Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Kidney and Urinary Bladder
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 at once, we can combine poses in a sequence to emphasize one or two meridians.
The sequence below targets the Kidney and Urinary Bladder channels. The Kidney and Bladder are associated with the water element and the winter season. To learn more about the water element and winter, read this article.
Acupressure Point Kidney 1 (YongQuan)
In another post, I wrote about the acupressure point Kidney 1 and how to use it in your practice, so be sure to check that out as well.
Add pressure to the point when able during the sequence below to increase targeting of the Kidney meridian. According to Chinese Medicine, the Kidney generally helps us to ground, so pressing this point is especially helpful if you’ve been feeling anxious or ungrounded. Use gentle pressure to begin and slowly increase. Hold the point for 30 to 60 seconds, depending on your preference.
Yin Yoga Sequence for Kidney and Bladder Meridians:
** Hold poses between 3-5 min. depending on your ability.
