Shizuto Mazunaga, founding father of a style of shiatsu, developed the so called meridian stretch exercises. These exercises aim to activate the paths where the body energy flows, according to Chinese traditional medicine. If the energy flows without restrictions, then the body and the organs are healthy. In this lesson we will practice with the stretching of the Lung and Large Intestine meridian, the former starts form the central part of the abdomen, reaches the clavicle and goes down along the anterior part of the arm where it meets the meridian of the large intestine. This meridian goes up along the lateral part of the arm, then it divides into two paths, one towards the lung and the large intestine and one towards teeth and nose. Finally, if you have high blood pressure, cold or headache avoid this exercise for today.
Start with the mountain pose. Stand on the yoga mat, spread slightly the legs, arms at your side and palms facing forward. Close your eyes and breath, choose to let flow your thoughts, do not focus your attention on anything, you are in a very stable pose, like a mountain.
After some breaths, return to the initial pose. With the closed right fist, knock on the left part of your body just below the clavicle in order to activate the meridian of the lung. Keep on knocking along all the left arm, until the fingertips, then go back until the shoulder and the neck. Repeat the exercise, then change the side.
Start now with the real stretching. Bring the arms behind your back, put your hands together, rotate backward the shoulders and at the same time stretch the arms towards the ground.
Go down with your torso, don’t bend back and legs, arrive until it is possible for you, the head goes down and the arms are pointing towards the ceiling. Stay in this pose, breathe. Then, raise your torso up, bend the legs and with their strength return to the initial pose.
If you don’t feel in balance or fine doing this pose, a variant pose is also possible. The arms are behind your back, hands closed together, rotate backward the shoulders and stretch the arms towards the ground. Go down with your torso and bend your legs, your torso should lean on your thighs. Bring the head down and the arms pointing the ceiling. Stay in the pose for some breaths.
