A Yin-Restorative Practice to balance the kidneys and the urinary-bladder system
Kidney chi imbalance shows up as fear and resistance to change. The kidneys are associated with short-term memory, discipline and the drive to follow through with projects. The following asanas are for the urinary and intestinal organs, adrenals, the reproductive system, the lower back, all the bones and for lubricating our joints.
The pathway begins at the little toe, around the arch of the foot, along the inside of the leg to the coccyx, then through the lumbar bones of the spine; meets tributaries through the lungs to the throat and base of the tongue. In the postures we press and tug on all the tissues these tributaries flow through. These lines run the full length of the front body. For urinary bladder the pathway runs the full length of the back body, starting at the sockets of the eyes, through the forehead, back of the head, bisecting the spine, back of the legs, where it meets the little toe for the kidney line which then circles up the front of the body.
Badha Konasana
It is important to stay in these poses about 5 minutes, to use props to rest the bones, particularly the head and allow gravity and time to drop you into the pose.
Supta Virasana
3. Salamba Bujangasana, rest then Seal Pose
4. Upavishta Konasana. This pose can be done facing each leg first with the props supporting you. Right first, come up, pause and then left.
Yin-Restorative Practice to balance the liver and gall-bladder meridians.
When these organs are out of balance this shows up as anger, frustration, emotional pain and attachment to resentment.
This practice runs along the inner leg for liver, and outer region of the body for gall bladder. For the liver, the pathway begins at the big toe, along the inner leg next to the kidney line, through the groins, entering the torso, through the gall-bladder, liver, lungs, through the throat, circles the mouth and cheeks and then enters the inner eyes.
The gall bladder pathway begins behind the ear, then down under the arm, along the outside of the body, outer leg and ends in the 4th toe.
These postures will gently tug on these meridians:
Stimbhasana Fire Log Pose
2. Eka Pada Kapotasana Pigeon Pose
3. Ardha Matsyandrasana
4. Jathara Parivartanasana (this can be done with thighs crossed over as in Garudasana fashion and with the opposite lengthened arm bent up at the elbow as in “cactus pose.” Support all the bones in this posture as well.
Conclusion: I appreciate the immeasurable value of western science and eastern intuitive practices built on life times of learning and experimentation, observation and analysis. We have the tools now to measure and see what the ancients simply felt. Discoveries abound in our journey to wholeness, completeness, and they all come from a simple beautiful word. Practice.
Michelle Jacobi Paris 2014