Does this ever happen to you? You’re inspired to create something, but once you start, all kinds of resistance rise up!

I find that when I’m excited to create something new, it's the beginning stage that’s invigorating. Then when I actually have to make it happen I become anxious. Will this work? Do I know what I’m doing? What will people think??

Oh, the doubt and insecurity! Those are the dreaded shadows of inspiration! When we're blooming into what we want to become, a lot of fear, doubt, and anxiety come along for the ride.

Once I catch myself in the midst of the anxiety, I can call it out “Hey anxious mind, I know you and see you!” as this creates space from becoming entangled in the anxiety. It doesn’t remove it, but it puts it into perspective.

As we are moving through the spring energy of the wood element, according to Chinese medicine, the natural world is sprouting and rising! This energy can create an inspired mind, to become and manifest what we want to DO or BE. And the manifesting energy can vacillate between inspiration, frustration, and anxiety.

One way that helps me move past doubt and anxiety is to focus my mind. Technology has depleted our society’s attention span, which is why anxiety is so prevalent. When the mind is focused, it creates clarity. Clarity is calm and centered.

The focused mind is a muscle that needs to be worked. When constantly bombarded with fast-moving technology, our focus is turbid. It’s like waves on a choppy ocean, getting stirred up. It takes discipline to focus and slow down to gain clarity. Good decisions come from clarity.

The wood element in the spring corresponds to the energy of the liver, which provides inspiration. The gallbladder energy promotes good clear decision-making and the right action.

Yoga philosophy speaks of the focused mind as one of the layers of our being called koshas. We have 5 koshas, the physical body, the anamaya kosha, the pranamaya kosha, the energy body, the manamaya kosha, the focused mind, the vijnamaya kosha, the wise observer, and the anadamaya kosha, the heart-mind where we can surrender into peace.

The manomaya kosha can be harnessed to learn to breathe through the meridian pathways that the energy of the organs travels through. Guiding the breath (which is a form of Qi or prana) through these pathways teaches us how to focus internally, which soothes our nervous system, creating a calm, serene inner environment.

Both yoga and Chinese medicine agree that where our mind goes, our energy flows. The unique qualities of this Meridian Flow practice are that while we are in yoga poses which are activating the connective tissue that the meridians run through, simultaneously, we can focus our mind to guide our energy.

This is an ancient qigong practice referred to as Yi Qi Li, guiding our energy (qi) with our consciousness. The meridians are often described as golden threads of light. By visualizing a spark of light, we can inhale up the liver meridian, from the big toes up the inner legs, up through the abdomen, and to the lower ribs. And we can exhale the gallbladder meridian, from the outer eyes, down the outer head, neck, outer torso, hip, and outer leg to the fourth toe.

The organ is like a lake, and the vitality of that organ is determined by the rivers (the meridians) that feed it.

This practice is the game changer that makes the Meridian Flow practice so profound. In yoga, we are taught to focus on the breath, and this visualization takes it a step further. Not only does it require a long, slow breath, which changes the chemistry in our minds, but it gives the mind an anchor -- a pattern to focus on.

While stretching and strengthening the muscles, we are also strengthening the muscle of focused concentration and moving the energy simultaneously. To be able to focus the mind is one of the foundational steps prior to meditation. In the eight limbs of yoga, dharana (focused concentration) precedes dhyana (meditation).

For some, this is harder than others. Visual thinkers may find this easy and quick to put into practice. Linear thinkers may need to practice this in a standing or sitting position first to establish the breath and the visual pathways of the meridians.

Start with a four-count breath in and out. After a few rounds, while inhaling, visualize a golden thread of light starting at the big toes rising up the inner feet, traveling up the inner legs, and up through the abdomen to the low ribs below the breasts. This is the liver meridian.

Then exhale a golden thread starting from the outer eyes, and traveling down the outer face, neck, outer torso, outer hip, and outer leg to the fourth toe. This is the gallbladder meridian.

Where the mind goes, the energy flows. Using this laser-focused breathing technique while sitting or standing will shift your mindset to a calm, clear, alert disposition. This may be enough for beginners. If you’d like to take it into yoga poses, these three poses stimulate the connective tissue that the liver and gallbladder meridians travel through, which gives them an enhanced acupressure treatment.

3 poses to invigorate

focus, inspiration, and the right action!

Inhale up the liver meridian

Exhale down the gallbladder meridian

Parsvakonasana:
Extended Side Angle pose

We are ultimately responsible for our own healing.

The Meridian Flow practice transcends chronic pain, anxiety, and autoimmune issues naturally.

You can read more about the seasonal practices, meditations, and breathwork in my recent book The Empowered Yogi, Transcending the Chronic Pain and Anxiety Associated with Autoimmune Conditions.

If you feel called towards these seasonal teachings, meditations, and meridian flow practices, which help us heal naturally from chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and autoimmune issues, come join our Meridian Flow program to find relief and freedom.

If you're a seasoned yogi or yoga teacher and would like to learn and implement these practices join the Master's Path or 300-hour Teacher Training course.

~ The Meridian Flow program is for those who may be newer to yoga and suffer from chronic pain, chronic anxiety, and autoimmune issues. This type of program has been recommended by rheumatologists for their patients who want a natural approach to healing their issues. We are ultimately responsible for our own healing, and this program puts you in the driver's seat to take control, so you’re no longer a victim but an example of how to heal yourself. You’ll be practicing with others in similar situations that want to take an empowered approach to relieve chronic ailments and feel free in your body and mind. Book a call with Maggie here to see if this program is right for you.

~ The Master's Path program is for seasoned yogis and yoga teachers who want to uplevel their practice and offerings. Learning this seasonal practice of the Meridian Flow, seasonal qigong sets, and Kundalini kriyas is the best way to keep our own practice and teachings fresh and seasonally appropriate. You’ll continue your learning with a support group of other yogis who meet seasonally and inspire each other. Learning new things is one of the best ways to keep the mind bright and youthful.

~ The 300-hour teacher training is the same program as the Master's Path but added teaching support with our Teachers Inner Circle to learn how to deliver this practice with grace and confidence and fulfill the requirements from the Yoga Alliance to obtain the 500-hour certification.

The Meridian Flow classes are unique and for all levels. If you're just coming back to yoga or new to it, check out the Monday 5:30 class, and the Tuesday and Thursday classes.

Meridian Flow 30 min Basics Monday 5:30

The Meridian Flow class Monday at 6:15

Meridian Yin and Qigong Tuesdays at noon

Meridian Basics Thursdays 11:15.

From my heart light to yours~

Namaste,

Maggie

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