Meridian Yoga Exercises

explained

Straddle

The liver energy has a very important meaning in TCM. The liver is responsible for the storage of the blood, but also for the quality of the blood, in which it cleans it regularly. It is also responsible for the overall flow of Qi in the body. The liver energy reacts to stress and pressure with stagnation. This is then called liver qi stagnation in TCM. One of the most common diagnoses in people in industrialized countries, as we are very often faced with stress.

In this exercise, you may even feel the stress and pressure in your life on the inside of your thighs and legs as you get into the straddled position. You may find this exercise particularly difficult and feel stiff.

Ask yourself how stressed you are, how much pressure you have in your life right now. Are you living your full potential? This is also the responsibility of the liver energy. You may be able to find a connection between your life and the exercise.

Exercise description

Sit in a straddled position for the exercise. The advantage over the standing liver exercise is that you can stay here much longer than in the standing variant. If there is a lot of tension, it is recommended that you also stay in the position for 2-3 minutes, then the meridian has more time to open. But always pay attention to your personal feeling! Your body tells you exactly when it has had enough of a posture. You will then start to feel uncomfortable or even in pain. Recognize this as a signal and get out of the position.

If you move your belly towards the floor in the straddled position, i.e. you lower your upper body, then you will very quickly feel the course of the liver meridian on the inside of the leg. The liver meridian runs from the big toe over the inside of the leg to the pelvis and further up to the costal arch, and of course on both sides of the body.

Stay in this position and consciously breathe in and out, concentrating on your upper abdomen, where the liver is located. Imagine breathing out all stress, pressure and anger from the liver and instead breathing in new, fresh life force. This is a wonderful exercise to help you fall asleep in the evening.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do if I can't sit in this position at all?

If you have problems sitting in this position with your legs stretched out, you can bend your legs a little. If this still causes problems, you can also put a small pillow under the buttocks.

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

Pro tip from Wolfgang

Imagine breathing out all stress, pressure and anger from the liver and instead breathing in new, fresh life force. This is a wonderful exercise to help you fall asleep in the evening.

Meridian yoga exercise for the liver: straddle

Most common errors

The legs are stretched, although this is not possible due to shortening. This makes the back round.

The head is lowered to the floor instead of the abdomen.

Training tips

If possible, always exercise in front of a mirror.

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

Assistance

What can you do if the exercise is too difficult?

This exercise requires a certain degree of mobility of the hip joints. If this is difficult, you can help yourself by placing a pad under your butt. This makes it easier to relax into the position.