Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Heart and Lung
Within our yin yoga practice, we can practice sequences of poses that directly target the physical body and specific meridian lines. Meridians are considered channels where Qi or Prana flows. Qi is the body’s basic life force. Having enough Qi flowing smoothly in the meridians is key to health and longevity in body and mind.
While each pose affects multiple meridians simultaneously, we can combine poses in a sequence to emphasize one or two meridians.
The sequence below targets the Heart and Lung channels. You can learn more about the Fire element (related to the Heart) in this video and this post. And if you want to learn more about the Lung meridian, watch my video on the metal element and the season of fall.
Acupressure Points Lung 1 and 2 (Zhong Fu and Yun Men):
During this sequence, focus on creating space around these points. Some poses will compress these points, while others will release the compression. Pay special attention to the flood of energy and blood to the area when releasing. These points are especially helpful if you’re working with Lung congestion, trouble breathing, or you’re processing grief.
The points are located at the top of the chest in the “delto-pectoral triangle,” which is the small groove below the intersection of the collarbone and the shoulder on either side of the upper chest.
You can learn more about using acupressure points during your yoga practice here.
Yin Yoga Sequence for Heart and Lung Meridians:
** Hold poses between 3-5 min. depending on your ability.
I hope you enjoy the sequence!
Learn more about the Lung meridian here and the Heart meridian here.
