In the last two weeks we’ve taken a good close look at postural compensations to understand how they come to be, why they decide to stay, and the ways they can contribute to our overall lack of mobility and persistent pain.

Does it feel like these familiar yet dysfunctional movements are holding you back?

Same here!

I’ve often experienced a life struggle pattern that goes something like this:

I have some sort of a physical - let’s call it “twinge”  - that keeps nagging and nagging at me.

I try to address it from all sorts of physical perspectives: movement, ball work, stretching, massage, physio. You name it, I’ve done it.

Yet the twinge persists, even more stubborn than I am.

And so I get more, and more, and more frustrated.

Eventually I get so fumy in the head that I have to address this rising mind steam. It is usually at that point that I discover some obscure mental habit that was holding me back all along.

That’s when the breath changes. Tears usually come.

Sometime bawling happens – usually in the woods, and preferably when I am alone.

This catharsis doesn’t usually last long; but as it carries out, it washes away that physical “twinge” that I have been so mad about. Seemingly magically...

It is at that point in the process that I found myself this past Saturday, talking sweetly to my kidneys…

Once that sweet conversation was over, I went to consult my yin yoga manual to read up on the KIDNEY meridian and ways to balance it.

    These facts (and the general fluid balance during hot summer months) would be why I promptly decided that balancing kidney meridian is quite an essential item for the summer.

Kidneys are located at about waist height, behind the lower ribs. They filter close to 15 gallons of blood an hour, purifying it and breaking it down to nutritional elements for the body. When their function is interrupted, high blood pressure, hypertension, swelling, bloating and difficulty in urinating can develop.

Chinese medicine considers kidneys to be the closest to the element of water, and therefore connected to all of the systems of flow within human body. Since the body is composed of approximately 60 – 70% water (depending on your age, water intake, activity level and climate situation), fluids bathe our entire cellular system. Thus, the general health of kidneys directly impacts the moisture content of all of our fluid systems, including blood and circulatory system, lymphatic system, urinary system, perspiration, saliva, and even tears.

On the physical plane, TCM links energetic health of kidneys to the general health of lower back, reproductive organs, the urinary system, the lower intestinal tract, and all the fluid systems of the body including joint lubrication. Got dry, clicky joints?

In mental and emotional realm, Chinese Medicine connects energetic (chi) kidney imbalance to overall lack of trust and safety – if you remember, these are the two primary drivers behind a sensitive nervous system and persistent pain. Adrenal glands that sit on the top of kidneys might have something to do with that…

    What’s more remarkable (to me, personally, anyway) is that the whole of last week I’ve been thinking that it would be nice to find a practice that can impart balance to both the physical and the emotional body.

And then, there it was. Simingly magically…

In the weeks to come we will touch more on KIDNEY Meridian, its yang partner – URINARY BLADDER Meridian, and their role in overall health, energetic balance, and emotional stability of the entire being - YOU.

    Summer is a perfect time to get un-busy, kick back, relax, and step into the flow (with the help of balanced Kidney Meridian, of course!). Over the years of teaching I (finally!) worked out a summer schedule that walks the fine balance of keeping things on track yet allows you (and me) to kick back and relax.

All summer classes ( Pain Care classes on Tuesdays and Ball + Yin classes on Wednesdays) are run on class-by-class basis - meaning you don't have to register for a session - although you'll save a few $$ if you book a set of 3 classes.

There are also a couple of half day intensives that fold perfectly into this summer’s meridian exploration  - Pelvic Floor for July (hence Kidney – Bladder Meridian) and Core Restore for August (Liver – Gall Bladder Meridian). All class and intensives info is here.

Have a fab long weekend.

And, as usual, see you on the mat!