Self Health Empowerment Exercises - Day 2
Strengthen Your Abdominal Muscles
Now that you have better control over the energy that moves the vital energy through your meridian system, the breath, let us consider posture.
The area of the abdomen into which you breathed yesterday, and will be breathing into now and in the future, holds the physical "sea of energy".
When you breathe into this space, you fortify your physical energy.When you breathe out from this space, you move that fortified energy through the meridian system. Smooth breathing helps create smooth flowing vital energy that relieves stagnations that are believed to be the cause of illness in the Oriental philosophy.
When the pelvis is tilted too far forward or too far back, that energy spills out willy nilly. So maintaining your pelvis in a twelve o'clock position will help to keep the energy full and strong. That is why core strength is so important.
Todays simple practice:
Lie on your back. Place your hands in the small of your back. Is there a huge arch here? If so, bring your pelvis into a position that minimizes that arch to about a fingers width from the floor. If this means you need to bend your knees, do so.
Contract your abdominal muscles by pulling your navel toward your spine and then up toward your chin. Hold this briefly and relax. This helps to isometrically strengthen your abdominal muscles.
Repeat several times to become aware of that abdominal support of your structure. As this gets easier, lengthen the hold time. And, remember to breathe during this exercise.
Now you can proceed to yesterday's practice of deep breathing for five minutes.
Thank you for joining me today. Let your day unfold and be present in the moment.
In good health,
Mary S. Wallis, L.Ac., NCCAOM Acupuncture Diplomate, L.M.T., C.N.M.T.
Energy Medicine Practitioner in the Japanese styles of Kototama/Inochi Medicine and Usui Reiki
President Improved Performance Inc.
895 rue St. Francois
Florissant, MO 63031
314-921-3366
www.HealingStLouis.com
www.ImprovedHealing.com
