Spring and Tao Qigong

Spring is here! The air smells different, the trees start to blossom. Cold days will show up in the next weeks, but Spring energy is spreading already over the last three weeks. In Qigong, we follow the flow of the seasons and benefit from the healthy rhythm for body and mind.

The Qigong practices change during the year

The element of wood is associated with Spring, a time of birth and new beginnings.

When the wood energy flows freely, we experience both flexibility and determination – the ability to grow without becoming rigid or collapsing.

“The wood element refers to living, growing entities: trees, plants and the human body".

The first smell of spring is the suggestion that you are about to emerge out of the gloom. The long dark days are replaced by the crisp, fresh dewy mornings filling you with anticipation of the warmth and sunshine, and the new oxygen that comes from the young shoots and leaves growing around this time of year.

Spring is the time for us to reach outward, develop deeper roots and remain flexible in the wind.

Qigong and the season Spring: The healing colour is green; the opening are the eyes and the organs are liver and gallbladder

The the body this includes paying attention to the liver, which detoxifies the blood and produces bile to metabolise carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

In spring, we also pay special attention to our gallbladder and tendons.

In Chinese medicine, the liver is often compared to trees, as both tend to "spread freely." The liver's function is to distribute Qi throughout the body. It accomplishes this in three ways: regulating mind and mood, promoting digestion and nutrient absorption, and maintaining normal Qi and blood flow.

The daily warm up exercises for spring which are aimed at balancing the body by stretching the muscles, loosen the joints and vertebrae, release physical tensions, whilst stimulating the circulation, activating the endocrine system and opening up the energy channels.

 This establishes a strong foundation for your health and vitality. In the Qigong class you will find practices to balance the liver and gallbladder energy and to detoxify them. A good stretch opens the Liver meridian and increases energy flow.

Learn more about Qigong and spring with this video

https://vimeo.com/showcase/12035457?video=1149080011