8 Curious Meridians Stretching Exercises

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Longevity and Life Cycles
As we get older the upper part of the body begins changing first and then the
lower part of the body and internal organs degenerate and stop functioning.
The manifestation of the aging are seen in such symptoms as short term
memory loss, rapid deterioration of eye sight, loss of hair and development
of wrinkles over the face.
The "Yellow Emperor" text book describes the male and female cycle with
designation of different numbers. The female is given the number "seven"
while the male is given the number "eight". At seven years of age the female
starts to go through a transformation of bone structure with a sudden activity
of kidney energy. Her baby teeth start to fall out and the permanent teeth
start to appear. Her facial bone structure changes from a baby to a girl's
face. Also her hair starts to have thicker density. This is due to the kidney
energy flow.
A male goes through similar transformation at the age of eight. At the age of
14, on an average, (2 times 7) a girl starts to begin her menstruation cycle
with sudden gynecological activity. This has to do with the conception vessel
activity. A male's puberty begins at the age of 16 (2 times 8) with voice
change, development of muscles due to the high activity of the testicle gland.
Women at the age of 49 (7 times 7) go through menopause while men do the
same usually at 64 (8 times 8). We can't alter the natural cycles of male and
females. However, we can preserve and prolong the "yang" energy as much
as possible in the upper body by doing regular exercises of the 8 marvelous
vessels. Preservation of the "yang" energy is the wise way to maintain the
balance of healthy energy flow in our bodies. This is how ancient people
perceived the longevity of life.
Stretching exercices to achieve longevity: the 8 curious vessels
Practicing the stretching postures for the eight curious meridians encourages
full health and a lively balance of the energies in our body. They can be used
to treat physical ailments by reactivating the flow of vital energy through the
body.
They also have a role to play in preventative treatment by ensuring that
blocked energy is dislodged, protecting the body from imbalances and
stagnation. The exercises are especially beneficial to those with sleeping

problems, those with cold hands or feet and those suffering from stress or
fatigue. If the exercises are being used for maintenance rather than for
specific treatment, then they should be taken in their proper sequence.
The most important posture is for the governing vessel. It is easy to do, and
one quickly feels the effects. If one is unused to exercise and very stiff, start
with this exercise alone. It is advisable to do these exercises every morning
as well as every evening before going to bed. The spirit of concentration is
important. Morning exercise allow us to draw on the rising energy of nature,
while evening exercise provides an opportunity to rid our bodies of the
tiredness and bad or used energy accumulated in the course of the day.
The exercises should not be done after a meal, an operation, or with a fever.
Some of the eight curious meridian exercises can be difficult even for the
young and supple. But perfection is not important, since each individual is
different. The essentiel thing is that the muscles are relaxed before any
attempt is made to stretch them so that the meridian postures can be done
without straining the body. If any feeling of discomfort occurs, then stop and
continue with another exercise. Where a blocked meridian is found, then
spend more time working on that meridian ensuring that each breath is slow
and steady. If there is not enough time for all eight meridians, then
concentrate on the two main meridians, the governing vessel and the
conception vessel.
While exercising, it is important to remember that the stretch is made with
an inhalation, and that one breathes out slowly after the maximum
extension. Breathing out is a vital part of these exercises, because unless we
are able to exhale in an even and relaxed way, the next inhalation becomes
tight, and then instead of letting the energy flow smoothly into the
meridians, we tend to halt the flow of this energy with tense and stumbling
breathing. Of course one must not forget that someone who is not well and
lacks energy will have an entirely different approach to the stretching
exercises than someone who is healthy. Either way, it is best to start with the
governing vessel and the conception vessel and then go on to the other
meridians.
Fortunately each curious meridian has an important point which regulates the
entire flow of the meridian. So we can start off by pressing these eight
points. The regulator point for each of the meridians is as follows:

Governing vessel
Small intestine point:
"Gokkei"

Conception
vessel
Lung point:
"Reketsu"

Yang ankle vessel

Yin ankle
vessel

Bladder point:
"Shinmiyaku"

Kidney
point:
"Shiyokai"

Through-going
vessel

Belt vessel:

Spleen-pancreas
point: "Koson"

Yang linking vessel

Triple heater point :
"Gaikan"

Gall bladder
point:
"Rinkiyu"
Yin linking
vessel
Heart
constrictor
point:
"Naikan"

All these points are located near the ankle or close to the wrist - parts of the
body which are always in motion and areas where lots of ligaments and
tendons are concentrated.
We could say that we walk, jump or run fast because we have solid, strong
and supple ankles. Without this movement in the ankle we would be slow and
awkward. Our body is constructed to move around using full movement of
the muscles in our legs and arms. When we use these muscles with the help
of the joints (knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist) we circulate the energy of our
internal organs. Arm movements enhance the circulation of lungs and heart,
and the movement of legs can activate internal organs such as the small and
large intestines.
As we grow old the upper part of our body starts to degenerate first. This
manifeste itself in grey hair, loss of hair, loss of memory, wrinkles on the
face, and weakening of the teeth. In the end we can become immobile
because the leg muscles have no strength to hold us straight and let us
move. When we become bed ridden, our internal organs start to stagnate,
and stop functioning. As long as we can walk, we can keep the organs intact
and sustain the minimum vitality of life force.

In China, many elderly people practice the Tai Chi Chuan in public spaces,
which keeps them healthy by circulating energy through the entire body. The
regulating points of the eight curious meridians can also be used by people
who are physically disabled or have a rigid constitution. Before they start
doing the stretching exercises they need to prepare and loosen the body by
applying pressure to those points. Those lacking the energy to do this by
themselves, should ask someone else for assistance.
It is important to acquire the habit of pressing the regulating points daily so
that as time goes by one starts to feel more relaxed and notices the benefits
of stretching the body. As we know, if the muscles are not regularly stretched
and exercised they tighten up, eventually becoming impossible to move like
an oak tree. In the case of a broken ankle bone plaster is applied to hold the
ankle tight during the mending of the fracture. But if these points are
pressed right after the accident the healing power can be accelerated and
increased to the wounded area.
There is no fixed order for these postures. One can start anywhere. But to
strengthen the immune system it is particularly advisable to follow the order
given below:

1. Governing vessel
Lying on your back, take hold of the soles of your
feet, as illustrated and gently rock on your back,
letting your spine roll against the floor. It is
important to keep your neck soft and long, and not
let your chin stick out. All the effort comes from
the lower abdomen. The movement can start from
the coccyx and go up to the first dorsals, avoiding
the cervicals of the neck because they are much
more delicate. Breathe normally during this
exercise.

2. Conception vessel.
Lie on your stomach and take hold of your feet,
rolling forwards and backwards gently on your
stomach, rocking along the centre, and breathing
normally. If you can't reach your feet with your
hands, then imagine you are holding them. The
aim of the exercise is not to attain a perfect
position, but to visualise the posture and follow its
possibilities for movement. Women should avoid

this exercise during a menstrual period, and those

with back troubles should not do it until they are
feeling better. It does pull on the back.

3. Yang ankle vessel.

Hold the big toe with the thumb and first fingers of
the corresponding hand. Lift one leg and stretch it
towards the outside, and follow it with your eyes,
keeping the other leg firmly on the ground. Inhale
as you lengthen your leg and exhale as you return
your leg to the centre. Then repeat with the other
leg.

4. Yin ankle vessel.

Sit in the Seiza position, as shown, with one leg bent back
and close to your body, along the thigh. Take hold of the
other foot with both hands and lift it up, keeping the leg
straight. Inhale as you draw it towards your chest. Repeat
five or six times and then do the same with the other leg.

5. Through going vessel.

Sitting, place one foot on the thigh of the other
leg, and stretch forward to hold the other,
extended foot with both hands. With an inhalation,
and the back held straight, draw your body closer
to the extended foot. Repeat this exercise five or
six times on both legs.

6. Belt vessel.
Sit with your legs wide, and place one hand on
your hip and the other fairly high along your rib
cage. With an inhalation, lean towards the side
where you are holding the hip. Repeat the exercise
five or six times on each side, and then hold your
hands on both hips and make circles with your

body from the base of your spine, thirty times in

each direction.

7. Yang linking vessel.

Open your legs as wide as you can. Place your
hands on the floor in front of you. Slide your hands
slowly forward and with a straight back, let your
body go forward. Inhale as you go towards the
floor. You should stop when you feel it interferes
with your breathing.

8. Yin linking vessel.

Sitting, fold your right foot onto the top of the left thigh, holding the foot in
place with your right hand stretched across your back. Reach forward,
keeping the spine straight, and with your left hand take hold of your left foot
with your thumb and fingers. This exercise is quite difficult but what is
important is that you feel as much as you can the movements of energy, as
you do this. If you are very stiff, don't be discouraged, but breathe gently and
rhythmically and do what you can. Let your imagination recreate the
movement, and your body will follow. Repeat five or six times for each side.