According to Traditional Chinese medicine, the flow of our body’s energy called Qi is vital for our health. Qi flows along our 12 main meridians, each of which corresponds to a major organ.
We can stimulate these meridian points with acupuncture, acupressure, tapping or target these lines in Yin Yoga.
Tapping is a way to invigorate the flow of energy along our meridians
Although not as precise as acupuncture, tapping can benefit the overall harmonious flow of energy. Tapping is simple and painless and can be practiced by anyone. It can be added to a Qi Gong or Yin Yoga practice or done by itself accompanied by a specific stretch, the so-called Makka Ho.
Japanese Shiatsu Master Shizuto Masunaga came up with the Makka Ho stretches in the early 60’s to enable Shiatsu patients to continue balancing their energy at home.
I learned about tapping in my Shiatsu training, where we tapped along the meridian lines before taking a Makka Ho stretch. This was done before our practical study time to ensure our own energy flow is harmonious before we attend another person to give healing touch.
Invigorate your lung Qi – let go of the old to take in the new!
Tapping the lung and large intestine meridians followed by the according Makka Ho stretch is a great way to open the lungs for fresh air and to boost immunity.
According to TCM, the lungs are maintaining a healthy immune defense and circulate the Qi through the body. The large intestine works to purify and balance fluids in the body.
Fig. 1: Above is the lung meridian, starting on the side of the chest/ hollow of your shoulder moving down along the inner arm to your thumb.
Fig. 2: Above is the Large Intestine meridian, running from the index finger along the back of hand, arm, slightly over the shoulder and then to the opposite corner of your nostril.
Emotionally and physically, the lung and large intestine organ system are helping us to ‘let go’ of whatever we do not need anymore (CO2, food waste as well as emotional baggage), to be able to take up new (fresh oxygen, food and new inspiration). Suppressed or unresolved negative emotions can result in blockages of the large intestine meridian and manifest in the body as digestive issues and/or chronic constipation. Sadness or grief is the emotion associated with this organ system.
How to tap along the lung and large intestine lines:
Standing at least hip width apart with a soft bend in the knees, take fingertips or just index and middle fingertips to tap over your lungs.
Then with your opposite hand/fingertips move outward to touch Lung-1 point in the hollow near the front of the shoulder. Tapping up a little and then down the front of the inner arm along the outer biceps to the elbow crease, down the forearm to the wrist. Continue to the thumbnail and give it a little squeeze.
Turn the arm over, start at index finger nail with a little squeeze before tapping along the large intestine line along the arm, shoulder and finally to the opposite corner of your nostril.
Do both sides, then interlace thumbs behind back, lift chest with a deep breath in and on the exhale fold forward.
As you come back up shake arms and hands and sense the energy.
Makka Ho for lung and large intestine