8 Curious Meridians TARE

7/28/2019 8 Curious Meridians TARE

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8 Curious MeridiansStretching Exercises

Longevity and Life Cycles

As we get older the upper part of the body begins changing first and then the lower partof the body and internal organs degenerate and stop functioning. The manifestation of the

aging are seen in such symptoms as short term memory loss, rapid deterioration of eye

sight, loss of hair and development of wrinkles over the face.

The "Yellow Emperor" text book describes the male and female cycle with designation of

different numbers. The female is given the number "seven" while the male is given the

number "eight". At seven years of age the female starts to go through a transformation ofbone structure with a sudden activity of kidney energy. Her baby teeth start to fall out and

the permanent teeth start to appear. Her facial bone structure changes from a baby to a

girl's face. Also her hair starts to have thicker density. This is due to the kidney energyflow.

A male goes through similar transformation at the age of eight. At the age of 14, on an

average, (2 times 7) a girl starts to begin her menstruation cycle with suddengynecological activity. This has to do with the conception vessel activity. A male's

puberty begins at the age of 16 (2 times 8) with voice change, development of muscles

due to the high activity of the testicle gland. Women at the age of 49 (7 times 7) go

through menopause while men do the same usually at 64 (8 times 8). We can't alter thenatural cycles of male and females. However, we can preserve and prolong the "yang"

energy as much as possible in the upper body by doing regular exercises of the 8marvelous vessels. Preservation of the "yang" energy is the wise way to maintain the

balance of healthy energy flow in our bodies. This is how ancient people perceived the

longevity of life.


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Stretching exercices to achieve longevity: the 8 curious vessels

Practicing the stretching postures for the eight curious meridians encourages full health

and a lively balance of the energies in our body. They can be used to treat physical

ailments by reactivating the flow of vital energy through the body.

They also have a role to play in preventative treatment by ensuring that blocked energy is

dislodged, protecting the body from imbalances and stagnation. The exercises areespecially beneficial to those with sleeping problems, those with cold hands or feet and

those suffering from stress or fatigue. If the exercises are being used for maintenance

rather than for specific treatment, then they should be taken in their proper sequence.

The most important posture is for the governing vessel. It is easy to do, and one quickly

feels the effects. If one is unused to exercise and very stiff, start with this exercise alone.

It is advisable to do these exercises every morning as well as every evening before goingto bed. The spirit of concentration is important. Morning exercise allow us to draw on the

rising energy of nature, while evening exercise provides an opportunity to rid our bodiesof the tiredness and bad or used energy accumulated in the course of the day.

The exercises should not be done after a meal , an operation, or with a fever. Some of the

eight curious meridian exercises can be difficult even for the young and supple. But

perfection is not important, since each individual is different. The essentiel thing is thatthe muscles are relaxed before any attempt is made to stretch them so that the meridian

postures can be done without straining the body. If any feeling of discomfort occurs, then

stop and continue with another exercise. Where a blocked meridian is found, then spendmore time working on that meridian ensuring that each breath is slow and steady. If there

is not enough time for all eight meridians, then concentrate on the two main meridians,

the governing vessel and the conception vessel.

While exercising, it is important to remember that the stretch is made with an inhalation,

and that one breathes out slowly after the maximum extension. Breathing out is a vitalpart of these exercises, because unless we are able to exhale in an even and relaxed way,

the next inhalation becomes tight, and then instead of letting the energy flow smoothly

into the meridians, we tend to halt the flow of this energy with tense and stumbling

breathing. Of course one must not forget that someone who is not well and lacks energywill have an entirely different approach to the stretching exercises than someone who is

healthy. Either way, it is best to start with the governing vessel and the conception vessel

and then go on to the other meridians.

Fortunately each curious meridian has an important point which regulates the entire flow

of the meridian. So we can start off by pressing these eight points. The regulator point foreach of the meridians is as follows:


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Governing vessel

Small intestine point:"Gokkei"

Conceptionvesselplaman pctLung point:"Reketsu"

Yang ankle vesselVezicaBladder point:"Shinmiyaku"

Yin anklevesselrinichiKidney point:"Shiyokai"

Through-goingvessel

Spleen-pancreaspoint: "Koson"

Belt vessel:veziculabiliaraGall bladder

point:"Rinkiyu"

Yang linking vessel

Triple heater point :"Gaikan"

Yin linkingvessel

Heartconstrictorpoint:"Naikan"

All these points are located near the ankle(glezna) or close to the wrist (inchietura

mainii)- parts of the body which are always in motion and areas where lots of ligaments

and tendons are concentrated.

We could say that we walk, jump or run fast because we have solid, strong and supple

ankles. Without this movement in the ankle we would be slow and awkward(neindemanatic). Our body is constructed to move around using full movement of the

muscles in our legs and arms. When we use these muscles with the help of the joints(knee, ankle, elbow (cot), and wrist) we circulate the energy of our internal organs. Arm

movements enhance the circulation of lungs and heart, and the movement of legs canactivate internal organs such as the small and large intestines.

As we grow old the upper part of our body starts to degenerate first. This manifeste itselfin grey hair, loss of hair, loss of memory, wrinkles on the face, and weakening of the

teeth. In the end we can become immobile because the leg muscles have no strength to


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hold us straight and let us move. When we become bed ridden, our internal organs start to

stagnate, and stop functioning. As long as we can walk, we can keep the organs intact and

sustain the minimum vitality of life force.

In China, many elderly people practice the Tai Chi Chuanin public spaces, which keeps

them healthy by circulating energy through the entire body. The regulating points of theeight curious meridians can also be used by people who are physically disabled or have a

rigid constitution. Before they start doing the stretching exercises they need to prepare

and loosen (detensiona) the body by applying pressure to those points. Those lacking theenergy to do this by themselves, should ask someone else for assistance.

It is important to acquire the habit of pressing the regulating points daily so that as time

goes by one starts to feel more relaxed and notices the benefits of stretching the body. Aswe know, if the muscles are not regularly stretched and exercised they tighten up,

eventually becoming impossible to move like an oak tree. In the case of a broken ankle

bone plaster is applied to hold the ankle tight during the mending of the fracture. But if

these points are pressed right after the accident the healing power can be accelerated andincreased to the wounded area.

There is no fixed order for these postures. One can start anywhere. But to strengthen the

immune system it is particularly advisable to follow the order given below:

1. Governing vessel

Lying on your back, take hold of the soles of yourfeet, as illustrated and gently rock on your back,letting your spine roll against the floor. It is importantto keep your neck soft and long, and not let your chinstick out. All the effort comes from the lowerabdomen. The movement can start from the coccyxand go up to the first dorsals, avoiding the cervicals ofthe neck because they are much more delicate.Breathe normally during this exercise.

2. Conception vessel.

Lie on your stomach and take hold of your feet, rollingforwards and backwards gently on your stomach,rocking along the centre, and breathing normally. Ifyou can't reach your feet with your hands, thenimagine you are holding them. The aim of theexercise is not to attain a perfect position, but to


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visualise the posture and follow its possibilities formovement. Women should avoid this exercise duringa menstrual period, and those with back troublesshould not do it until they are feeling better. It doespull on the back.

3. Yang ankle glezna -vessel.

Hold the big toe with the thumb and first fingers of thecorresponding hand. Lift one leg and stretch ittowards the outside, and follow it with your eyes,keeping the other leg firmly on the ground. Inhale asyou lengthen your leg and exhale as you return yourleg to the centre. Then repeat with the other leg.

4. Yin ankle vessel.

Sit in the Seiza position, as shown, with one leg bent backand close to your body, along the thigh. Take hold of the otherfoot with both hands and lift it up, keeping the leg straight.Inhale as you draw it towards your chest. Repeat five or sixtimes and then do the same with the other leg.

5. Through going vessel.

Sitting, place one foot on the thigh of the other leg,and stretch forward to hold the other, extended footwith both hands. With an inhalation, and the backheld straight, draw your body closer to the extendedfoot. Repeat this exercise five or six times on bothlegs.

6. Belt vessel.


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Sit with your legs wide, and place one hand on yourhip and the other fairly high along your rib cage. Withan inhalation, lean towards the side where you areholding the hip. Repeat the exercise five or six times

on each side, and then hold your hands on both hipsand make circles with your body from the base ofyour spine, thirty times in each direction.

7. Yang linking vessel.

Open your legs as wide as you can. Place your handson the floor in front of you. Slide your hands slowlyforward and with a straight back, let your body goforward. Inhale as you go towards the floor. Youshould stop when you feel it interferes with your

breathing.

8. Yin linking vessel.

Sitting, fold your right foot onto the top of the leftthigh, holding the foot in place with your right handstretched across your back. Reach forward, keepingthe spine straight, and with your left hand take hold ofyour left foot with your thumb and fingers. Thisexercise is quite difficult but what is important is that

you feel as much as you can the movements ofenergy, as you do this. If you are very stiff, don't bediscouraged, but breathe gently and rhythmically anddo what you can. Let your imagination recreate themovement, and your body will follow. Repeat five orsix times for each side.

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8 Curious Meridians TARE