I have been feeling a little run down this fall. I have a good diet and a daily exercise routine, but nonetheless, the stress has piled up and my immunity is off. I have actually tried to stock up on wellness formula preventively throughout flu season. It’s does the job, but is only an ingredient in boosting immunity effectively. What has really helped me tremendously is learning how to trigger meridians while flowing with the energy of the seasons.

My Qi-gong practice and knowledge in Chinese Traditional Medicine has led me to live in alignment with the seasons. Super-charging my immunity during fall has become essential to my health. In fall growth reaches its peak and slowly prepares us to withdraw into our shell.  In CTM fall is associated with the element metal, and the organ of the lungs and the large intestine. The lungs metaphysically helps us release patterns that we no longer the need and the large intestine helps us filter through experiences before we release them permanently. Once the debris is eliminated and the negative patterns eradicated we can focus on gathering knowledge and information and re-organizing our personal agenda, while, setting limits and protecting boundaries.

In autumn we move from an expansive to an introspective state of mind. We try to finish up projects that we have started in summer, and reap the fruits of our labor. I have especially designed this immunity practice with the idea of releasing things that I have been clinging to in the past. This has carved room for new experiences and revelations.

This is the first time that I have a tailored a sequence that corresponds to the autumn meridians, and the element metal. Activating both nerve pathways helps beat the blues and deal with emotions of grief and sadness. That is why I have incorporated a lot of backbends and meridian crossings in a sequence that is primarily forward-bending and releasing. This combination of exhilarating and introspective poses trigger main meridians and create a healthy environment for the thymus gland to thrive.

The main organ of experiencing fall is the nose, so the sequence abounds with inverted twists that alleviate dryness associated with late fall. The tissue that channels the energy and flow to the respective fall organs is the skin. That is why I’ve introduced immune-enhancing binds that foster tactile contact. The healthy combination of poses, trigger point activation and meridian crossings elicit the main emotions or letting go and release associated with late fall.

That’s all swell, you would say, but how does a Yoga sequence actually super-charge the immune system? It does, but only in concert with a healthy seasonal diet and the right mindset. As we get in and out of poses we stimulate and squeeze the glands to trigger the release of hormones that bolsters the thymus gland – the body’s natural shield against viruses and bacteria. As we twist we intensify the inner cleansing and detoxification processes. As we bind we cross the meridians of the lungs and large intestine to facilitate a sense of filtering and release. So that we can clear the excess, bounce off viruses and bacteria, and make space for immersion and inner growth.

Immunity Boosting Yoga Routine: Seasonal Alignment (open level)

This yoga routine combines forward bends, back arches and specific binds to promote healthy functions of the thymus gland and bolster healthy immunity.