This Yin Yoga for the Heart Meridian class is the perfect sequence to transition into summer.
The Meridian System is a concept of Chinese Medicine. Accoding to Chinese Medicine life-energy (qi or chi) flows around the body through an invisible network of pathways (the Meridians). When the energy is not flowing freely, there is a condition of imbalance. Imbalances can show as both physical pain and tension and/or emotional distress.
In Yin Yoga we work with 12 meridians and 6 different meridian pairs:
- Spleen & Stomach
- Kidney & Urinary Bladder
- Liver & Gallbladder
- Heart & Small Intestine
- Lungs & Large Intestine
- Pericardium & Triple Heater
Each pain has a Yin and a Yang Meriadian.
If you would like to know more about the meridian system click here and here.
Yin Yoga for the Heart, Pericardium and Triple Heater Meridians
For the sake of this class we are focusing on Yin Yoga for the Heart Meridian (alongside Pericardium and Triple Heater).
Each Meridian pair is associated to an Element and a Season. In this case, all 3 of these Meridians (and the Small Intestine) are associated with the Element of Fire and the Season of Summer.
The Heart Meridian is considered Yin and the Small Intestine Yang. The Peridcardium Meridian is Yin and is paired with the Triple Heater, which is Yang. The Pericardium is the guardian of the Heart. This is also true anatomically, the Pericadium is a sack-like structure that wraps around the heart and helps protect agains infections, trauma and through the fluids it contains it keeps the heart lubricated for movement. The Triple Heater (also knows and Triple Warmer) Meridian has the function of maintaing homeastasis and governs the endocrine system of the body.
Below you can see a chart of all Meridians.
The class will stimulate some of the areas where the Heart, Pericardium and Triple Heater are located. We will also explore two acupressure points along the lines of the Heart and Pericardium.
More Yin Yoga Classes
Would you like to try even more Yin Yoga classes? Click HERE.
