Spring in Chinese Medicine

SPRING is

Element – Wood
Colour – Green
Nature – Yang
Organs – Liver/Gall Bladder
Emotion – Anger/Determination
Taste – Sour
Condition – Windy
Direction – East

Chinese Medicine and Yoga

In Chinese medicine, there are Five Elements which draw from nature.  Metal is Autumn, Water is Winter, Wood is Spring, and Fire and Earth is Summer. Since Spring is Wood, a Tree: growth and the beginning of new activity. More on Chinese Medicine and Spring .

Each Element in Chinese Medicine is linked to the organs they support. Spring Wood Chi supports the Liver and Gall Bladder. The Liver controls muscles and tendons, so if you have tight joints or recurring joint problems this could mean an over-stressed liver.

In Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar, poses to tonify Liver and Gall Bladder include inversions, back bends, twists and forward bends. Yoga poses like sarvangasana, paschimottanasana, dhanurasana, salabhasana and bhujangasana can tone the liver and gall bladder.

Here’s a sequence of poses that will  tonify and invigorate Liver and Gall Bladder Chi!

All Poses are courtesy of Yoga Journal. Check out their new online sequence builder tool!

Sukhasana-Easy Pose

Marjaryasana-Cat Pose

Bitilasana-Cow Pose

Adho Mukha Svanasana-Downward Facing Dog

Malasana-Garland Pose

Prasarita Padottanasana-Wide Legged Forward Bend

Utthita Trikonasana-Extended Triangle Pose

Adho Mukha Svanasana-Downward Facing Dog

Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana-Standing Split

Adho Mukha Svanasana-Downward Facing Dog

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana-Upward Facing Dog

Bhujangasana-Cobra Pose

Salambhasana-Locust Pose

Urdhva Dhanurasana-Upward Bow or Wheel Pose

Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana-Upward Facing Two-Foot Staff Pose

Ananda Balasana-Happy Baby Pose

Jathara Parivartanasana-Stomach Churning Pose

Uttanasana-Standing Forward Bend

Salamba Sarvangasana-Supported Shoulderstand

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana-Bridge Pose

Bhaadvaja’s Twist)

Marichyasana I-Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi

Janu Sirsasana-Head-to-Knee Forward Bend

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana-Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose

Paschimottanasana-Seated Forward Bend

Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)

Savasana-Corpse Pose

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Cora Wen is a self admitted Yoga Crone. A traditionalist who has studied and practiced yoga for two decades and remains curious and uplifted by the constant and endless teachings of Yoga. Cora is certified at the highest levels of ERYT500 and CYT. She specialises in alignment based Yoga, and works with many students suffering from chronic injuries and long term illnesses. She travels across the globe sharing an infectious love of Yoga, and would love to to share  Energy and Yoga with You!

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