flowing freely, we can feel anxious, nervous, pensive, worried and may tend to obsess or be inflexible.  The spleen connects us to the outer world so when balanced we feel at ease to respond appropriately to anything that comes our way and our minds are clear to make connections and insights.

The path of the spleen meridian begins at the big toe, moves up the inner leg, next to liver channel, enters the body at the groin, goes through the spleen and stomach, up through the diaphragm and chest and ends at the root of the tongue.  The stomach path starts at the nose, moves down the face and neck, entering the body, going through the diaphragm, stomach and spleen, moves down to the top of the leg and ends at the second toe.  Postures to get in tough with these meridians are ones that open up the front of the body and thighs, stretching the inner line of the leg, twisting the torso and stretching the groin area.  As mentioned before, at the end of this yin/meridian series I will post pictures or a video of yin postures.  Safety is very important so I take presenting this information seriously and want you to be able to receive the most benefits without injury.  So, go feed your spleen so it can feed you!  

Liver and Gallbladder Meridians

     The liver meridian begins at the big toe, runs up the inner leg, it enters the torso through the groin, through the liver and gallbladder, into the lungs, up the throat and the head, circling the lips then ends at the eyes.  The gallbladder meridian begins at the outer corner of the eyes, internally in to the neck and chest through the liver and gallbladder, then externally moving down the lateral side of the body to the outer hip and knee ending at the fourth toe.  In practice, positions which focus in the inner and outer parts of the legs, the groin, the front of the torso and lateral sides of the body.  I will present either a video or a series of photos at the end of this series of the yin postures.  I hesitate to name the postures as a reader informed me that he tried to put himself in a position he looked up on the internet that I named which was not the position intended.  Safety first!  If you do decide to test the waters beforehand, remember that when resting in these postures to remain for at least a minute to begin and work up to three to five minutes, that is how the chi is stimulated.  Moving on...          
     The liver is the largest gland in the body.  It is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity, below the diaphragm.  The liver holds vitamins(A,B-12, D and K), minerals and glycogen.  Substances in the body that are not broken down for energy end up in the liver for processing.  So, your liver works to detoxify you body.  Also, the liver produces bile.  Bile is a substance that is stored in the gallbladder that helps the body break down fats.  The gallbladder secretes the bile as needed for the digestive process.  Imbalances in the liver can manifest as arthritis, cramping, types of paralysis, muscular weakness or stiffness, fatigue, vertigo, dizziness, dimmed vision, astigmatism, cataracts and blindness.  The sense organ for the liver is the eyes.  As you can see in the list of ailments, there are many concerning the eyes.  When I read this I had a real "ah-ha" moment.  My mother had developed cataracts in the last year of her life.  A month before she passed we discovered her well advanced cancer.  The cancer began in her colon and moved to her liver.  If I had this information maybe we could have done more to help her or at least make her more comfortable.  My point is that the body's symptoms and conditions are so interrelated.  In western medicine I think that this is overlooked.  We tend to treat symptoms instead of looking deeper for the cause.  Anyhow, I present this information to you with the hope that you and yours will live with greater health and vibrancy.
     As for the energetic qualities of the liver, it regulates the movement of chi in the entire body which creates a easygoing inner atmosphere.  In the prior post I discussed the kidneys which house our essential energy, an inner energy that is responsible for giving life to all things, such as your organs.  I want to make a distinction so no confusion arises.  It follows that if our chi is not flowing in a healthy way throughout the body we will not feel easygoing.  Emotionally, the liver, when imbalanced, can be the cause of anger, impulsivity, defensiveness, irritation, annoyance and uneven emotions.  Whether the emotion is the extreme of rage or on the other end of the spectrum where there is no anger, all shades of this spectrum indicate liver chi imbalance.  A special note for the ladies(and those in their lives) is that during menstruation the liver is working harder to flush out toxins therefore making menstruating ladies more irritable.  Also, ladies may feel more discomfort in the liver and gallbladder meridians that run along the outer hips and inner thighs.  Practicing yin yoga during menstruation can also feel more difficult and frustrating.  Knowing this can help us treat ourselves more kindly during this time.  Instead of getting more frustrated, take the opportunity to look at the feelings with a loving eye.
     Mentally, liver chi imbalances can be making rash decisions, not being able to go with the flow, on the other end of the spectrum this can appear as timidity and hesitation.  The element that corresponds to this meridian pair is wood.  Wood needs to be strong and flexible, like a mighty oak tree.  When balanced, we can sway in the wind effortlessly, perhaps even joyfully.  When out of balance we lack that easygoing quality that makes life more enjoyable.  Our gallbladder corresponds to our path in life so when the chi is out of balance we have trouble discerning the proper reaction to situations and this can throw us from our path.  Noticing how we act and react can help to see where we may be out of balance so we can address it with care and kindness.  Stay mindful and stay tuned for more meridian theory and yin yoga.

Kidneys and Urinary Bladder Meridian Pair

     Today, I hope to shed some light on the meridain pair of  the kidneys and urinary bladder.  The above photo is from Sarah Power's book Insight Yoga.  I highly recommend this book, it is one of my favorites.  She does a great job explaining an amazingly complex topic.  While I describe the meridian pathways, imagine the lines in your own body or actually trace them with a finger, it helps with understanding.  The kidney meridian starts at the little toe, goes through the sole of the foot, through the arch, running up the inside of the legs, entering the torso near the tailbone, moving parallel to the lower spine, then deeper to connect with the bladder, kidneys, liver, diaphragm and lungs, as well as flowing closer to the surface of the abdomen and chest, going through the throat and ending at the root of the tongue. The dotted lines indicate where the lines go deeper into the body and the solid lines indicate where the lines are on the surface.  The urinary bladder begins at the inside of the eyes, up the forehead, across the top of the head and enters the brain, then it runs parallel to the spine down the back, the deeper line enters near the lumbar spine, connecting with the urinary bladder and kidneys, the surface lines run down the backs of the legs and ends at the little toes(the longest meridian!).
     Your kidneys are located behind the lower ribs and they filter and purify fifteen gallons of blood per hour(pretty impressive, right?).  The kidneys open up to the bladder so the impurities in the blood can be eliminated by the bladder(you can see how they work as a pair).  The bladder can hold a little or a lot; it is flexible like our minds.  This correlates to our mental capacity; remember the urinary bladder meridian flows through the brain.  The kidneys are said to house our essence energy.  This essence energy is known as known as jing.  Energetically, the kidneys rule the health of the the lower regions of the body(lower back, reproductive organs, urinary system, intestines and all fluids of the body).  If you have low back issues, it is likely that you have kidney issues.  In the five element theory, the element for the kidneys is water.  If you have a lot of heat in the in your body, this will weaken the kidneys(heat evaporates water).  The kidneys cool the body.  Take a look at the food(spicy?) and activity(hot yoga or more intense/stressful?) you participate in and notice if the heat condition is aggravated.  Balance is the key, in every situation.  Activate the kidney chi by sitting on the floor in a straddle position with the torso leaning forward to stretch the inner thighs and do a gentle backbend on your belly using your arm strength lifting the torso(arms can be fully extended or weight can rest on the forearms) to create an arc in the back to diminish the heat.
     Sounds like a simple solution, right?  There is more to add into our equation.  Mental qualities of this meridian pair are related to willpower, short-term memory and ambition.  When out of balance we can have trouble coping with change, controlling sleep cycles, libido issues, lack of personal power, negative thinking and depression.  When we surrender to this practice, honoring whatever comes up we can check in with our inner atmosphere, notice what is there and know that it will pass.  It is when the mind gets caught up in negative patterns it can convince us that we can not change our situation.  This is simply not true. We choose the path of our lives.  We can see things negatively if we choose.  This is not to say that some have suffered in situations beyond their control and that it is not traumatic.  It is how we choose to go on that is our choice. Inner practices, like yin yoga can help us get through difficult times.
     Let us move on to the emotional aspects.  When you come into your straddle(dragonfly position in yin yoga, not other styles!) or your gentle backbend(sphinx position, described above) you should aim to stay in this position for a few minutes.  Never before has a few minutes had the potential to seem like an eternity of discomfort.  Yin is yielding so you surrender to your chosen position.  Be warned that your mind or emotions could go rogue on you.  Instead of interrupting your healthful practice to yield to the mind or emotions plea to stop, be an observer of your body(of course, if you experience sharp injurious pain, gently come to a neutral position).  Take a few breaths into the areas that feel uncomfortable or tight and see if in time the sensations lessen.  The same holds for emotions that may arise.  When fear or anger arises hold space for it, without judging it(as it is part of wonderful you).  You will notice that the emotion lessens or subsides.  Some days you will feel more peaceful and some days you will feel more restless.  This is life.  The greatest gift of this practice is that you can see how moods and sensations come and go.  This can help you in other aspects of life by helping you be open to challenges that come your way.
     Please stay tuned for more meridian pairs and some video to show how to practice yin yoga!

Yin Yoga, Part 2: Meridians

    Yin yoga is a practice of coming into postures, with passive muscles, and staying in them for several minutes.  The purpose of staying in the postures for longer periods of time is so that we can stimulate chi to penetrate deep into the connective tissues of the body, bringing chi(energy) to the meridians.  Now that we have briefly defined meridians as the watery pathways in the body that flow through all body tissues and bones which when flowing strong are essential to the health of the body(more can be found in part 1 of the yin yoga blog), I feel that we now need to discuss the meridians in more detail.  The meridians conduct energy, or chi, along the circulatory and nerve pathways in the body.  Instead of being a hollow tube of tissue that holds fluids inside(like blood vessels), meridians are postulated to have tissue on the inside and fluid on the outside. The inner tissue of meridians, modern meridian theory states, is composed of molecular strings of hyaluronic acid .  What is hyaluronic acid, you ask?  Hyaluronic acid is an ionized molecule made in the connective tissues which draws and holds fluid which also becomes ionized and a great conductor of energy(chi).   When we stress the connective tissues(with activities such as yin yoga) we help the connective tissue produce more hyaluronic acid and with more efficiency, therefore creating strong energy flow through the meridians.  Strong flow of chi(energy) in the meridian system yields health and vitality of the body.
     So, we have discussed the "stuff" that makes up the meridians.  Now it seems appropriate to take a more detailed look at the individual meridians and their unique functions.  Meridians are listed in pairs, one line with a yin organ and one line with a yang organ.  Yin organs are concerned with the pure energy of substances we need to maintain life such as chi, blood, essence, and spirit.  The yin organs are the kidneys, liver, spleen, heart and lungs.  Yang organs are involved with impure substances such as urine, undigested food and waste.  The yang organs are the urinary bladder, gallbladder, stomach and small and large intestines.  The meridian pairings are kidneys and urinary bladder, liver and gallbladder, spleen and stomach, lungs and large intestine and heart and small intestine.  My intention from this point in our discussion of yin yoga is to present each meridian pair in detail.  Each meridian pair will have an entire blog dedicated to exploring their qualities and some suggested postures to try(your homework and practical application so you can feel it in your body).  Digest the above information over the weekend, maybe sit on the floor and stretch in ways that feel nourishing to you and tune in next week for more about meridians.  

Stepping Outside Of The Spectator

     With the title of Mercurial Mind, I reserve the right to topic jump.  I will get back to the topic of Yin Yoga tomorrow, perhaps.  Today I have been inspired to write about being a spectator.  I received an ad from the Mondavi Center to come see some show.  I do enjoy seeing a show every now and then.  I realized that enjoy participating in activities that are presented in these shows even more than going to the shows.  I may not be the most amazing dancer or musician but the act of dancing or playing music does something for me that watching a show can not deliver.  The shows inspire me and then all I can think about is doing the presented activities on my own.  What I can surmise from this is that there is more joy in doing rather than in watching others do.  Also, I would like to mention the fact that your brain releases endorphins when you do activities you enjoy.  You can not stop the goodness you receive from participating in activities!  Just think about how much happier sports fans would be if they actually participated in the sport!    
     With television, youtube, movies and live performances so available we have become spectators of life.  I think that we get caught up in the idea that if we are not good at something that we should not do it.  I have heard some say "leave it to the professionals".  I only follow that in the case of electrical work and plumbing.  Professionals were at one time not good at what is now their profession.  How the heck can you get good at something if you don't do it???  Does it even matter if you are "good" at it?  I propose the idea that it does not matter if you are "good" at your chosen activity.  I'm saying that the point is doing something that you enjoy for your own sake.  Who cares what it looks like or sounds like?  Are you having fun?  If you are not having fun, why not?  Go ahead and have some(fun, that is).  Sure, go to shows or watch them on your device of choice but take the inspiration for yourself.  Dance around, sing, go crazy with letting yourself explore activities which interest you.  Activities are not just for professionals, they are for everyone alive.  The good times are waiting to be had by you.  It is available to you whenever you want and will not cost anything!  Let loose!  What are you waiting for?

Yin Yoga, part 1

     Recently, I attended a yin yoga teacher training.  I have taught yin yoga prior to this class but revisiting the information always inspires me.  Most likely, if you have attended yoga classes you may have noticed that the majority of classes that are offered are vinyasa or yang types.  Yang classes move more quickly through poses(asana) and are geared toward lengthening and strengthening the muscles.  These types of classes bring chi to the muscles, working and energizing them.  Yin classes are composed of poses(asana) held for several minutes at a time that work more on our joints and connective tissues.  These classes are done with passive muscles and allow chi to penetrate deeper to the energy conducting meridians of the body.
     Let us define terms.  Here is the "fast and dirty", as my music theory teacher, Professor Goldsmith, used to say.  Chi or qi is defined as primordial energy in Chinese medicine.  This energy is the vital force of ALL life.  Our physical life is animated by chi.  Chi is the underlying force.  How does chi move in our bodies?  Chi moves along invisible pathways called meridians(Chinese system) and nadis(Indian system).  These meridians pass through all tissues and bones.  When chi flows freely the body the body is balanced and healthy.  When chi does not flow freely it can be stagnant or deficient creating an out of balance body yielding an unhealthy state.  We can stimulate chi to flow by practicing yoga, tai chi, qigong, meditation and receiving acupuncture, among other activities which enliven the mind and body.
     I am always impressed by the fact that we can move our bodies to create positive change, physically and mentally.  I think that we forget this fact and neglect moving our bodies.  We have the ability to change our state of being.  It is so simple yet elusive when distracted by so many other aspects of our modern lives.  For now, I aim just to scratch the surface on this incredibly complex topic.  Just marinate with the information presented here.  Perhaps tonight you may choose to sit on the floor instead of the couch and experience stretching your body in ways that feel good to you.  Don't worry about doing yoga poses, just stretch what feels like it needs some opening.  Animals stretch all the time and they have not taken any classes.  You know what you need more than anybody.  My only suggestions are to move the spine forward, backward, side to side and to twist to each side.  Move slowly and listen to your body being aware of pain, if it is sharp, stop.  There is no destination only the journey, so enjoy your body!  Stay tuned for more on this topic...

Constraints

Abstractly staying in line with the skeleton's limitations, I wish to discuss constraints today.  I belong to a book club and one of the members was talking about her college-aged daughter and how she asks her "what do you want to do, you could do anything?".  The daughter finds this question paralyzing.  I can relate to this reaction from the daughter.  The mother thinks that she is allowing the daughter freedom not realizing that the great wide open can feel daunting.  All parents want their children to have all the opportunities they were not afforded or did not act upon when they were younger.  The mother is coming from a loving place.  With this example in mind, I want to posit that constraints allow human beings to focus.  We just read a book by Twyla Tharp and she explains that when she was in a choreographic situation where she had no constraints on money, music or talented dancers she floundered through the process as there were too many options.  I know it is anti-American but there is such a thing as having too much.  The time it takes to narrow focus to make what one sets out to create is much more difficult and time consuming when there are no limits.  Time is a valuable commodity, especially when faced with a deadline, such as a dance performance.  She discussed this difficult situation of having every resource to illustrate the contrary where she worked on a project with almost no resources and it was focused, succinct and cohesive.  I have to agree with Twyla based on my own experience that I flourish with limits.  Here is an everyday example, if I have the option to make anything I want for dinner I feel a bit overwhelmed because the possibilities are endless.  On the other hand if I have only nine items in the fridge I can focus on those items and make a plan for dinner.  I could go to the store to augment the nine items but there is a part of me that likes to accept the challenge of working with what I have.  Can you see where I am heading?  It does not matter what the decision is; career, modern dance choreography or dinner.  The point is if we learn more about our personal constraints, see yesterday's blog example: the limitations of our unique skeleton, we can find comfort in those constraints as guides to help us focus on what we want to achieve in our lives.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not against exploring options, I am merely suggesting that the better you know yourself the easier it becomes to weed out the options that do not serve you best.  After all, we are looking to explore options in which we flourish, grow and maybe even help others to do the same.  My advice, that I will take and maybe you may consider is to embrace yourself, as you are-constraints and all, and to leap from that platform to greater and greater heights.