Boost Energy With This Stretch
December 21st, 2009 By: Brittany
Everyday stress can throw your entire system off kilter; your muscles tighten, your heart races, and your stomach starts acting up — again. A simple seated forward bend can activate a reserve of sustaining energy that, according to Chinese medicine, rests between the kidneys. “It calms the nervous system, gets the organs fully functioning, and clears up obstructions in the kidneys and adrenal glands,” explains Daniel Max, nutrition counselor, shiatsu practitioner, and yoga instructor with Max Sense of Self in Watertown, Massachusetts. Get your qi back in no time with this quick stretch.
What It Does
Calms the mind; relieves stress; stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings, and back; stimulates the kidneys and adrenal glands; improves digestion; and reduces fatigue.
How to Do It
1. Sit with your legs extended straight in front of you, feet parallel with toes pointing up. Press the back of your legs into the floor.
2. Inhale deeply and lift through the upper body. With your spine straight and shoulders back, pull the navel in slightly toward the spine, creating space in the abdomen. Exhale, release, and lean forward, bending from the hip, not the waist.
3. Fold forward only as far as you can (keep your knees bent if that’s more comfortable). With each inhalation, lift and lengthen the front torso slightly; if you feel able to go further, release a little more fully into the bend on an exhale. Try not to crunch; maintain length through the spine.
4. Hold for a few breaths, allowing your body to open up. Direct your breath toward the kidneys, breathing deep into the lower back. Then inhale and sit up slowly, lifting your torso away from the thighs until your back is straight. Repeat 2 to 3 times.
Source: Body and Soul April 2008
About The Author
Brittany I am a intuitive life coach, health coach and meditation teacher. My goal is to help people find some inner peace during times of stress and worry. I have a passion for assisting those with anxiety, stress, health and nutrition. I believe we are made of mind, body, and soul and it is of much importance to keep good health in each one of these areas.
From our sponsors
-
Related Posts
-
Recent Posts
-
Clear Your Mind By: Brittany
It’s know wonder we can’t clear our thoughts with the consistent challenges and stresses we deal with continuously. This is the million dollar question I hear all the time. It is always easier said then done, but by no means impossible. I like to tell people to take themselves out of the freeway, and watch [...]
-
One Of The Best Programs For Weight Loss By: Brittany
I highly recommend this program and Take Shape for anyone. It has one of the best support systems and best health coaches in weight loss. I believe the biggest key to the success of the clients of Take Shape is the support that the program offers. They offer a range of support classes, coaching, and [...]
-
How Losing Weight Could Add Years By: Brittany
It’s all to common to year today how important maintaining a healthy weight can be. Now more then ever America has become a nation that’s growing larger. It is said that the next generation could have a shorter life expectancy then the generation before them. The reason- America’s now number one killer, obesity.
Dangers of Belly [...]
-
7 Ways You Could Help Your Heart By: Brittany
The American Heart Association has identified seven “simple” steps you can take for a healthy heart. But the road to better cardiovascular health will take some work.
“Life’s Simple 7” categorizes cardiovascular health as Poor, Intermediate, or Ideal in each of seven areas.
1. Never smoked or quit more than a year ago.
2. A healthy body mass index [...] -
Don’t Hold On To Hate By: Brittany
Hate is an extremely powerful emotion, and holding onto it can certainly cause you to feel ill and depressed. When you allow your energy to be suppressed you give no way for new energy to enter. This can deteriorate ones whole life. When healing with hatred its best to mediate and shift conscious to the [...]
From our sponsors
There are no responses to this article yet.