According to the ancients, old age begins not with wrinkles on the face, but with diseases of the legs, and rises higher. Therefore, in the East, so much attention is paid to the legs, and the secret of youth is to strengthen the legs. Their diseases speak of early aging. In the East, they say: "Take care of the root of the tree, and of the man's legs."
The condition of our legs is largely determined by the health of the kidneys, since qi energy mainly moves to the legs along the meridians of the kidneys. The ancients called the kidneys "the gates of life." In the kidneys there is a reserve of qi energy, received at birth, hereditary qi. In a circle of Wu Xing, the kidneys are connected with the bones of our body. Not only our strength, blood circulation in the legs depends on the health of the kidneys, but also the state of the bone marrow, the health of the lumbar spine, large intestine, pelvic organs, as well as the sexual energy of a person.
Let us now consider the basic qigong exercises for strengthening the legs.
Taoist breath
This exercise is performed while sitting on the floor or in a chair. Place your palms one on top of the other (for women, the left palm is down, for men, the right). Place your palms on your lower abdomen. Breathe calmly. As you inhale, draw in your stomach, imagining that you are breathing in the energy of water and filling it with the lower abdomen. As you exhale, push your stomach forward. Repeat the exercise three to five times.
You should feel warmth in the lower abdomen while doing this exercise. If you feel cold or heaviness in your stomach, then this indicates that there are disturbances in the work of the energy center. Continue to practice, gradually these sensations will pass and a feeling of warmth will appear. There is no need to rush and strain too much.
In the East, they say: "Do not pull the flower by the bud, so that it grows faster, so we can tear it off, let it grow by itself."
Keeping warm in the lower abdomen is one of the secrets of longevity and health of the legs and kidneys.
Lumbar massage
After we have breathed well with our belly, we will massage our lower back. Massage the lower back with palms in a circular motion along the entire lower back. Then we massage the kidney area and tailbone in the same way. We finish by rubbing the lower back with the joints of the fingers compressed into fists. We make movements up and down, left and right. Do five to nine repetitions of each movement.
These movements will help strengthen the kidneys, large intestine, tailbone, lumbar spine, and distribute qi to the lower torso.
While massaging the lower back, let us recall the words of the ancients: “The lower back controls all the transitions in the body. Leads all changes. It keeps the top in touch with the bottom. "
Foot massage
After the lower back massage, it is good to massage the feet. If you have a little time for massage, then skip this point and proceed to the next movement "Unusual steps".
We mentally collect water in our palms, wash our feet in turn. We begin to massage the right leg. We put it on the toe and begin to massage the center of the foot. This is where the most important energy point related to the kidneys is located. The ancients called it "the gushing spring", "the heart of the foot."
Then we put our foot on the heel and again massage the foot and toes.
Do not forget to imagine that disease-causing energy flows from toes into the ground.
After finishing the massage of the right leg, move on to the left leg. We repeat each movement from one to seven times.
The lower back and legs can also be massaged with real water energy, for example, when showering.
Unusual steps
This exercise can be performed in the morning, and is especially good during the activity of the kidney meridian - from 17 to 19 hours. It promotes better blood circulation in the legs and head, strengthens the kidneys, normalizes blood pressure, and even relieves swelling.
Take a comfortable position on a chair and lightly tap your feet on the floor in turn or at the same time in this order: fingers, heels, whole foot. Repeat each movement seven times. Do this until your feet get warmer.
Snake curling up into a ball
Stand up straight, arms down, feet shoulder-width apart. Place your palms on your knees and begin to slowly rotate them with a wide amplitude: inward, outward, to the left and right sides.
Exercise will help strengthen your legs, joints, and kidneys.
Qigong walking
Walking outdoors can help strengthen the kidneys and legs. While walking, keep your attention on your feet (at normal and high pressure). For low blood pressure, focus on your upper body.
Reach out with your fingers to heaven and earth
Take the position of the main stance. Place your palms filled with a mental image of water on the kidney area (lower back). Stand for a few seconds, warming the kidneys with your palms so that your legs stretch out better.
As you inhale, stand on tiptoes and reach up to the sky. As you exhale, lower yourself onto your feet, stretch your toes to the ground, squat down a little.
These stretches will help strengthen muscles, bones, blood vessels, spine, legs, fill the body with the energies of heaven and earth.
Dance of the waves of the sea
Free dance, in which the hands will move like sea waves, will help to strengthen the primary element of water in the body, kidneys, legs and inner strength, and the image of the sea waves will be a good teacher in mastering qigong movements, will help to harmoniously distribute energies in and around the body, strengthen the protective qi.
Take the position of the main stance. Imagine that your hands are sea waves that will rise and fall smoothly, one by one or at the same time, imitating the movements of the sea waves. The body follows the movement of the hands. Inhale helps raise your arms, and exhale helps lower.
At the end of the dance, place and hold for a few seconds the palms overlaid on the center in the lower abdomen.
Strengthening the kidneys, legs and lower back is especially beneficial in winter. It is necessary to strengthen the kidneys of those who were born in winter - their kidneys are weakened. Do not forget that the kidneys love to wrap them warmly in winter and get a light walk in gratitude.
