Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Yoga for the Winter
When sequencing a yin yoga practice you can plan a series of postures that relate to a specific theme. Some examples of themes include an area of the body, a specific action or movement, a contemplative practice, or a Chinese Medicine meridian. The possibilities really are endless!
The winter is the most “yin” time of year. It’s a time when the natural world slows down and the days are generally darker. This yin yoga sequence for the winter emphasizes forward folding which helps one to turn inward.
It also targets the Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians in Chinese medicine. Meridians are considered channels where Qi or the basic life force of the body flows. While each yin yoga pose usually affects multiple meridians at a time, you can combine the poses in a sequence to emphasize one or two meridians. The Kidney and Bladder meridians are related to the winter and so targeting these channels helps to create balance in the wintertime.
Learn more about meridians with this video: What are meridians? How do meridians work?
The season of winter is also related to the water element in Chinese Medicine. To learn more about the water element and the winter watch this video.
Acupressure Point Kidney 7 (Fu Liu)
This point is located on the inside of the lower leg. First find the middle point between the inner ankle and the achilles tendon. From there, measure two thumb widths above that point. Kidney 7 is located at that spot on the anterior border of the achilles tendon.
Use this acupressure point before, during, or after the yin yoga sequence for winter. Use gentle pressure to begin and slowly increase. Hold the point anywhere between 30 seconds to a minute or so dependant on your preference.
This point benefits the Kidneys builds what is called Kidney Yang. According to Chinese Medicine, Kidney Yang helps one to feel warm in the winter which benefits all kinds of processes in the body including immunity, water metabolism, and digestion.
Yin Yoga Sequence for Winter:
** Hold poses between 3-5 min. depending on your ability
I hope you enjoy the sequence! Let me know in the comments if you used this yin yoga sequence for winter 🙂
Looking for a few other posts about winter? Check out these resources:
