The Supple Springtime

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, springtime is associated with the wood element, which represents resiliency, kindness, and the ability to put our creative visions into action. Think of a tree leafing out (creativity), and bending flexibly with the March wind. The liver is especially resonant with the wood element.  The liver is the largest organ in our body and performs hundreds of actions, chief among them detoxifying the blood. In the poetic matrix of Qigong, it also helps us elevate our spirits, like a great tree reaching up to the sky. In our Qigong class we regularly practice “Swimming Dragon” exercises to keep our liver energy in balance. These are some of the best exercises to bring resilience and suppleness to both our bodies and our spirits.

Gentle Reminder: Remember to take a few minutes throughout your day to explore slowing your breath cadence, the way we practiced in class on Sunday. See if you can discover how to make this feel natural, comfortable. It’s a very powerful practice, perhaps the most important thing we can do for our health. Once this becomes a habit you can use it to keep your joints and your spirits flexible, too. I’ll show you how as we move through the spring.