Breathing and stretching
Stretching like cats is a physical and spiritual practice. You should never deny it. Not only because of the immediate and by no means negligible effect of "feeling alive", but precisely what happens when we go to stretch a muscle.
In stretching, the toning action produced by the contraction is counterbalanced, creating a protective situation for muscle and connective tissue . The elongation passes through "control" mechanisms which are the Golgi organs and the neuromuscular spindles, located directly in the nerve fibers of the striated muscles, the voluntary ones.
Stretching exercises should always be consciously combined with breaths : in principle, they are inhaled during the stretching phase and exhaled when the muscle is under stretching. By combining breathing, the body relaxes, increases blood flow and eliminates lactic acid and other wastes that any previous exercise has produced.
Yoginis and yogis know it well, but also all sincere practitioners of many martial arts. This is why it is not surprising that the famous meridian stretching was developed by a great character of the Eastern tradition, father of a very important Shiatsu style: M ° Shizuto Masunaga .
The exercises and the law of the Five elements in TCM
Each exercise is linked to an element. To understand these primary forms we must think of them as real psychic energies, they are five movements in continuous transformation that respond to control laws established by Chinese Medicine. They are related to the seasons, the viscera, the organs.
Let's look at them one by one comparing ourselves with the image of the article that is in static, but you will notice that the execution is not so difficult, what counts is the intention.
First exercise
The first exercise deals with the Metal Element that governs the Meridians of the Lung and the Large Intestine . Focus particularly on this sequence exercise if:
- you have noticed that in recent times the breath is blocked;
- you feel you are too attached to people or material things;
- your intention is to start learning to let go.
Technical details on the execution: the feet are parallel, the knees soft, it is in exhalation that the trunk falls forward softly. The indexes point back towards the ceiling and the position is maintained when it is deemed necessary. Do not force the posterior loggia of the legs, get there fluidly with the breath, stay inside it with softness.
Second exercise
The second exercise is related to the Earth element and governs the Meridians of the Stomach and Spleen / Pancreas . Great for:
- weight problems;
- blockages to the digestive system often of an emotional nature;
- menstrual problems.
Technical details on the execution: help yourself by first bringing your hands behind your back, do not drop down suddenly. The execution can be gradual, from day to day you will notice an increase in flexibility.
Third exercise
The third exercise associated with the Fire element acts on the Meridians of the Heart and Small Intestine . Suitable for:
- better read what enters our hearts and essence, the events that happen to us;
- develop emotional intelligence, understanding.
Technical details on the execution: when the trunk goes forward the movement is pushed by the pelvis. The legs are forward and the soles of the feet against each other.
Fourth exercise
The fourth relates to the element Water and the Meridians of the Urinary Bladder and Kidney ). Great for:
- transforming fear;
- grow and purify thoughts.
Technical details on the execution: in exhalation push the trunk and arms forward and not downwards. At each exhalation also push the trunk forward.
Fifth exercise
The fifth to the additional Fire (Meridians of the Master of the Heart and of the Triple Heater). It is associated with the third exercise with the difference that the legs are crossed and also the hands in the descent. It is always a gathering forward and moreover, compared to the third, the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems are intensively worked.
Sixth exercise
Finally, to the number if i, we find the element Wood (Meridians of the biliary vesicle and of the liver ). Useful for:
- develop planning quality;
- managing excess anger and aggression.
Technical details on the execution: start from an initial position with open legs and central bust. In exhalation, bring the trunk to one side and go down. Stand in the position for at least 5 breaths. Then repeat on the other side.
Meridian stretching or Makko ho
The purpose of the method devised by Masunaga starts from the eastern perspective of the flow of energy that inhabits our body, Qi vital energy . This flow moves constantly within the body, each organ has its own quality correlated to it and there can be stagnations given by external factors and emotional situations that are experienced.
Stretching the meridians (also called Makko ho exercises ) should never be thought of as a demonstration of fluency. On the contrary, we focus on tensions and try to observe them without forcing them .
They should be performed at least once every two days .
