Nourishing Your Kidneys
 Winter is the most yin time of the year. It is the time of stillness, darkness and rest. Winter is ruled by the Water element. The organs associated with Water are the Kidneys and the Bladder.
The Kidneys are very important in Taoist practice as they store
the jing chi – our Essence. The Kidneys govern the reproductive system and sexual energy. Kidney chi provides the energy for sexual desire, fertility and reproduction. This is the reason why many practices in qi gong focus on nourishing the Kidneys.
Winter is the time of the year when we want to pay extra attention to nourishing our Kidneys. One practice to replenish Kidney chi is Kidney Breathing.
Kidney Breathing is also a great to do during menstruation or any time you feel tired as we can recharge our energy through this qi gong practice.
Kidney Breathing
 Stand in an upright position
Feet are parallel and shoulder-width apart, knees are soft
Now close your eyes and
Place your palms on your back over you kidneys
Bring your awareness to the soles of your feet and
Bring your focus to “Bubbling Spring” point (KD 1)
Begin to breathe in and out through Bubbling Spring
Until you feel the point pulsating, the chi bubbling
Now feel and visualise roots grow deep into the earth from your feet
All the way to the core of the earth,
Now inhale, squeeze your perineum and draw up the chi from the earth,
Exhale deeply into your kidneys and
Smile into your kidneys.
Continue to draw up chi from the earth and exhale into your kidneys
until you sense your kidneys filled with chi.
Practice Kidney Breathing in a deep, gentle and soft way reflecting the qualities of Water.
Recommended Further Reading
And if you want to learn more about nourishing your Kidneys
read this excellent article by Anasuya Batliner.
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