Yin poses for summertime

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the fire element is at its strongest during the summer. The fire elements most important organ is the heart.

The heart meridian begins near the armpit, running down the lower inner arm before ending at the tip of the little finger. The heart is the 'king of the organs' the house of vital essence. It commands all other organs and is the centre of our emotional and mental activity. It works alongside many other organs to regulate circulation and helps to maintain a healthy mental state.

When the Heart meridian is balanced, we are vibrant and alive, having enthusiasm for the future. Emotionally we are happy, nourished, warm and feel safe. We feel compassion for those around us and are comfortable being vulnerable. We are creative and able to be expressive, creating depth in our relationships.

When out of balance there may be sadness, desperation and lack of joy. There is a tendency to be impatient and a strong reluctance to letting down our guard. With a Heart meridian imbalance physcial symptoms may be short-term memory problems, high blood pressure, insomnia and anxiety.

Here are 2 yin poses to practice during the summer months to balance the heart meridian:

Sphinx Pose

Melted heart

Lorraine is hosting a Summer Yin Workshop on July 8th here at studio 70. If you’d like to attend a Yin Yoga class we have classes on every Thursday and Saturday morning.