Qigong for Strengthening the Kidneys

In Chinese Medicine, as in reality, there is no way to separate the mind and the body. 

The most pronounced emotion related to Kidney Deficiency is fear. This type of imbalance would be marked with unfounded fear and anxiety during everyday life rather than fear relating to true danger. 

Unchecked, it can manifest as infertility, sexual dysfunction, menopause, prostate problems, impaired immunity, chronic inflammation, high blood pressure, heart irregularities and anxiety.

Adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce adrenaline that participates in the body’s fight/flight/freeze response and cortisol that stimulates stress. Long-term adrenaline and cortisol over production, partly brought on by chronic fear, can lead to adrenal burnout and chronic fatigue.

The kidney meridian starts at the underside center of the foot. It moves to the inside of the foot and circles the ankle. Then it moves up the inside of each leg, through the groin, and up the center of the torso about an inch from the center line, ending at the collarbones.  

Fear

Fear-kidneys relationship can readily be seen when extreme fear causes a person to urinate uncontrollably. In children, this can also manifest as bed-wetting, which psychologists have linked to insecurity and anxiety. Long-term anxiety due to worrying about the future can deplete the kidneys of yin, yang, and Qi, eventually leading to chronic weakness. For most people by the age of 40, declining Kidney energy is beginning to impact on their health. 

More information available about healing and strengthening the kidneys in my prior posts:

The Key to Longevity: The Kidney Point
Touch Toes to Reinforce Kidneys

Energy flow is the most powerful (and simple) way I know to remove blockages and the Qigong exercises I would recommend as being most cost effective for overcoming fear are:

Strengthening the Kidneys

By Grandmaster Shou-Yu Liang and Master Wen-Ching Wu

This technique takes in the pure essence of the universe; and supplements the innate essence in your kidneys. This solidifies the foundation of life and strengthens your jing.

Movements and Intention:

Step 1.

Sit straight with your feed touching the floor about a shoulder width apart. Sit with only one-third of your hips on the chair. Don't lean back on the chair. Place your hands naturally on top of your knees as in Figure 1-14. 

As an alternative, you can also stand (Figure 1-15). 
Please read about Qigong proper standing posture in Zhan Zhuang - foundation of Internal Martial Arts

Step 2.

Breathe naturally until your dantian is full of Qi.

Exhale slowly, draw in your abdomen and hold up the huiyin area slightly. 
At the same time, lead the qi from your dantian  to your coccyx and up to our mingmen point, then separate into tow paths around your waist and meet at your navel.

Inhale slowly and release the huiyin area as you push your stomach out. At the same time, lead the qi from your navel to your dantian.

Key Points:

1. The huiyin area refers to the testicles, vas deferens, penis and the anus muscles for men; the vulva, vagina, clitoris, and the anus muscles for women.
2. This technique can be trained at any time. However, do not train more than 20 repetitions at a time. After each set, rest for a while before repeating the training. Too many repetitions at one time may cause dizziness for some people.
3. People with high blood pressure should rest after every 5 repetitions, before resuming the training again.
4. People that have a hard time falling asleep should avoid training this technique at night.  

A Taoist Kidney Qigong

By Tony Bujas

Sit comfortably relaxed in a chair; with your back erect, and feet flat on the floor, your tongue is placed on the roof (palate) of your mouth. 

Breathe and swallow saliva naturally. 

Gentlemen place your cupped left palm on your Dantian and then your right hand over your left. Ladies place your cupped right palm on your dantian and then your left hand over your right. 

Take a minute to physically smile and internally smile from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes, smiling within all your internal organs and into your bone marrow. 

Think: I am happy, I am relaxed. Next, direct your thoughts to your Yintang, (your light room), a spot right center (midpoint) between your eyebrows, just above the bridge of your nose.

Part 1: In Breath

Breathe in through your nose to the Yintang 36 times. Just concentrate on breathing in and storing "the best quality universal Qi" in the Yintang. Don't think of anything on the exhale. (After you progress a bit, you can do 72 breaths, if desired).

Part 2: Out Breath

Breathe out 36 times, concentrating on the out breath only, while at the same time, you send Qi from the Yintang region throughout the whole body. Don't think of anything when you breathe in. What energy you stored in the Yintang in Part 1, you now send to your whole body, in this Part 2. (After you progress a bit, you can do 72 breaths, if desired - keep the same number of breaths in parts 1, 2 and 3).

Part 3: In and Out Breath

Lie down on your right side facing a wall, in any position comfortable to you. You can lie on your bed, on a couch, or on the floor. Now breathe in the "best quality universal Qi" to the Yintang and on the out breath, send this Qi down along your spine to your tail bone (coccyx). If possible perform 36 to 72 inhale /exhale cycles - depending on the number of breaths you did in Parts 1 & 2 of course.

If you fall asleep in Part 3 before finishing the required number of inhale /exhale cycles, don't worry about it. It is good to fall asleep with this type of Qigong. This keeps qi in your spine. This Qigong is good for people who have weak kidneys and a low vitality. Good for people who loose their essence. It helps preserve the jing, the vital essence. (Works the root chakra, preserving the sex energy.)

Pleasant dreams!

Chui Sound to Ensure Kidney Health

By Grandmaster Shou-Yu Liang and Master Wen-Ching Wu

Movement and Intention

Step1

Using Drawing 1-10 as a reference. Stand or sit with your feet shoulder width apart, and arms to your sides (Figure 1-16). Inhale, begin raising your hands up toward your lower back with the back of your hands facing your body (Figure 1-17).

As your hands reach kidney level, bring both hands forward toward your belly button with your fingers pointing down. As you raise your hands, lead the Qi up from your yongquan points on the bottom of your feet, up along the Kidney Channel on the inside of your legs, into the tailbone, up along the lower part of your spine, and into your kidneys.

Continue the arm movements and bring your arms up in front of your chest (along the Kidney Channel) until they are right below your collar bone and turn your palms to face each other (Figures 1-18 and 1-19).

Step 2

Exhale, make the Chui sound by opening your mouth slightly with your tongue drawn in, and the corner of your mouth pulled slightly to the sides. At the same time, squeeze in with your hands as though you were holding a ball, and squat down (Figure 1-20).

Keep your upper body as straight as you can, hold up your huiyin area, and pull your abdomen in. As you exhale and make the Chui sound, use your mind to lead all the impurities from your kidney channel and kidneys out of your mouth.

After completing step 2, stand up slowly and repeat step 1 and 2 a total of six times. 

Resources on healing sounds:

Six Sounds Approach to Qigong Breathing Exercises [With Instructional DVD]

Six Healing Sounds: Taoist Techniques for Balancing Chi

Six Healing Sounds with Lisa and Ted

Additional posts on Healing and Meditation:  
My favorite Meditation for Self-Healing by Yogi Bhajan

Breathing exercise to overcome all of your physical shortcomings

Also try Bliss Meditation

Meditation to receive Universal Love

Please also try my heart-opening exercise/visualization is about opening your heart to Love

Additional Resources:
5 Element Qigong - Water/Kidney
A Guide to Medical, Taoist and Wushu Energy Cultivation

Qigong Meditation: Small Circulation
Livelight ~ Yoga and Meditation Music
Wuji Qigong Meditation

Spring Forest Qigong - Small Universe - Meditation
Three Treasures Qigong Healing Meditation
Qigong Meditation: Embryonic Breathing

 

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