Hi everyone.
Heartbreak is not an easy thing to deal with.
Emotional pain codes on the same place in the brain as physical pain.
But unlike a twisted ankle or a sore shoulder,
We can't just simply put a bandage on it and go for a massage.
Recently a few of my friends have had some rough breakups and one of them said to me,
I wish I could do acupuncture for my heart.
My response was,
After I thought about it,
Well,
You can.
While jigong isn't about placing needles along the body's meridians,
It does utilize breath and tension and posture to work with them.
So we can breathe into the heart using the yin heart meridian that runs from shoulder to pinky.
I will do my best to describe the movement here in meditation,
But will post a short video on my Facebook page,
Plum Blossom Mindful Arts,
In case I'm not clear enough for some listeners.
Some of us learn better visually and some better audibly.
You can do this short jigong at any fitness level,
Standing,
Sitting,
Or breathing and working with intention.
You're the best judge of your own fitness level,
So please work at whatever level is most comfortable for you.
If you're doing this from standing or seated position,
Please make sure that you have adequate room.
If you can fully extend your arms to each side,
You're golden.
If you're standing,
Start with your feet shoulder-width apart,
Gentle buoyancy through your joints,
Knees slightly bent,
Back straight,
Arms to the side with a slight space under each arm with your palms facing backwards.
If you're doing this from a seated position,
Sit on the edge of a chair,
Not so far forward that you feel unbalanced,
But enough so that you can sit with your back straight and you can fully extend your arms.
Your feet should be placed flat on the floor evenly apart.
If you're working at the level of breath and intention,
Take the seated position the best that you can,
Placing your hands on your thighs if you're able,
And have your mind perform the movements as you connect with your breath.
So let's begin.
I want you to imagine that roots are growing from the soles of your feet deep into the earth,
And that it's bringing light and energy up from Mother Earth into your body,
Up to your feet,
Ankles,
Your calves,
Knees,
Thighs,
Torso,
Your arms,
Shoulders,
Your neck,
And finally your head.
Picture your whole body filled with vitality and light.
Now I want you to inhale your arms up in front of your chest like you're holding your heart between your palms,
Because essentially you are.
Just breathe while you hold your precious heart.
You may feel an energy and heat between your palms,
But not everyone will.
The heart meridian is associated with fire,
Our warmth,
Generosity,
Our passion for life.
When our heart is broken,
It can be like someone kicking dirt over the fire of our soul.
It dwindles and is diminished,
But it's not out.
There are embers,
And we are going to stoke them.
We're going to fan them back to flame.
On the next breath out,
I want you to push your palms out from your chest,
Fingertips towards the sky,
Leaning forward slightly.
Then inhale your palms back to holding your heart at the center.
Continue this movement.
Each inhale holding your heart,
Each exhale palms extended out.
Now we're going to add intention.
As we exhale,
We push all negativity,
Depression,
Anxiety,
Pain,
Upset,
Betrayal,
Every aspect of the broken heart away from us.
And as we inhale,
We inhale joy,
Passion,
Life,
Compassion,
Positivity,
Self-love,
And universal support,
Every aspect of nourishing growth in life.
Continue this as long as you need to,
Exhaling all negativity,
Inhaling everything that's positive and healing for you.
Exhale and inhale.
You feel more tranquil with every breath,
More emotional balance and optimism.
This is a very good sign that you're on the mend.
Just continue to exhale and inhale into your heart.
On your next inhale,
Instead of bringing your palms together,
I want you to bring fingertips to fingertips.
Exhale and then inhale your arms all the way up,
Pulling your hands down through the center of your body and repeat this three times.
And finish with your palms in prayer,
Giving a gentle bow to everything that supports you.
Namaste.
Know that I'm sending you love and light and hoping that you feel much better soon.
