Meridians
First off as we start I wish for you to understand I am sharing a series of reflections that I put together about Meridians. There is still so much unknown about this subject and I am not a doctor, scholar nor a scientist. I am a curious student just like you. So today is about exploring thoughts, ideas.
Meridian ~ A translation of the Chinese word ( Nadis) meaning channels
It’s believed by many that these Channels conduct energy throughout the body and form a network. When the network is disrupted, blockage occurs and the body will not function properly. The organs will not perform to their highest function and capacities and imbalances arise in the body.
We want the meridians to be clear and open allowing energy to flow freely.
visualize is:
One metaphor is a garden hose that has been left outside and used for years, lying in the grass of an overgrown backyard.
Insects and mud (toxins) eventually clog the hose (which could be called a Meridian)
When the water is (which could be called energy) turned on it can’t flow.
The clogs have to be removed, and so we do so by turning on the water and bending and twisting the hose. Once the flow of energy has been freed or increased, nourishment flows throughout the body.
A few Teachers who have study meridians put together the “modern meridian theory”
:
Motoyama
Oschman
Steven Birch
Meridian~ A Water rich spaces between the Connective tissues.
That’s what they are physically. They are unique in a way, unlike an artery, vein, nerve or bone which has a membrane and a tube and is easy to find.
With Meridians you will NOT find a membrane with a tube. What you will find is Little granules and spirals of hyaluronic acid.
One of the reasons it can be hard to show these meridians in the body is because when dissecting cadavers, as a human being is passing so is their bodily fluids and pressure. The fluids dissipates from all of the tissues in the body and the body goes into Rigamortus. You don’t find a water rich segment of connective tissues. Yet when you look really close with a microscope you will find dense layers and lines of hyaluronic Acid.
When the body is alive there are those water Rich spaces and segments between the connective tissues.
On The dermal layer this has been done to living bodies, It’s called Acupuncture.
Have any of you ever tried Acupuncture?
So these three teachers whom have been studying meridians designed the
modern medians theory by asking questions such as
Where does the meridian flow?
how does it flow?
How does one meridian interact with other meridians?
How does this meridian system interact with other systems?
How is this system different then the neurological system?
what’s it’s speed?
Example:
Meridian impulses travel at 1 meter per 4 seconds
(4 seconds the length of the spine)
so it moves much slower then other systems.
So as We practice it is to stimulate the production of the hyaluronic acid.
We keep the meridian systems flowing, so that energy can move throughout the body.
Hyaluronic acid and it’s production is in the connective tissue.
In our yin and yang yoga practice this movement stimulates the production of this system.
So Why do we keep doing our yoga practice?
To stimulate this production in our bodies.
Why do you think you feel different after each practice?
When the body is stagnant it effects your health.
So these postures are designed to stimulate the joints to keep the meridian system moving and healthy. To keep the production of the hyaluronic acid flowing.
There are twelve major meridians that run on each side of the body, one side mirroring the other. Each meridian corresponds to an internal organ. And each organ, with its own physiological and invisible energy functions, is not only dependent on the other organ systems but also on the greater meridian network. Energy and blood flow continuously through the meridians, yet they also transmit information to and among your organs.
The twelve Meridians have lateral and symmetrical distribution on the head, face, trunk and limbs. The six yin meridians are distributed on the inner side of the limbs and on the chest and abdomen.
The six yang Meridians are distributed on the outer side of the limbs and on the head, face and trunk.
The twelve meridians follow specific time schedules and pathways.
Yin organs are thought to have more internal functions and are called interior organs.
The yang organs, on the other hand, are believed to have more external functions and are considered exterior organs.
It changes everything we know to think about the connective tissue as being living and pulsating throughout the whole body. To think about this connective tissue being known as meridian tissue. Which this is all thought the body and muscles. It’s everywhere in the body.
This is tissue that travels to every part of the body.
It is said that there is 360 k meridians in our body others say 72k which is all throughout the connective tissues.
Regardless of the correct numbers only 11 or 12 of these meridians lines have names
Name of the twelve Meridians
Arm/ Leg
Yin/ Yang
Three Yang/ Three Yin
The Twelve Meridians
Arm
Yin
Tai Yin
Lung Meridian
Shao Yin
Heart Meridian
Jue Yin
Pericardium Meridian
Yang
Yang Ming
Large Intestine Meridian
Tai Yang
Small Intestine Meridian
Shao Yang
Triple Burner Meridian
Leg
Yin
Tai Yin
Spleen Meridian
Shao Yin
Kidney Meridian
Jue Yin
Liver Meridian
Yang
Yang Ming
Stomach Meridian
Tai Yang
Bladder Meridian
Shao Yang
Gall Bladder Meridia
yin (energy flow up)
Yang ( energy flow down)
Stomach meridian -Yang (flows down)
Spleen -yin (flows up)
Heart meridian -Yang (flows down)
Bladder -Yang (flows down)
Kidneys -yin (flows up)
Pericardium meridian- yin (flows up)
Triple warmer -Yang (flows down)
Gallbladder -Yang (flows down)
Liver -yin (flows up)
Lung -yin (flows up)
Intestine -Yang (flows down))
ALL forms of yoga stimulate this meridian system in the body.
Not just Yin. This is not a unique characteristic of yin. It’s not meant to set yin yoga apart, it’s to include it with all other forms of yoga.
What makes Yin yoga unique ?
is that it stresses the joints.
That’s it’s intention.
Why go through all the explanations? This dissection?
Because of the myth most of us have been told is that you shouldn’t stressing joints. Our biology demands that we should have safe stress on our tissues and joints or they
Recommended resources:
DōTERRA - The AromaTouch technique
A massage with essential oils using meridian lines
Authors: Bernie Clark, Sarah Powers, Paul Grilley
Podcast: Josh Summers: Everyday Sublime
Comments