When describing spring, Su Wen part of the Nei Jing says that “All things of creation resuscitate in these three months. The life cycle beings anew…For healthy living, try giving rather than taking, rewarding rather than punishing. If you do not, the liver gets hurt…”
Huang Di says, "The months of the spring season bring about the revitalization of all things in nature. It is the time of birth. This is when Heaven and Earth are reborn."
Huang Di also describes spring as a time of new beginnings – the time of year to “rise early with the sun” and take “brisk “walks,” which as the inner classic reminds us are yang activities, reflecting the ascending and active nature of spring.
What does an ascending and active nature mean?
One cannot help but notice plant life pushing upwards in the spring. Just as new growth bursts up from the earth, your body needs to release the heat it stored to keep warm in the winter.
In spring, this Yang energy and inner heat are in urgent need of clearing. They rise and migrate outward. Ensuring the smooth release of this energy is your prime healthcare task during the spring.
Releasing yang energy
One way to release this energy is to take in the fresh green colors of new growth. It will help you clear the gloom of winter from clouding your dreams and allow you to direct your attention to self-awareness and self-expression. Getting out and walking more will also allow you to absorb the fresh, invigorating energy of the burgeoning life around you.
Since this is the season in which the universal energy begins anew and rejuvenates, you should open yourself up to physical and emotional rejuvenation. On the physical level it is ideal to exercise more often and wear loose clothing. The best forms of movement are stretching exercises that loosen up the tendons and muscles.
Emotionally, it is good to have even-tempered and balanced emotions. This balance is important because spring is the season of the liver and feeling too much anger, frustration, depression, sadness, or excess emotion can harm the liver.
Chinese medicine believes that unhealthy lifestyle choices, both physical and emotional, can impair the liver system functions. Some examples are:
- using the eyes too much,
- feeling depressed,
- holding onto anger,
- sitting too long,
- overusing medications,
- over-drinking, and
- eating too many fatty foods.
Springing into health
During the Spring Movement Challenge you will learn and practice several ways to help your yang energy rise, your anger release and generosity flourish, and your creativity burst forth.
- Qigong and yoga - doing specially designed qigong and yoga flows will help release heat and purify your energy
- Moxibustion or acupressure massage - massaging or doing moxibustion over key acupressure points will help yang energy ascend and move out
- Dietary therapy - eating specific foods will purge excess heat, allowing the energy to move up and out to balance your qi for better health