Kati doing the meridian yoga exercise lung stretch for the lung meridian with drawn stretch line

Meridian Yoga Exercises

explained

Lung Stretch

The lungs are a very important organ in the human body. They receives, transforms and distributes the qiwhich it receives from the air.

The Lung meridian also supports us in communication with others and helps us to be able to open up to our environment. The power of the lungs is shown in the strength of the voice.

However, it is also the most vulnerable organ for invading diseases. It is very easily attacked by external "pathogenic factors". These include cold, wind, humidity. They all weaken our energy and thus offer bacteria and viruses the opportunity to spread uncontrollably in our body.

Exercise description

With the exercise lung stretch you have the possibility to open the lung meridian. Start by placing your thumb and index finger on top of each other. The thumb is the end point of the lung meridian, the index finger is the beginning point of the large intestine meridian. This is the paired partner organ of the lungs.

Now take a step to the side and then raise your arms up above your head. Imagine that you are opening your chest like a flower. On the one hand, you create space for the organ lung itself, which consists of two lung lobes. On the other hand, the lung meridian is opened.

Especially in this exercise it is important, conscious and deep breathing into the abdomen and chest. Because we want to take in vital and fresh breath qi with every breath. Hold the position for a few breaths before changing sides.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do if I can't lift my arms up that far?

In this case, raise your arms only until you reach the limit of your mobility. Stay there for a few breaths and then return. The mobility will improve over time.

Does this exercise help with breathing problems?

This exercise corrects a common poor posture in which the shoulders collapse forward, restricting the lungs. By lifting the arms, there is a stretching of the chest muscles. This is very important so that the lungs have room to breathe.

Portrait of Wolfgang Stemer for my TCM Qi Gong Academy, Simply Live Better

Pro tip from Wolfgang

Especially in this exercise it is important to breathe consciously and deeply into the abdomen and chest. Because we want to take in vital and fresh breath qi with every breath.

Meridian yoga exercise for the lungs: lung stretch

Most common errors

The arms are not really stretched up and back.

The arms are pushed back in the upper position with too much effort, so that the back is strained.

When moving backwards, the head is placed too far back in the neck.

Training tips

If possible, always exercise in front of a mirror.

Record yourself with your smartphone and then check this video for errors.

Make it a habit to do this exercise first thing in the morning after you get up.

Assistance

What can you do if the exercise is too difficult?

This exercise is very simple if you do not have a shoulder problem and does not cause any problems. If you have shoulder problems, you simply do not stretch your arms so far back, but lift them only to the noticeable barrier.

If that doesn't work either, place your hands on your lower back during the execution.