Hot tips for moving through springtime with ease

The daffodils are blooming, which means it's time for my yearly PSA on supporting the Wood element through spring. I like to highlight this each year, because spring is a season that can be especially challenging for folks. There is a lot of upward and outward energy. This can feel great after the quiet of winter, but also pretty intense. For me, focusing on harnessing and moving my Wood energy helps me to enjoy the beauty of the season.

What is the Wood element?

According to Chinese Medicine, springtime is associated with the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems. The Liver organ system is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi in the body and connected to the sinews and tendons, the menstrual cycle, and digestion. The balanced emotions associated with it are generosity and kindness. The unbalanced emotions are frustration and anger. The Liver also plays a big role in creativity, developing new ideas, and planning. The Gallbladder organ system stores and secretes bile and controls the sinews. It is key in decision making, moving the creative energy of the Liver into fruition and affects the dreams.

Why are the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems so important?

Disharmony in the Liver and Gallbladder organ systems are very common in our culture and tend to become more pronounced in the spring. One of the most common Liver disharmonies is Liver Qi stagnation. This means that the Qi (energy) of the Liver organ system is stuck and not moving smoothly. If the Liver Qi is not moving smoothly the Qi of the whole body is affected along with other major functions in the body like digestion and menstruation.

Stress, anxiety, and feelings of not living out your life's purpose can all play a role in the Qi of the Liver becoming stagnant over time. Symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation include neck and shoulder pain, eye problems (floaters, bloodshot eyes, blurry vision), headaches, feelings of anger, frustration and irritability, fullness in the upper abdomen, pain along the ribs, depressions, signing, PMS, breast distention and tenderness, and other menstrual irregularities. If you are prone to these symptoms it would be beneficial to focus on keeping your Liver Qi energy flowing smoothly throughout the whole year, but especially during the spring.

What are my favorite ways to support the Wood element and the Liver and Gallbadder organ systems?

• Movement: The kind of movement is less important than the fact that you are moving your body. Walking, running, swimming, biking, dancing, and yoga/qi gong are all great ways to get your qi moving. Here is a video of a qi gong routine focused on nourishing the Wood element by one of my favorite teachers, Mimi Kuo Deemer.
• Shaking and Bouncing: Two lesser known types of movement that are particularly great this time of year are shaking and bouncing. Here is a quick 6 minute video that I made.
• Eat more green foods and other food ideas: Green is the color associated with the Wood element. Sauteeing up some broccoli, kale or other dark green veggies is a great ways to support the Wood element. Incorporating pungent and sour flavors can specifically help move Liver Qi. Munching on the dandelions that grow in your yard are a great way to get rid of them, stimulate digestion and cleanse the liver.
• Make a vision board: This is a great way to hone in on your dreams and aspirations in a creative way. You can use magazines, stickers, draw or paint to visualize what you want your future to look like. Hang it up on the fridge as a reminder of where you want to be heading and start making a plan to get there.
• Breathwork: This is an excellent technique for moving stuck energy in the body. My favorite breathwork techniques for moving out the unbalanced emotions of the Liver (anger and frustration) are kapalabati (skull shining breath) and simhasana (lion's breath). 
• Stretch your neck and shoulders: If you are prone to neck and shoulder tension or headaches this is a great time to up your stretching game. This video is a short 15 minute yoga routine focused on the neck and shoulders. Chest opening stretches are also an excellent way to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders. Here is a link to some slow and deep stretches to open the chest and base of skull that I made.
• And lastly, get some massage and bodywork: One of the most fundamental benefits of massage and bodywork is that it "moves stuff around." This is great for Liver Qi stagnation and general stagnation is the body. Manual manipulation of your tissue increases blood flow and circulation and moves lymph. It can also release areas that are holding around pain, tension or trauma. Shiatsu specifically focuses on the moving qi through the energy pathways (meridians) in the body. This can be a great if you feel like you need a deep energetic rebalancing and really want to focus on moving that Liver Qi. Abdominal massage is also wonderful because it focuses directly on the organs.

I hope these ideas help you feel more supported this spring.

Amy

Photo by Amelie & Niklas Ohlrogge on Unsplash