Qigong, spring and the wood element
We have here a spring! Behind the appearances, when it seems that nature is still in the winter, movement of rebirth and growth has already begun.
Winter, asks recollection body, invites us to calm and introspection and makes us accumulate energy by eating high-calorie foods and to provide us warmth.
With the arrival of spring, which is associated to the movement of wood energy, comes the time of flowering, but not only in nature but also on a personal level. Now what the body is asking us to move that energy that we have accumulated over the winter, either changing habits, initiating projects or doing exercise, preferably outdoors, and if possible Qigong.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, so that the transition between the seasons from winter to spring is made in the healthiest way possible, recommended a purge at the beginning of spring. This debugging to be centered mainly in the liver and gallbladder, since these are the organs, according to Chinese tradition, have greater relevance in spring. There are specific diets for this treatment and are specifically based on the intake of fruit and infusions.
To help get rid of fats that have accumulated during the winter, and helped us fight the cold, in spring much of our diet should consist of green vegetables, that provide an abundance of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients endless, ultimately also help us renew and depurarnos.
With the arrival of spring, when to practice Qigong we also need to pay special attention to the liver and gallbladder, namely, on exercises that are intended to work their energies. An example of the exercises that serve for this purpose are as follows: the seventh year of the system called Ba Duan Jin or The Eight Jewels called “Tighten the eyes of angry fists”, performing a massage to the liver by the floating ribs, while working on the tendons of the arms and eyes, directly related to wood energy. Two other exercises that would be suitable for this purpose called “Shouting his back” and “Fold the yin”, which respectively working on the energies of the gallbladder and liver, and belong to the system Qigong called Mawangdui. And I have left for last the recommendation of the two exercises that mimic the movements of deer System Wu Qin Xi or The Five Animals, called “Confrontation with the horns” and “Running like a deer”, also of working on two bodies, prevent from annoying back problems and are very beneficial for the kidneys.
According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and as I said, spring is associated with the movement of the wood energy. Wood governs the liver and the gall bladder, well as the locomotor system, the eye, to tendons and nails. His color is green and is responsible for sour taste.
There is a saying in China that says: “Toning in winter, Tiger attack in spring ".
