BRUSHING THE MERIDIANS

During Qigong practices I often refer to acupuncture/pressure meridians. 

My teacher/friend Dr. Jess Reynolds defines meridians as “pathways through the body that are consistent and predictable from one person to another, that transmit force and energy.”

Jess is a doctor of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), an acupuncturist, and a massage therapist living in Calgary, Canada. He and I have shared notes regarding core principles of TuiNa Chinese massage, acupuncture and Qigong.

Shared core principles include: 

• Balancing Yin and Yang.
• Regulating the internal organs.
• Opening and dredging channels, or meridians. 
• Promoting circulation of Qi, blood and body fluids.
• Calming the Shen (mind) and releasing emotions.

 

I'm going to focus on the Opening and dredging of the channels and promoting circulation of vital essences.

Channels? Meridians? 

There are many websites describing the meridians. I suggest this site because of uncomplicated images and simple descriptions: Meridians explained, meine-tcm.com

When we open channels, we encourage expansion and space for easy movement of the vital substances. We are clearing a channel, and in some cases joints. Qi can easily become blocked in the joints. Joint mobilization and visualization while breathing creates space in the joints and the channels, unlocking trapped Qi.

Dredging channels encourages the removal of detrimental blockages, pathogens, or debris (physical or emotional) from the channels or the joints.

Okay boss, how do we open and dredge channels?

We can stretch, twist, shake, vibrate, grasp, pat and my favorite: practice "nerve strokes" or "brushing the channels." Your hands can either lightly touch (tickle) the surface of the skin, or remain one to two inches above the skin, like brushing your aura or etheric field. 

Rather than describing this process, I have attached a video by Sifu Bodhi Batista. Yup, another beloved Canadian. Enjoy. 

I wish you good health.